I have just registered here after a year of lurking so I figured I'd say hello. I live in New Mexico, I am a PA and I work in OB/GYN. I graduated with my Master's Degree in 2003 from the University of St. Francis and have my undergrad degrees in biology and psychology.
It has been difficult being a PA in the OB/GYN setting because in terms of 'midlevels' it is largely dominated by NP's and CNM's. In my clinic I work with 2 docs and 3 CNM's. I love what I do, I am usually the only person in the clinic on most days so I see my own established patients, new patients, doc and midwife patients and any emergencies that wander in the door. I work in one of the rougher areas in Albuquerque and usually end up seeing quite a few emergencies weekly which are almost always obstetrical in nature. I also WARNING: PAT MYSELF ON THE BACK TIME... volunteer at Healthcare for the Homeless in the area of Harm Reduction ie. swapping dirty needles for clean ones, administering narcan, and providing modest wound care and medication for those dependent on opioids.
So now I'll give a for instance of an exciting day at work: Friday I was alone in the clinic and at 5 PM a woman 12 weeks pregnant walked in to be seen. She had not had any prenatal care up to this point with the exception of an ultrasound at the ER around 7 weeks where she did see positive fetal heart motion. We are not a walk-in clinic however we are required to see so-called 'EMTALA' patients. My patient was complaining of very severe abdominal pain coming every 5 - 10 minutes and some light spotting. I tried to listen for heart tones with my doppler but heard none; I got my ultrasound and looked for the baby and saw nothing. I went to do a speculum exam and just as I sat down she complained again of a severe pain followed by a gush of pink-red fluid (all over me of course). I cleaned her off and inserted the speculum just in time for the next pain to hit which was followed by a gush of blood and an intact, albeit small (2cm), embryo. So I grabbed it with a ring forceps and stuck it in some formalin.
That was a pretty amazing experience! (only second to the person who came in with a prolapsed cord hanging out, twin pregnancy, no prenatal care, with one live twin and one dead one!).
So that's my story, lemme hear about you!
-Laura
It has been difficult being a PA in the OB/GYN setting because in terms of 'midlevels' it is largely dominated by NP's and CNM's. In my clinic I work with 2 docs and 3 CNM's. I love what I do, I am usually the only person in the clinic on most days so I see my own established patients, new patients, doc and midwife patients and any emergencies that wander in the door. I work in one of the rougher areas in Albuquerque and usually end up seeing quite a few emergencies weekly which are almost always obstetrical in nature. I also WARNING: PAT MYSELF ON THE BACK TIME... volunteer at Healthcare for the Homeless in the area of Harm Reduction ie. swapping dirty needles for clean ones, administering narcan, and providing modest wound care and medication for those dependent on opioids.
So now I'll give a for instance of an exciting day at work: Friday I was alone in the clinic and at 5 PM a woman 12 weeks pregnant walked in to be seen. She had not had any prenatal care up to this point with the exception of an ultrasound at the ER around 7 weeks where she did see positive fetal heart motion. We are not a walk-in clinic however we are required to see so-called 'EMTALA' patients. My patient was complaining of very severe abdominal pain coming every 5 - 10 minutes and some light spotting. I tried to listen for heart tones with my doppler but heard none; I got my ultrasound and looked for the baby and saw nothing. I went to do a speculum exam and just as I sat down she complained again of a severe pain followed by a gush of pink-red fluid (all over me of course). I cleaned her off and inserted the speculum just in time for the next pain to hit which was followed by a gush of blood and an intact, albeit small (2cm), embryo. So I grabbed it with a ring forceps and stuck it in some formalin.
That was a pretty amazing experience! (only second to the person who came in with a prolapsed cord hanging out, twin pregnancy, no prenatal care, with one live twin and one dead one!).
So that's my story, lemme hear about you!
-Laura
