Preparation is a Poor Prophylaxis for 1st Day Butterflies

Perhaps this picture won’t be appreciated until your first hospital session during which you practice the history and physical (H&P), but it made me laugh because this was most of our class. During my first session I felt like my white coat didn’t have enough pockets (it had 6) and that if I had just had 1 more day to prepare I would have been less nervous. Preparation is a poor prophylaxis for 1st day butterflies... because no amount of prep will help. Study, by all means, study! But realize that no matter how much you study, you're gonna make some mistakes. There are questions that you won't know the answer to... Relax. You are a student. Your preceptor and fellow students will be supportive and you will do the same when you see one of your classmates struggle. PA school is hard, but focus on making it a comfortable environment to make mistakes and learn from them and you'll be much happier when your time rolls around to screw up. Below are some quick hit resources to help you study the important stuff without the fluff. Trust me. You won't have much time for fluff.

I’m not sure how other programs are run as far as recommended texts, but at Northeastern, there are few required texts. Most of the information that we need is given to us in supplemental packets or powerpoints. Although I like to consider myself a digital maven, I also like to collect books. So I thought I’d throw out some books that I have referenced many times as well as a non-exhaustive list of websites to aid you on your quests for knowledge.

Books:

1.Step Up to Medicine 2^nd Ed. By Agabegi and Agabegi

This is by far my most referenced book. It covers almost every disorder and disease talked about in PA school in a nice straight to the point fashion. Each disorder is broken down in bullet point style (definition, clinical presentation, tests to run, treatment options, and pearls of wisdom). No fluff.

2.Some anatomy and physiology book

It doesn’t really matter which one- I like the Netter books personally.

3.Rapid Interpretation of EKG by Dubin

A must have if you have never read EKGs before.

4.Blueprints (Pediatrics, Surgery, and Emergency Medicine) are all good.

5. Bates Physical Diagnosis (both the reg size and the Baby Bates)

Websites:

General
1. Awesome General Website (you need to sign up but its free): http://emedicine.medscape.com/
2. Normal #s Reference: http://pathcuric1.swmed.edu/pathdemo/nrrt.htm
3. More references than you'll know what to do with but some great resources: http://www.medicalstudent.com/
4. Stay up to date and there are some good videos (like how to do a lumbar puncture or central line, available app for phone too) http://www.nejm.org/
5. If you are interested in community service- check out The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship: http://www.schweitzerfellowship.org/
6. If you are interested in Surgery: http://www.aaspa.com 

7. UpToDate: www.uptodate.com (Several of my classmates got a subscription in lieu of buying any books. Its not cheap: $195/year for students. $495/year after you graduate.

EKG
1. http://ecg.bidmc.harvard.edu/maven/mavenmain.asp

Anatomy
1. Just subscribe to this person's channel because when you have cadaver lab all of their videos will be invaluable: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxNV2Tfuiy8

Neurology
1. Online Neuroscience textbook: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10799/

I have a ton more resources and could go on forever -- but these were the most used for me personally. Feel free to post any helpful links that you’ve found. I love checking out new sites!