Class of 2013 - 8 month clerkship survey results
Questions:
- Q: What rotations have you completed so far?
- Q: How/where did you make short-term housing arrangments (outside of Hamilton)?
- Q: How much time did you spend studying compared to time in clinic/hospital?
- Q: Were there any areas that you felt your knowledge was lacking? If so, what areas?
- Q: Are there any readings, resources, training that would help in specific rotations?
- Q: What were the biggest challenges you faced during clerkship?
- Q: If the place where you were working had never had a PA before, how were you received? How was the training provided?
Q. What rotations have you completed so far?
Other:
- Dermatology (x2)
- Paediatric Surgery
- Surgery - Thoracic
Q. How/where did you make short-term housing arrangments (outside of Hamilton)?
General Housing Resources:
Rural Placements:
In Ottawa:
In Brockville/Kingston:
Other:
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Housing Resources
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Q: How much time did you spend studying at home/library compared to time in clinic/hospital?
Responses:
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Responses:
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Q: Were there any areas that you felt your knowledge was lacking? If so, what areas?
Dermatology
Pharmacology
NICU, ObysGyn
- a bit in everything but mainly dermatology
Pharmacology
- Medication dosages - but you can look it up. For surgery - have a strong knowledge in the anatomy (blood supply)
- I didn't feel I was necessarily lacking in many areas except for pharmacology. The exposure certainly helped over time but having had a general idea before starting placements would have made things substantially easier.
- Knowledge areas lacking: Antibiotics, and pharmacology
- Pharmacology - but you will pick this up as you go along.
- I am finding that with psychiatric medications currently, I do not have a good understanding of the different medications to choose from/the different interactions that may occur with combinations of certain meds.
- Pharmacology
- Ordering IV fluids and Antibiotics
- Primarily in therapeutics. And pharmacology.
NICU, ObysGyn
- Prenatal and post natal care, basic fluid and electrolyte management, pharmacology, radiology interpretation, ECG interpretation to name a few big ones
- Peds, NICU
Q: Are there any readings, resources, training that would help in specific rotations?
* Resources highlighted in red were commonly used between clerks)
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General Resources:
Internal Medicine
Surgery:
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Family Medicine:
Emergency Medicine:
Orthopaedics:
NICU/Paeditrics:
Dermatology Resources
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Q: What were the biggest challenges you faced during clerkship?
- "Fitting in study time"
- "Pacing yourself - you will be mentally and physically exhausted. Be prepared."
- "Advocating for the PA program. There are still alot of doctors, nurses, other health professionals and especially residents who have never heard of or are unclear about what a PA is and their role in health care. It is vital to have a solid understanding of this and be able to articulate it well and concisely. There isn't a single day I haven't had to have this conversation with at least one person. Alot of people are hesitant to ask so I typically try and politely ask after introducing myself as a PA if they have an understanding as to what a PA is and does."
- "Commuting to placements that were far from my home. Not being able to know my schedule in advance. Constant uncertainty - you just get used to a rotation, then it's time to start a new one!"
- "Constant changing of pace and scheduling as rotations change. Also planning social events since schedules for rotations came so last minute."
- "Sleep deprivation, critical preceptors/colleagues, lack of confidence/ feeling like I didn't know much, feeling overwhelmed with all the things I need to learn"
- "Switching every couple of weeks, not knowing the people or hospital systems in place, lack of time to study"
- "Overcoming my fear of stepping outside my comfort zone. At the start of clerkship I would often opt out of doing procedures telling my physician "oh I have never even see that done before, I'll just watch and do the next one". Unfortunately you quickly learn that the next one may never come. Now I try as much as possible to say "Oh I have never seen that done, I'd love to do it if you wouldn't mind walking me through how." Physicians and nurses really respond to the eagerness and are typically very willing to take the time to show you."
- "My biggest challenge in clerkship was keeping up with reading outside of the rotations. Nevertheless, a lot of the time, this is a result of the cards you have been dealt. If your physician expects you to be with him 14hours a day, there is not much else that you can be expected to do outside of clinical time."
- "Being moved from one place to the next right when you get comfortable in one place."
- "feeling insecure compared to other clerks (esp senior medicine clerks) - lack of opportunities to learn because of many other learners (eg surgery)"
- "Being away from friends and family, moving repeatedly and being financially strained."
- "Choosing electives, not being prepared for what hospital medicine was like and how it operated."
- "changing preceptors so regularly or inconsistent preceptors (ex: ER I worked with a different physician every shift and I found this challenging. It is hard to know if you are improving if no one has anything to base it on)."
Q: If the place where you were working had never had a PA before, how were you received? How was the training provided?
- Received well Good training
- All were receptive - make sure to explain the role of the PA and where PAs are working now, and how they could possibly work in the "place" you are doing placement. In general - they will/should treat you like a medical clerk. As long as they are used to having "learners" you shouldn't have a problem. As PA clerks were are very similar to medical clerks.
- I generally was received well in all of my placements. The physicians grasp the idea quickly and tend to treat you very similarly to that of an upper year med student. This can be a little overwhelming as we have less experience and education than the 4th year med students but I was surprised to find that for the most part we were often at the same clinical level.
- Very well! Everyone was very receptive - I've only had positive experiences. Training provided was excellent. Preceptors very invested in my learning.
- I was always well received. There was always a doctor who has worked with a PA before or was familiar with the program. The training was always equivalent to the training of a medical clerk
- I was received well. Treated like a medical clerk.
- At my very first placement they had never had a PA before really and they weren't too sure what to do with me. I just explained my role and showed initiative and with time everyone was very excepting. Often it takes the physician a few days to sort out where you are in your learning but once they know they typically provide excellent training.
- In guelph, my preceptor was rather impressed with the level of knowledge and autonomy that we could operate with as a PA. All of the staff throughout the hospital were rather friendly.
- Once the purpose of a PA was explained, health care workers were welcoming and helpful
- well; same as med students
- Depended upon the preceptors opinions on PAs more than experience working with them.
- Good. Had mainly good experiences and treated me as a clerk.
- Everywhere I went they had PA's previously (either PA employed there or previous PA students)
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed on this website are those of the author,
and they do not reflect in any way those of the institutions to which they are affiliated.
and they do not reflect in any way those of the institutions to which they are affiliated.
