Saturday, November 26, 2016

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Updated: 11/25/2016
Although Rheumatology falls under the Orthopedics section of the PANCE, which counts for 10% of the test, it isn’t heavily emphasized during PANCE review courses or in PA school, for that matter. I think our program probably spent 1 week or less on Rheumatology. This part of the test doesn’t have to be scary and it doesn’t have to be a bunch of memorization, either. Just remembering the basics can get you the answers you need to a few questions on the PANCE so that you’re not missing the easy “quick and dirty” questions.
A good place to start is with lupus. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect many systems and one of the most challenging aspects about diagnosing it is that many of the symptoms are nonspecific and overlap with other common conditions. You’re almost guaranteed to have a question or two on lupus on your PACKRAT, EOR Exam, PANCE or PANRE. The thing to note about all rheumatological conditions are their overlaps and subtle differences. Lupus has a very characteristic malar rash that is often tested over - keep in mind they can give you a description or photo with a corresponding vignette. Don’t focus too much on all of the manifestations of lupus. It can appear quite vague most times and is often a diagnosis of exclusion.

Friday, November 25, 2016

5 Tips on Taking the PANCE

5 Tips on Taking the PANCE
Updated: 11/25/2016
After studying for the PANCE for about the past month and a half, I will finally be releasing a review of (most) resources for you all - my loyal readers. First off, a huge thank-you to all of you for your interest in the PA profession; whether you’re just starting your journey or close to finishing, I hope that my blog has influenced your life for the better. Thank you all for sticking with my blog even through the past month or so when I’ve been absent from almost all forms of social media.

Second, I’d like to start out by saying that I took my PANCE on a Tuesday and received my results the following Wednesday. Guess what? I passed! I’m now officially a certified physician assistant and am so grateful to have made it this far. My next journey begins as a PA at Children’s Health in Dallas working in Neurology.

Now, let’s get back to why you’re here - the PANCE. This test - while the ultimate determinant of your career - should not be feared. It can be both challenging and deterring, but not impossible. While there are many forums online promoting or demoting the many products, question banks, and review courses, I’m here to give you my own opinion on most of the popular ones out today. Though this review is not intended to be all inclusive, I hope to give you all a starting place no matter your budget or timeline.  

Please review the NCCPA Content Blueprint Areas listed by Organ System here. Also, note that the site does mention that “Other content dimensions cross-sect these categories. For example, up to 20 percent of the questions on any exam may also be related to surgery or infectious disease, and up to two percent may also cover legal or ethical issues.” One area that I don’t believe PA programs emphasize heavily is legal issues surrounding healthcare. We do cover a lot of ethical scenarios in PA school - I think most programs do - as it's probably an ARC-PA requirement, but legal issues are not. The Healthcare Handbook is a nationally known text summarizing the basics surrounding healthcare in the U.S. and is a great review that I highly recommend prior to starting PA school.

In my experience with the PANCE, I felt the rotation exams prepared me for the PANCE best by covering topics like surgery, emergency medicine, and pediatrics in great detail. Old PACKRAT questions were great for review as well as they give you a sneak peak into the vignette style questions you may encounter on rotation exams, PACKRAT, and PANCE. You can go here to learn more about the PACKRAT. In addition, PACKRAT files may be found online but the best place to check is Quizlet!

As stated previously, there are many options available to help you review for the exam. During my clinical rotations and month and a half study session, I utilized many of these resources myself to help gauge what I felt was most helpful. While I will not endorse one product over another, I will offer suggestions as to what I think would have been an appropriate study plan. Here are 5 tips on taking the PANCE. Stay tuned for my full review of PANCE resources, coming soon.

5 Tips on Taking the PANCE