Well, the trimester that I have been waiting for has finally
arrived! I went through one week of Student Clinic Orientation and
started Student Clinic. I was so nervous with all the forms we had
to memorize, the protocols we had to follow, and the actual
patients we were going to meet. With my involvement in school, I
was able to get many patients referred to me from higher interns
and other patients requested me so that was great!
For weeks and weeks, I've been preparing for Student Clinic.
From looking over old notes about certain procedures, practicing my
manipulation techniques and anything and everything, it still
didn't calm my nerves. Many upper tri students were telling us that
you just have to be faced with the clinic experience to get used to
it and no preparation will actually help. They were right.
I knew that I would be able to communicate with my patients,
make them feel comfortable to open up to me, and I would be
comfortable with them. However, I was nervous about my skills of
palpation, critical thinking, and most importantly, diagnosing. The
great thing about Student Clinic is that you are allowed to finally
figure that all out… by yourself. You are able to explore your
strengths but most importantly and more often, you deserve to
explore your weaknesses. Practice makes perfect.
Currently, the average new patient visit is estimated to last up
to two hours with an additional appointment for a report of
findings based on lab findings. Two hours! After that we are
bombarded by lots of charting! Lots of it! Every piece of charting
that you do from the regional exam, to history, and to the dreaded
SOAP note has to be approved and signed off by a clinician so it
prolongs the process even more!
My days are very long with the ND classes on top of this. I
start classes at 8am and finish clinic by 7pm but I've been held up
'til 7:15-7:30pm every night! My husband is able to get home before
me and make dinner, so by the time I get home and eat, I just want
to sleep! I am having trouble fitting in studying for DC Part 2, 3,
& PT boards coming up in May and keeping up with the busy work
already assigned this trimester!
I thought this was the light at the end of the tunnel, but I
guess there are a couple more months to go before I actually see
the light! This is a different kind of busy, though, and it is so
worth it and very enjoyable. I am able to meet patients, treat
them, and be of value to their life, which is so worth it. I would
not trade this trimester for any other except maybe graduation!
Tip of the week: Make the best out of your current situation -
that mentality will carry you far in this program overall. There
will be tough times, amazing times, and rewarding ones… fight
through it all!
Have a great week, guys!