A post about the VA

Honestly I didn't know what to expect about the VA. I have heard stories good and bad, but something new is always an adjustment, even if you've heard stories. The good thing about the VA is that you don't have to find your own patients, they are scheduled for you. Blessed thing. The not so good thing: their instruments are ridiculous. most of the sets are so ski-womp-ous and so dull, some even past the point of no return. It's frustrating sometimes to not have a sharp instrument in your hand, and you have to spend time sharpening all the time to get the instrument to some sort of function. I vote that they just start over and make brand new cassettes. Anybody feel that the lunch hour is ridicuosly long???? If we started just a little bit earlier and cut the lunch a little shorter, or went back to how it was last year that would be good. I love the time  we have, but being in Salt Lake and the time it is when we have to drive home makes it hard sometimes.

I love the girls in my group. We all carpool down together, which saves on gas! Yay for saving money. And I love having Prof. M as an instructor down there. She is hilarious and really good to work with.

I need Class III's...

I swear people this is the story of my life. Happened to me last semester, and it is happening again. Where have all the class 3's gone? Oh where, oh where can they be? Oh wait, I know, Brooke and Leigh are cleaning them all.

I have surpassed the quota for class 2's. Maybe by the end of the year if I'm still having issues, they spill over my 2's to count as 3's??? That would be good. In my dreams will that ever happen though. Heres to praying! I did see my first class 3/4 today! Woot woot! And I can use her for my mockboard coming up! Thankfully McCall had gratiously given me one of her patients for mockboard so I didn't technically need one for this mockboard, but it was nice to pass the one off McCall gave me to Emily, so she could have a mockboard patient. Anyone else think mockboards is confusing??? Here's to hoping that goes smoothly when it comes up on the 11th of October.

First Lab Injections

Today was pretty awesome! First time doing injections on each other. Today we did macillary injections (PSA, MSA, Greater Palatine, and Nasopalatine) I'm not going to lie, I was pretty nervous to give injections for the first time, because I didn't know how I would handle it. But apprently I love injections! I only shook a little bit because you don't know what to expect when you pierce the tissue, but McCall was a champ, and  I did a good job. I think the key is exactly what the professors said, to "not be a ninny" and just have the confidence to know you are good, and you will get it right the first time. If you are confident, your patient will be confident in the injection and not so nervous. I can't wait until I give my first injections to a real patient in my chair during clinic.  Great Day. The adrenaline was definitely pumping. Our class rocks. We are amazing.

LASER that coldsore!!

Today rocked! I HATE cold sores, but I have to say I got this one at the right time! Thank you Joy and your laser! After clinic today Joy was able to laser my coldsore that started last night, to reduce the time the sore would be on my lip, increase healing time, and hopefully get rid of the dang coldsore forever!! That would be amazing. I don't think there would be anything better then to be coldsore free for the rest of my life. Here's to hoping.

I saw a kid and another healthy adult. I am pretty good at these classes these days and am not missing any areas. Dr. Hansen said she looks forward to the day when I start sweating because I have a higher class in my chair, and not just breezing through the 1A and 1B's. I hope they start rolling in too. I need requirements!

Sealants

Today I saw a 1A and discovered that this pt needed some sealants..Perfect! Now I can pass off the PE. After I grab all my armamentarium for sealants I tell Dr. Hanson that  I want to pass off the PE. She comes over and watches. The first sealant I did the child was just not having it. His tongue was all over the place, it was so hard to keep things dry, etc, etc. The second one was a success though. I thought I did pretty well, but as soon as I was finished Dr. Hanson needed to talk with me. In my head I didn't think that was a good sign. When I walked over there she told me that she was going to have to fail me on that PE because I didn't wear, and my patient didn't wear the orange goggles? WHAT? I never learned that. So she told me that she just wasn't going to grade me on the PE and I could just do it another time. Ok, that's fine. No skin off my nose, not a big deal. At least she didn't just fail me. So after the patient was dismissed I went to talk to her again, just to let her know that I never learned about having to wear the orange goggles. That wasn't how we learned it in first year. Apparently that was shocking because if Prof. Bossenberger had seen me doing the sealant she would have freaked out. Dr. Hanson checked with Prof. Costley to make sure what I said was true, and turns out Costley backed me up! Wahoo. PE passed off because of that! I have saved everyone else from failing their sealant PE. Good day.