I recently wrote a blog about being supervised by new graduate physiotherapists with little clinical experience and questioned the value of what they have to offer a fourth year physio student, compared to the value of a highly experienced, highly skilled clinician.
However, since that placement I've had the opportunity to be in a facility working with second and third year physiotherapy students. I found that most of them felt more comfortable coming to me with any queries as opposed to the facility physio's. This was most likely becuase they didn't want to appear stupid in front of their assessors. It suprised me that I was actually able to offer them information to fill the gaps in their knowledge (obviously I didn't have ALL the answers!).
I guess what I'm trying to say is that, despite the fact that we only have 4-5 weeks experience in various fields of physiotherapy, we do have some clinical experience, and that experience is really quite valuable. I was initially a little anxious about the possibility of having to supervise students as a new graduate physio (not to mention being anxious about independently treating real patients!) but have realised that we can make a contribution to their education.
I'm sure you all remember being a first year physiotherapy student, seeing the fourth years (enviously) and thinking "wow, they must know everything!". We are now those fourth years and whilst we don't have all the answers, remember that the first years look up to us for a reason. After all we have earned (or will have earned) a physiotherapy degree for a reason!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
You're right! It feels like first year was yesterday but hearing you say that definitely puts a different perspective on things. I agree that it may not seem like it sometimes but i think we can surprise ourselves occassionally with just how much we have learnt over the last 4 years.
Post a Comment