"Hell Week," Electives and Bear Spray

I just finished what I'm lovingly calling "Hell Week."

Monday: PAEA Emergency Medicine Exam and Pediatrics Exam (2 hours a piece)
Tuesday: End of Rotation OSCE exam
Wednesday: study day
Thursday: End of Curriculum OSCEs - this included a technical skills test on suturing, two small exams regarding diagnostics, an OSCE and a patient education OSCE
Friday: End of Curriculum PAEA Exam (five. hours. long.)

By the end of the week, I was wiped out. I think I had a glass of wine (or two) while I watched Ozark Friday night. It's a bit of a blur, haha.

I know that I passed my End of Rotation stuff, because I needed to pass before I could take my End of Curriculum exams. But sadly, I won't know the results of those exams until this week Friday. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

And while it feels like I'm done, now that those exams are over, it's not over yet. I am starting my last two rotations -- I'll be doing three weeks in orthopedic urgent care and then four weeks in pediatric urgent care. I think these rotations will help prepare me for my future family medicine position.

I'd be lying if I was counting down the days until graduation (59 days) and taking the PANCE (73 days). And after three long years of hard work, I probably deserve a vacation before I start my job, right? So my sister and I are planning a trip to Banff!

I told her I was not at all interested in camping, but would be fine with a hotel stay and driving to our hiking destinations. But wouldn't you know it, we found this fun little campsite with trapper's tents and picnic tables and rentable camping gear.

And, you know, some warnings about how not to attract bears. I have a bit of a sorted history with bears, but that's a story for another time...

I digress! Looks like I've be roughing it in the Canadian wilderness in a few short months. Wish me luck, because I don't think I've been camping since I went camping in my backyard when I was like 10 years old. And somehow I don't think it counts if you find an really long extension cord and bringing a small TV into the tent.

*me suddenly realizing I probably won't have cell phone reception* 😟

Thanks for reading,

Olivia

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