Almost there

My paramedic program has several hoops for those of us hoping and wishing to get out and get on with life.  In addition to the standard classes and finals and papers and so on, we have two comprehensive exams we have to take in order to be approved to test for national registry. One of those is a 'oral board review,' given to us by our medical director and some other person, sometimes a medical director, sometimes an experienced paramedic who is an alumni of the program.  The questions were given to us at the beginning of the semester, mainly because the way our instructors made it sound, we had to answer these questions as if we were attempted to become board certified in some specific medical field.  Questions such as 'What is the pathophysiology of cardiogenic shock?  Include in your discussion the concepts of preload, afterload, right and left sided heart failure, systolic dysfunction and diastolic dysfunction.  Also, describe the prehospital and emergency department treatments for cardiogenic shock.'

So yeah, there were 11 questions along those lines.  We had to pick two numbers out of a box and those were the questions we would do.

To say that I was stressed out may be the understatement of the year.  I cried on the way to school.  Everytime I started laughing while talking with my classmates, I would start crying.  I don't think I sat on the seat the whole time I was being questioned.  And it wasn't nearly as bad as we were told it would be.

So the next stress point for me is the skills evaluation, which is next Monday.  We use a Sim Man system, that breathes and everything.  On Tuesday, I have my last final, and then I fly to Florida.

Because when I pass paramedic school, I'm going to Disney World.

Now if I can just kick this cold/allergies that is making me feel like my head is 3 sizes too big.