As I have entered Phase II of the chiropractic program, I am so grateful for the many things I have learned as a chiropractic assistant. I started two different part time positions at the beginning of the trimester. One of these positions is with a “classic” chiropractor, and the other is with a specialized upper cervical chiropractor. I have been exposed to many different things through both opportunities, such as history taking for first time patients, rehabilitation techniques, and X-ray set-up and evaluation.
Learning about rehabilitation before having any rehabilitation classes is invaluable for my growth as a student and as a future chiropractor. It is great being able to utilize some of the techniques that I am learning in my current classes at my chiropractic assistant positions, as hopefully that will allow me to perfect them before entering the clinic. I have also learned a lot about the importance of proper communication with new and old patients, whether it be through phone calls and voicemails, or in person communication. I hope to continue both of these positions for trimesters to come, as I will be able to continue to network myself, as well as learn valuable lessons from seasoned chiropractors. I think all individuals in the chiropractic program would benefit greatly from having a chiropractic assistant position, as there are some things that are impossible to teach in a formal classroom setting. These lessons can be learned through these assistant positions, and I am thankful for all of the opportunities and lessons that I have learned thus far.
