I am officially signed up to take my boards exam..the PANCE on January 10th, 2013. Words can't really describe how much my emotions are like a roller-coaster ride. Some days I feel I am fully prepared for this exam...that the last 27 months I have been preparing myself. Then other days I am anxiety ridden with feelings of failure and that I know absolutely nothing! I still have so much more to learn as I go down this path of medicine. I graduate on December 15th of this year. I am so excited and so thankful that I made it this far. I have one last exam to take on Monday that is a total of 240 questions that is a "mock" boards exam. I'd be elated if I scored an A on this exam because I would finish this semester with straight A's. I have to score at least a B on the exam to graduate with honors. Even if I don't graduate with honors, I will still be proud to call myself a physician assistant. It's weird, because during rotations I would sign my name PA-S. I don't think it will hit me that I am an actual PA until I pass the boards. I have a few interviews lined up, but passing the boards is my number one main concern. I can't work until I pass..so this is my main goal. I will try to post my PANCE study schedule soon and a list of books/websites I have been using for anyone that may need some advice. xo Ash

One patient that stays in my mind was a 21 year old female who was 38 weeks pregnant and had a chief complaint of nausea and anxiety. She was also concerned if she would be discharged in enough time to make it to the methadone clinic. Immediate concern washed over me for her soon to be child. I wondered how I could still show sympathy and compassion for my patient who I knew was taking a life threatening drug. Methadone could cause serious fetal defects for her baby. I was upset on the inside that she would take such risks to harm her baby. On the other hand, I had to find sympathy for her and her current condition—she was on methadone to stop her opiate drug abuse. It was really hard for me two separate the two situations. I know this won’t be the only time in my life where I will come across this situation. No matter what the situation is, as PAs, we are not to judge a patient’s current situation or past.