Initial Entry

Initial Entry - Cardio Placement

And so our final year begins! This moment has been such a long time coming and the thought of actually starting prac tomorrow scares me a little. One of my biggest fears is that, in theory, we have been given all of the information, and we are now expected to apply that knowledge at a new graduate level. We have of course applied our knowledge on placements before, but now being fourth year, the level of expectations have raised and I only hope I can meet these adequately.

 

As a student you feel so green and wish for that fluidity and subconscious flow in what you do, but this only comes with experience. It’s gaining this experience placement by placement that I’m most looking forward to.

I’m expecting the placement will be very hands on. I hope this is the case as we just completed the final cardio unit last semester and it would be great to cement that knowledge by applying it practically.

 

In preparation for my placement, I’ve completed a couple of the suggested online learning styles questionnaires that the Freo Hospital document recommended before starting. I have always known this but I thrive in practically applying skills, getting in there and actually doing things (which is why I love placements so much). I tend to learn best by visually seeing something done first, then having a go myself. The learning styles questionnaires reiterated that for me so I hope I’m able to observe the process and protocols on the ward first rather than be thrown in the deep end and expected to do things off the bat. It’s the more complex techniques like mechanical ventilation that would worry me. Regular assessments and treatments I would be happier to do without prior demonstration, but using IPPB machines is a bit daunting given how much we use them at uni.

 

Another significant concern of mine in going to such a large teaching hospital is that I’ll perhaps not get as much supervision and feedback as I’ve had at smaller institutions. This fear may be completely unwarranted, but for some reason I sense that with so many uni students at the hospital I’ll be pushed off into new grad land as if completely competent. I know I still have much to learn, so hope this is not the case.

 

I’d like as many learning opportunities as possible whilst on prac, and hope at such a hospital I’ll get a wide range of presentations and cases that will enhance my skills and knowledge. This is particularly important to me, as this is the last opportunity to do so as a student, and I’m not gaining anything by a having passive placement experience.  The more I see and learn on prac now, the better those experiences will serve me once working as a new grad at such a hospital.

 

Most of all I hope I enjoy this placement as much as previous ones. It will no doubt be a challenge, but a hopefully really fascinating and interesting one at that. Here goes!