Crack the PANRE-LA Code: Tips from the Pros Webinar Recap

By Katie Iverson, PA-C, MPAS
on August 22, 2024

Our Hippo PAs had a great time at our Crack the PANRE-LA Code: Tips from the Pros webinar talking about our experiences taking the PANRE-LA. Here, we have reviewed some of the nuts and bolts of the exam and our top tips and tricks. We read through all the questions asked during the webinar and have also addressed some of those here. We hope this helps ease your test anxiety whether you are almost done, halfway through, or about to start the PANRE-LA exam. Regardless, Hippo Education has the tools you need to succeed. 

Dermatology Demystified

By Katie Iverson, PA-C, MPAS
on May 03, 2024

With spring in full swing and warmer days upon us, everyone is heading outdoors.

Level Up Your PANRE-LA Prep

By Katie Iverson, PA-C, MPAS
on March 18, 2024

Welcome, fellow PAs, to the PANRE-LA journey; whether you are about to start quarter six or quarter 2, we are all in this together. I am about to begin my 6th quarter and wanted to share some tips and tricks learned over the past five quarters that can help you succeed. 

A Quick Dance Through the New PANCE Content Blueprint

By Katie Iverson, PA-C, MPAS
on March 05, 2024

When the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve and 2025 is ushered in, PA students everywhere will also usher in a new era as NCCPA just released the new PANCE Content Blueprint. Here is what you need to know about the changes to help you prepare for your exam if you take it in 2025 and beyond. 

Don’t Go Breaking My Heart…Valve

By Katie Iverson, PA-C, MPAS
on February 05, 2024

As we celebrate American Heart Month, let’s take some time to review all the different ways our heart valves can break and how they present in the clinical setting. Ok, “break” is dramatic, but it’s February, when all sorts of heart puns are forgiven, right? ❤️

Toys for Kids: Keep them Safe

By Katie Iverson, PA-C, MPAS
on December 06, 2023

As December is Safe Toys and Gifts Awareness Month, now is the perfect time to emphasize the importance of toy safety to parents and caregivers.

Toys bring joy and learning opportunities to children, but they can also pose serious health risks. According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) report on Toy Related Deaths and Injuries in 2022, there were 11 deaths in children under age 14 related to toys.

There were also 209,500 emergency department visits due to toy injuries in those under age 14, with 38% of those injured being young children under age 4. Many toys can cause minor scrapes or cuts and according to the U.S. CPSC report, 41% of the ER visits due to toy injury were for lacerations or bruising in 2022.

Meet Hippo Education’s Newest Course, Radiology Bootcamp: Plain Films

By Katie Iverson, PA-C, MPAS
on November 14, 2023

As clinicians practicing acute care medicine, we’re tasked with treating a wide variety of patients.

And no matter how thorough our didactic education or clinical skills training, many of the tools we use in acute care medicine are learned on the job.

And there’s no better example of this than plain films interpretation. Unfortunately, this leads to wide variances in both imaging study experience and imaging interpretation accuracy amongst providers. 

The Realities of PA Military Life

By Katie Iverson, PA-C, MPAS
on November 03, 2023

One of the biggest challenges for any PA moving to another state is the need for a new state license. This is especially true for active-duty PA military spouses due to their frequent moves. This uprooting not only personally affects couples and families, but also the patients, clinical teams, hospital systems, and communities due to turnover and loss of clinicians in the workforce as these PAs relocate. 

Understanding Cataracts: Identifying the Signs and Symptoms

By Katie Iverson, PA-C, MPAS
on June 05, 2023

Understanding the signs and symptoms of cataracts is essential for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment planning. Let’s explore the key indicators that can help us as medical providers to identify and address cataracts effectively.

The one-stop shop for clinical year success

By Katie Iverson, PA-C, MPAS
on April 13, 2023

PA Students, the clinical rotation year is an exciting and challenging time, as you’re finally able to apply all that you’ve learned in the didactic year to real-world patients. On the other hand, this year is also stressful and can feel overwhelming with all the changes and newness.

For over a decade I’ve been on PA faculty, and every year, the start of the clinical year brings up the same emotion in all of my students. I think the proper word for this emotion is “scited,” which was coined by author Glennon Doyle and is the combination of “scared” and “excited.” 

All of my students ask the same questions… “What are my rotations going to be like?” “How do I not look like a doofus on the first day?” “What kind of questions are preceptors going to ask me?” And then, of course, the classic question, “What is going to be on the test?”

My Hippo PA team understands what it is like to feel “scited” about this year, because we’ve lived that experience, and walked hundreds of students through it. 

Here’s my advice: