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Being a distance PA student: Campus visits


As a traditional distance education PA student at my university, we have to come back to campus twice each semester. I only live about an hour and a half drive from campus, so this isn't a big deal for me, but many people have to fly in from out of state to be here for these visits.

Campus visits are our time to participate in hands-on activities like the campus students. Some of the labs we're completing include:
  • Wound care
  • Casting and splinting
  • Sterile technique
  • Lumbar puncture
  • Suturing
  • Chest tube placement
  • Testing blood sugar
  • Using different types of inhalers and peak flow meters
  • IV/blood draws
  • ...and much more!
It's also during these visits that we work with standardized patients or visit the VA to work with real patients there. Additionally, we'll come back right before our clinical year for a course on surgery. I seriously can't wait until we get to that point!





Each visit lasts anywhere from two to four days, and I'm lucky enough that one of the friends I made over the summer lets me crash on an air mattress on her living room floor during my visits! Definitely helps to save money not having to get a hotel room. Since she's a regular campus student, she'll be off to clinicals next year, which means I'll either have to get a hotel or find someone else to crash with. But we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

Because I'm a "part-time" (ha) PA student, I'm still working. This means having to take PTO for these visits, which kind of stinks (I'd rather use my time off for real vacations!), but I'm glad I have an employer who can accommodate this time away from work.

It was interesting, because a lot of people asked me this visit if I wish I had been a campus student instead. I'll admit, at first I was disappointed that I didn't get a campus spot because it meant stretching out my education to a third year. And then when it was time to leave campus at the end of the summer semester, I was desperately sad to be leaving my classmates and heading home to learn alone.

I will say, I've embraced all the positives about my situation, too. My friends from school are still amazing and happy to call or text whenever I need it. Those bonds are still alive and well! I get to keep working which not only keeps up my clinical skills, but it's obviously good financially. It also gives me a bit of a "break" from the classroom. When I think about my campus friends who sit in a classroom watching lectures 8-5 five days a week, my head spins. I don't think I could sit still that long!!

At the end of the day, I am so happy to be where I am, having this amazing opportunity to learn from a distance through a great university. Sure, it's taking me a bit longer, but it's going to be so worth it in the end! 

Check out more of my posts to learn what it's like to be a distance PA student and what my daily routine looks like.

Thanks for reading,
Olivia
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