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Financial Coach and physician assistant/associate Kristin Burton spent time with me sharing her experience as a PA. Not only is Kristin a critical care PA, but she has also been featured in yahoo finance due to her financial success. Kristin is a financial coach who is debt-free and teaches others how to win with money.
Show Links: Kristin Burton: https://www.instagram.com/strivewithkristin/ website: https://www.strivewithkristin.com/money101
Borrowed Future podcast: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/borrowed-future
The post EmpoweredPAs Podcast with Special Guest Kristin Burton appeared first on EmpoweredPAs.
In this episode, I discuss how our profession is deeply rooted in the military. I discuss the origins of the profession and the role that the military has played in how we serve today in filling the physician shortage.
The post Thank You For Your Service, How Veterans started it all. appeared first on EmpoweredPAs.
Podcast Episode #7: Our guest Kevin Williams joins us on this episode. Kevin is a PA from the Tampa Florida area. He practices psychiatric medicine and owns his own clinic. We discussed the COVID-19 surge, the stress it’s having on our health care providers, and how it’s adding to burnout. Kevin also gives us signs to watch for and steps for self-care as it pertains to our mental health.
To Learn more about Kevin and his practice go to https://www.onpointcare.net/
The post COVID-19 surge, burnout, and how it is affecting us. appeared first on EmpoweredPAs.
I am SOOOOOO excited to finally have the word out.. You may recall we recently announced that Becky joined the team and now I’m happy to announce that we have Christopher Watson who has officially joined our EmpoweredPAs team too!
Chris is a practicing Orthopedic PA-C with a passion for leadership and advocacy. He has a LOT of amazing experience, ideas and enthusiasm he brings to the site and I’m SOOO excited to have him join us! He has a lot to say and share with the community and is keen to spark conversation and dialogue around tough topics.
I have to be honest, medicine is really hard right now, and it makes my heart SOO happy to see others as passionate about the PA profession as I am. I make no promises, but I hope by tripling the team we can have more regular content out for you, and bonus, from a variety of voices! Becky is at the beginning of her career, and Chris and I are more mid career PAs.. both with clinical experience. Chris has leadership and advocacy experience while I have administrative and nonclinical experience. Together I hope we can help support YOU through your career as a PA, no matter where you are at. Building a community starts with a team of passionate people and I believe this is a step in the right direction!
If you are reading this I just want to say THANKS for supporting EmpoweredPAs.
Bear with us as we all navigate the world of working in medicine during a pandemic while also staying on top of posts! Lots of great things to come! If you haven’t already, consider signing up to our newsletter. It’s been dormant for a while.. hopefully we can apply the pads and do a little defib
You might see more of us on our Youtube page too as we hope to record and post videos along the way. The three of us are pretty active on instagram (links below). If you ever feel inclined to support EmpoweredPAs, watch our previous virtual shadowing events, get certificates for previous events OR join our monthly PA-C/ PA-S/Pre-PA community zoom calls go to: Patreon.com/EmpoweredPAs
–Courtney, Chris and Becky
The post Exciting News for EmpoweredPAs! appeared first on EmpoweredPAs.
Many healthcare workers are struggling with burnout right now, and I am one of them. After a year of stress, and continued challenges, I found myself feeling the symptoms of burn out again and wanted to share what I’ve been doing to manage those symptoms.
This is probably one of the most vulnerable posts I’ve made. I thought it was important to share my experiences and journey, so other PAs and healthcare workers know they are not alone. I share symptoms of burn out that I experience, and what I’ve been doing to change it, what’s been working and what hasn’t been working!
Enjoy!
-C
The post Self Care In Healthcare- What Has Helped Me appeared first on EmpoweredPAs.
Today’s podcast is one I’ve been looking forward to. Brianna Cardenas is a PA, an educator, an advocate and such an excellent example of a PA who is truly EMPOWERED. She has been kind and generous enough to have the TOUGH conversations. I took the liberty of summarizing the first part of the podcast content here, but I strongly encourage you to listen to the podcast as well!
Disclaimer: All opinions stated here are our own, personal, and do not necessarily reflect that of our employers.
Also- be kind, we may not get it all right but we are all learning together.
Brianna was diagnosed at the age of 20 with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome which is a connective tissue disorder that can cause chronic joint and back pain. Initially, she thought it simply meant she was hypermobile, that she might have arthritis. While she was getting her bachelor’s degree in athletic training, a physical therapist, identified her symptoms.
She only applied to one PA school. She states she could only afford one program but also that her illness would limit her ability to commute due to her chronic back pain. She now reflects that she didn’t realize this was one barrier she was faced with as an applicant.
She also reflects that her journey as a patient and PA and has motivated her to create HealedandEmpowered as a resource for those with chronic disabilities.
She’s had several interactions which she now understands were discriminatory in hindsight.
