Rotation 3 Fourth Year - Initial Entry

I am really excited about this next placement at Hollywood Hospital in the area of neurological rehabilitation. Neurological physiotherapy has been one of my favourite areas during my studies and I have been looking forward to seeing the patients and their symptoms that that I have only read or heard about. As it is an area I am possibly looking to work in I think it will be good to see if I still feel that way after five weeks immersed in the area.

I have heard only good things about this placement from at least three people, some who have just attended the rotation and some that have been there in other years. Not only have they expressed their enjoyment about the work that they did and the patients that they saw, but also that the staff were friendly, passionate and very helpful. This gives me a feeling of confidence that it I put the effort into this placement I will reap the rewards of a successful and enjoyable learning experience.

Of course I am also feeling the usual nerves of starting at a new rotation and the expectations that they may have of me. It is a constant worry throughout this year as to whether you are meeting the high expectations of clinicians in the workforce to a graduate level by the end of the placement. It usually takes me the first week to feel comfortable in the new surroundings and with the new supervisors, so I will have to be patient. This will also be the first time that I will have a tutor, so this will bring a new dimension to the placement that I have never experienced before. I really have no idea what to expect in terms of the tutor as I have heard that they, like the supervisors, are all very different in their approach. I think I will just have to wait and see!

There is one thing that I am really looking forward to in this placement and that is seeing the various treatment techniques used. We were taught only a small selection of treatments in our neurology unit due to the large amount of treatment options available. I am really hoping that we are taught and shown some new techniques to use and that they can be added to our already eclectic tool box of neurological treatment techniques.

I have heard from past students that I will be working in the rehabilitation area rather than the acute neurology area. Patients will have mainly suffered from strokes and Parkinson’s disease and some other conditions such as multiple sclerosis may also present. I believe that the last two students there worked predominantly together, however they may be splitting us up this time as they would like to see how we work independently. I think that this plan will depend on the staffing availability in terms of supervision so it will be interesting to see what happens. I’m not sure as to the level of supervision there and how much we will be allowed to do independently. I am hoping for a lot more independence in this placement as I was supervised quite heavily in the last placement and I feel I don’t work my best having someone looking over my shoulder at all times.

I believe my role at the hospital will begin as a student therapist, a combination of observation of the clinicians, some observation of my skills and a small amount of independent treatment. I then think that the supervisor will gradually take away supervision until I am working at the level of a new graduate by the end of the placement. I think it is important that I emulate a skilled, independent therapist, but at the same time have respect for those with greater skills than I and treat them accordingly. I also need to remember that I am a guest in their workplace and to respect this fact at all times. Most of all I think my role is to learn and gain experience from this fantastic resource that I am so lucky to be a part of.

Overall I don’t really have any concerns about this placement as I have complete confidence that if I work hard and use the tools I have been taught over the past three and a half years I will be fine. My concern is usually about the supervisor that I get but as I have been told that I will have a great supervisor I feel much better about the rotation. I really can’t wait to get in there and start!