Initial Entry

Wow, round two is here already!

For my first rotation, one of my initial fears was that we as students would be expected to recall and apply all of the information we’ve learnt at a new grad level, as a matter of course and without hesitation. It became apparent that, as it was our first rotation, we were somewhat eased into that expectation and were perhaps let off the hook a little. Now on this rotation, one of my concerns is that we no longer have that excuse of being new to our final year, and the expectations are exactly that of a qualified new graduate, with little to no allowance for gaps in skills and knowledge.

 

I’m expecting the placement to be very hands on, as it is a rehab specific facility that aims to facilitate a patients return to their relevant home/hostel/H/LLC facilities. I hope to see the full course of a patients recovery. This may actually occur as some of my patients from my first prac I referred to this particular facility for further rehab. It should be interesting to see how my/Physio expectations matched the patients abilities and actual outcomes, after we saw them off from the hospital. Did they achieve what I’d/ we’d hoped, or fall short and return to a higher level care facility?

 

 

Another significant concern of mine is that I’ll be going to this placement as the only student. I have always been on placement with another student, at least for the first week anyway. I’ve enjoyed having that support and the experience being new for both of us. That wont happen this rotation, I’ll be on my own without another student for “backup” and all eyes on me for what “I” think/do/etc.

 

Going to a smaller facility this time, I’m hoping for plenty of supervision (at least to start with) and feedback. Though, as I’m the only student there this rotation, perhaps I’ll be left to my own devices earlier and have a level of autonomy. This is fine, but for optimum learning, I’d really hope for (and prefer) the valuable personalised feedback that will help me become a better practitioner. This will perhaps also depend on how busy they are at the time, staffing levels, and my own abilities!

 

I’d like as many learning opportunities as possible whilst on prac, and hope at such a facility I’ll get a wide range of presentations and cases that will enhance my skills and knowledge. I did see a number of presentations on my last placement, but I’m expecting to see more orthopaedic conditions that will require a different set of problem solving skills, ones I’ve not had to use yet.

 

Mostly I hope to get as much from the prac experience as possible. I know our final unit this year will draw upon our prac experiences incorporating the biopsychosoical model of thinking, so keeping that in mind, I hope to gather all of the tools along each of the pracs to help with that final unit, and of course enhance my skills as a practitioner along the way. I want to be best prepared for when I graduate, knowing I’ve made the most of each prac and opportunity I’ve had throughout the year. I’ll continue to treat each placement as possible future employers!