Assignment 10: Internship Update

How has your perception of the internship/organization changed since you started the internship?

When I first started the internship, I felt that it was going to be boring and not an exciting experience. The thought of "Who would want to be a physical therapist?" stuck in my head for the first week, but each day, the question changed to "How can I be a physical therapist?". I became more involved with the patients, asked questions, and became more engaged with my mentor, Jessica. As a physical therapist, you are usually bogged down with multiple patients at once, so you do not have time to give your full attention to each patient. To relieve some of this stress, I watched as patients did their exercises, brought/racked equipment, cleaned, and demonstrated exercises. While my mentor treats her patients, I always ask insightful questions or ask for clarification. With background in anatomy and physiology, I occasionally ask questions such as "Is the muscle you are working on called ____?" or "What exercise is this called and what part of the body is it working?" Combining my curiosity, eagerness to establish relationships with patients, and dedication to be more involved, I believe the internship is evolving to what I hoped it would be -- an educational experience that will influence my college choice and career.

What is surprising you about this internship?

The most surprising thing about my internship is how I am involved with the patients. When I was given the liability packet, I was overwhelmed with the thought that I would not be able to fully engage with patients, nor even talk to them, but soon enough, I was proven wrong. I talk to as many patients as possible and encourage them as they do their exercises. I usually see the same patients, some new ones, every time I go in, so I always ask how their week went or about any updates about our last conversation. Establishing this relationship has made me more than an intern but an encourager and someone to help them quickly recover from their injury.

What have you learned from the routine or boring parts of the internship?

Every day when I walk into the clinic, I always start off the day by cleaning the beds and equipment. It is quite gross, but I have learned that it is essential to always disinfect to prevent any patient or anyone in the clinic from getting sick, especially with flu season around the corner. Another part of my routine is putting back equipment each patient uses. Often times, patients leave the equipment lying in the middle of the room, and I always have a thought that someone might trip over it or the next person may who needs it may not be able to find it. I am always putting the equipment back better than it was found, and it makes the clinic's presentation look well and organized. Although cleaning and putting equipment away is boring, the most boring part of my internship is when my mentor does not have a patient or when the patient does not want to talk. When this happens, I usually observe other physical therapist, such as Keith, Chris, or Pam. Similar with Jessica, I am always asking questions and assisting. I have learned that each therapist has their own way of treating patients, and it is exciting to learn that there is not a clear right or wrong way to treat an injury. For instance, Jessica may suggest dry needling, while Keith wants the patient to perform an exercise, but Chris wants to cup the area, while Pam suggest sending electrical impulses to stimulate the muscle.