Something others can do to help:
Understanding the concept that PAs feel as though they cannot speak up because of the power people hold. A preceptor can hold a students
…LISTEN TO THE PODCAST FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW…
You can reach Brianna Cardenas:
I hope you’ve enjoyed this snippet of our discussion- there is so much more in the podcast! I hope to inspire real conversation, motivate people to be open to dialogue and show our colleagues and patients that we are there for them.
I want to thank Brianna for her courage and passion! These conversations are so incredibly important, and I’m so thankful to have a safe place to discuss them!
-Courtney
The post Diversity in the PA Profession: Navigating Obstacles with Brianna Cardenas, PA-C appeared first on EmpoweredPAs.
Night shift.. you either embrace it or loathe it! In the 20 years that I have been in medicine, I’ve realized that many (MANY) healthcare professionals, including Physician Assistants (PAs), work night shifts! This means that the people looking to become a PA (or other healthcare professional) will end up working night shifts as well, and so I thought I might impose share some of the things I have learned along the way.
When I was a Pre-PA, I shadowed an awesome ER PA and was lucky enough to shadow during several of his night shifts. It really opened my eyes to a whole different world compared to when I’d shadowed on a day shift. We had more trauma patients, and so, there were more procedures to watch (which was awesome). I also noticed that the night shift crew was “a little different” than day shift (which was also awesome)… they were grittier, more sarcastic, very down to earth and generally, my kind of people. They truly had “seen it all” and shared some of the craziest stories I’d ever heard.
Then, when I was a PA student in a trauma center, I worked many night shifts in the trauma center during my ER rotation and found that night shift ER personality to be ubiquitous no matter what ER I was working in. I actually learned to suture the most during these shifts. I also learned how amazing it is to work in a busy ER when the entire team works together to save a life.
The “night shift personality” was also confirmed during the first four years I worked as an Emergency Medicine PA in a busy “general” ER, and also in my last 5 years working in a pediatric emergency department. I love the night shift crew (and love my day shifters/mid shifters too!). It’s an accepted fact that if you work as an ER PA, generally (though not always) you will be working some night shifts.
PAs working in a hospital sometimes also work on a shift-based schedule, and sometimes that includes night shift! PAs can work in all areas of the hospital on a night shift including
Some clinics and outpatient offices have their PAs cover call for their service as the consultant.. This often means they are up at all times answering calls from patients or another provider.
These tips are based on my own personal experiences, remember that YOU may be different. In the past 20 years, I’ve worked night shifts in some form or another. I’ve worked 24 hour shifts as a paramedic, or 8, 10, 12, and 16 hour night shifts in a variety of roles ranging from ER tech to trauma room paramedic and eventually as an ER PA. These experiences have helped me fine-tune what works best for ME. This should not be considered medical advice and I encourage you to seek out and find what might work best for you.
Many people think they should to stay up late in the 48 hours before working night shift.. to “get ready” for their upcoming night shift.
Nearly 20 years of working night shifts has lead me to tell you this isn’t true. I have actually found that staying up late the nights before makes me MORE tired the following days, and really messes up my sleep-wake cycle. This is especially true (and kind of obvious) when I can’t sleep in! I suggest getting plenty of sleep beforehand.
As a former Non-Napper, I know many of you will think this isn’t necessary. Napping is best but even just lying down, without a phone, TV, music or stimulation can make a huge difference come 4am.
I usually look at trying to nap at least 20-30 minutes and up to 2 hours the day I’m working night shift. I try to aim for around 12 pm but sometimes I end up napping around 2 or 3 pm. Typically, I’ll set my alarm, go in a dark, cool room, and get some shut-eye.
#protip: don’t drink a ton of caffeine the morning of. When you wake up, drink a little less than you usually would. This should help you fall asleep for that early afternoon nap and will save you in the long run. When you wake up from that nap, then enjoy your usual intake of caffeine!
So, I’m no health nut (..sigh) but I have found on the days that are more.. ahem… “carb” heavy or full of junk food, I just feel more crappy during night shift. This has only been a recent revelation, to be honest and has definitely worsened in my 30s. This doesn’t mean NO snacks when working night shift, it just means include healthier ones. There’s no judgment here.. I love chocolate and coffee and don’t fit to any strict diet on night shifts.. I just try to make sure I INCLUDE the healthy stuff too.
You all KNOW what I’m talking about, that feeling when you didn’t make the best food choices, really can wreak haovc come the 3am cortisol dump. Trust me on this one.
In addition to some of the obvious things like drinking more water, eating more veggies and avoiding pasta and potatoes on the day of and during my shift, here are some other things that have helped me (links are affiliate links!):
Ok, let me start with the fact that I live in Florida. You know, that place that feels like you have stepped into a sauna every time you walk outside 6 months out of the year? That being said, hospital chillers are well known to freeze patients and staff out.. but did you know your natural temperature can (usually will) drop about 2 degrees Fahrenheit around 3 am. This can be due to several factors, including your own circadian rhythm, cortisol levels, and the number of bodies in the department, but I nearly ALWAYS get cold at this time. I found wearing a long sleeve shirt under scrubs on my night shifts usually helps in the wintertime but in the summer, I opt for an outer jacket I can take off.
