OK, so it has been a while......again.

So, I am done with pediatric internal medicine and have moved on to my elective.....Cardiothoracic surgery.

There are a few reasons that I asked for this rotation.

1) I know that I want to go into surgery and I hear that CT surgeons really utilize PA's more than any other surgeon. I wanted to see if CT surg was for me.

2) I heard that there was a possibility that this group might be looking to add another PA.

3) I heard that on this rotation, if I bust my ass, I will get to do a lot.

4) The more surgery experience I get the better.

5) Managing ICU patients scares the shit out of me, so I better get some experience while I am still a student and can fall back on that.

I had several people try to talk me out of this rotation. My preceptor has quite a reputation for being "difficult" and let me know on my first day that he has made several of our students cry. I knew this going in. I was encouraged by a student in the class before me to go on this rotation and was encouraged that with my personality I could handle it/them. I was also told that with hard work they would recognize that I want to learn and take me under their wings so to speak.

In the beginning of this rotation, I was bored. I was told in the first week, "you will get to scrub in next week". That surprised me as I have done sugery on 3 other rotations.....but I think that they are used to having students that this is their first surgery rotation, so I get it. Well, they actually let me scrub in on Wednesday of that first week......and anytime I want ever since.

In the beginning of this rotation I was thinking that I did not like CT surgery. Anything is boring if you only get to watch for 5 hours. SO, once I started to get to do things, I really started to like it! I got to put in my first chest tube solo today. I have been assisting the radial artery harvesting, and was told at the last one that I will be doing it next time.......

Well the other day that came true and I got to do a good portion of it myself!

I have been writing this over a series of a few days and a few developments have taken place. Seems like I am in high demand!! I am getting job offers left and right and people are trying to snag me. The question is......Seattle or Portland? Life or no life? No holidays or holidays? No call or call? The holidays and call would suck, but with them comes not only a ton of great experience to back me but a gigantic paycheck. The only question now is.....When do I start, and where?

It will definitely be nice to have the comfort of knowing that I will have a job waiting for me when I get out, but as of now, negotiations are stressful!!