Making the Most of Clinical Rotations as a PA Student

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You’ve officially made it through the didactic phase of your physician’s assistant program. First of all, congratulations! Now comes the next challenge: clinical rotations. Think of rotations as learning how to read; the didactic phase was learning the alphabet. Now, you’re in the next crucial phase of applying what you’ve learned to become the best clinician possible.

Here are a few of my favorite tips and tricks for making the most of your time as a PA student on rotations.

Be Excited About Each Rotation

There will always be a rotation you’re not necessarily looking forward to. We’ve all been there, even your preceptors! However, there’s a difference between the student who shows up ready to learn from a rotation despite not being their favorite area and the student who shows up with a bad attitude. (Don’t be the second one.) Consider each rotation a short exploration into a medical specialty – a chance to look into something you might not have considered otherwise. And who knows, you might just find your future specialty in doing just that.

Your First Bad Case

Your first patient interaction that doesn’t go to plan will always stick with you. It sticks with every healthcare provider. Don’t let one bad outcome become the “end-all-be-all” of your rotation experience. Learn about what went wrong, determine if anything was missed or overlooked, learn from it, and move on. And if you need a little extra help, don’t be afraid to ask. Your preceptors have most definitely been in your shoes before.

A student in blue scrubs sits on a bench next to a stack of books that she's studying.

Studying During Rotations

While the exams might be the least fun thing about your rotation, keep in mind that they’re just as important as the rotation itself. One of my favorite aspects of Osmosis is the Clinical Sciences library; it blends didactic and clinical material seamlessly into easy-to-follow charts and videos. Plus, there are some fantastic clinical questions in the Question Bank, like this:

A 75-year-old man presents to his primary care physician for evaluation of a painful rash over the left side of his face for the past four days. He reports his symptoms were preceded by malaise and low-grade fevers at home. He has a history of hypertension, diabetes, and chickenpox in his youth. Temperature is 37.5°C (99.5°F), blood pressure is 154/70 mmHg, pulse is 90/min, respiratory rate is 14/min, and oxygen saturation is 98% on room air. On physical examination, a vesicular rash is noted in the V1 distribution over the left face. Several vesicles are noted over the distal left tip of the nose. The rash does not cross the midline of the face. 

Mental status and neurologic exams are within normal limits. Which of the following diagnostic studies should be performed next?

  1. Fluorescein stain of the left eye
  2. HIV viral load
  3. Lumbar puncture
  4. Viral culture
  5. Tzanck smear

A Note on Evaluations

When it’s time to say goodbye and head on to the next specialty, don’t forget to show your appreciation to the people who helped you learn and grow! Make sure to thank your preceptor before you leave on your last day. There’s no need to get super fancy here (unless you want to, of course), but it means a lot to them to know that they helped in your PA  learning journey. (Consider sending them a heartfelt thank you with a free Osmosis Spread Joy card to show your appreciation.)

Clinical rotations can appear scary from the outside; after all, it’s your first time working with patients! Hopefully, these few tips and tricks will help you not only navigate the clinical environment with ease but also thrive during your rotations.

(And for anyone curious about that practice question – the answer is A!)

About the Author

Madison Donnelly is a PA student at Hofstra University in her final semester. She is especially passionate about neonatal critical care and obstetrics, and she aspires to make a difference in PA education, leadership, and advocacy. Outside of the classroom, you can find her baking sweet treats, enjoying a nice cup of coffee, and watching Disney movies.


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