My absolute favorite jacket is the Ionic scrub jacket from Medelita. It’s warm, but not made of fleece, which gets too hot for me. It also has a vent in the back of the jacket to help with airflow, has lots of pockets and I freaking LOVE their embroidery. I loved them so much that I reached out to their founder, Lara, who is also a PA and I’m thankful to be an ambassador for them, which helps support this website. I also have several of their white coats which I love, but for nights.. the Ionic is my go-to.
Ok, this might only be for ER people.. or maybe just me, but if we have a lull, and I close my eyes, even briefly, I’m RUINED for the rest of the shift. Some people find an empty bed to sleep on.. some people have call rooms and are actually able to get a good nap in. I find just powering through it actually keeps me more productive.
Again, this might only be for my ER people, but it is SO easy to get behind on a night shift. First off the patient patterns are different, you often walk into a waiting room full of patients and need to quickly see as many as possible, which may put you behind on charting. Usually there is a 2-4am lull which allows you to catch up but if a code or trauma patient walks through the doors all bets are off. Keep up with your charting the best you can because come 5am, you will NOT want to chart, I promise. You will be tired, and looking to go home, and honestly, staying late to chart after a night shift is it’s own form of torture.
Ok so I feel like this whole post is basically about how I dose my coffee addiction intake but this also was something that took me YEARS to perfect. After I’ve taken that nap in tip #2, I make a large, yummy cup of iced coffee and enjoy it my whole way to work. I usually drink another cup during my shift but I have a cut off of no more than 2 cups and absolutely no caffeine 2 hours before the end of my shift and roughly 3-4 hours before I’m in bed. (4 am for me). This has helped with that “lay in bed and stare at the ceiling” issue that can happen after a night shift. I also found that the 85% Cacao Chocolate squares I’d treat myself with contains a decent amount of caffeine and so the same rules apply with chocolate too. So, to summarize:
I also use caffeine to help me turn around (Tip #10).
I have found that eating a small breakfast has really helped me fall asleep (and stay asleep). When I don’t.. I often wake up the next day much earlier than I’d like because I’m hungry and used to eating around that time.
I know it’s counterintuitive but I also try to only drink a small amount of liquid after 4 am when working night shift because 6 hours later is a terrible time to have to micturate when you are in full REM sleep.
Night shifters will absolutely boast about how they’ve caved out their bedroom like it’s a competition. And it’s no wonder.. studies have shown even the smallest amount of light in a room (including that from your phone) can effect your sleep. Combine this with sleeping during the day time and you’ll quickly realize how important your environment is top getting good sleep.
For those more established, or those with kids or roommates this can be a little more challenging. I have some suggestions but recognize that not everyone can do these things
Melatonin is one of those best-kept secrets of the night shift land. For me, it has been a total game-changer and helps with a good night’s sleep! Not everyone responds to melatonin the same way. I suggest reading more and talk to your own healthcare provider, making sure it is safe for you, including making sure no medication interactions, and even considering starting at lower doses. For me, 3mg works best and doesn’t cause me to be groggy the next day. Specifically, I use this Melatonin.
Those “turn around” days are often overlooked. I have found that by being specific about how I plan the day after I wake up from night shift, I can make sure I turn around fast (and lets be honest, I’m less grumpy).
I hope these tips have helped you survive working night shift. After years and years of working nights, this is what keeps me sane! Obviously, not everything works for everyone BUT if even ONE of these tips is helpful, I’ll at least know it was worth the share.
-Courtney
Listen on the Podcast
The post 10 Tips To Help You Survive Working Night Shift appeared first on EmpoweredPAs.
Want to change your life as a PA? Well maybe that’s a (very big) stretch, but in this introductory podcast, these tips really can make a big difference in your professional world. This episode discusses simple things you can do today that can make a strong impact tomorrow, and help you grow professionally as a PA.
Listen on the Podcast
The post Things You Can Do Today As A PA That Will Change Your Life appeared first on EmpoweredPAs.
I’m SOOOOOO Excited to introduce you all to the EmpoweredPAs.com Podcast! Physician Assistants and Physician Associates all over the world are expanding their roles into nonclinical realms and so, I thought it was time to add dialogue to the blog. In this first episode, I introduce myself and give a little background on the website, why I’m passionate about PAs and what this little podcast is all about. It’s short and sweet, without frills bells or whistles but should give you an idea of what to expect in the up and coming episodes.
Courtney T., PA-C, EMT-P EmpoweredPAs.com Podcast Host(ess)
To learn more, check out: about the site
The post Welcome to the EmpoweredPAs.com Podcast! appeared first on EmpoweredPAs.
The podcast currently has 10 episodes available.