Thursday, November 10, 2011

Clinicals and more

So I thought that it was about time I wrote about my current adventure. As many of you know I am now doing my 2nd clinical affiliation as part of my physical therapy degree. I am working at an outpatient clinic here in Salt Lake City called Mountainland Rehabilitation. It has been a bumpy road trying to get this affiliation. When we first started choosing last fall I had a hard time getting anyone to take me. I got rejected by Primary Children's Hospital because they only take 3rd years. Then TOSH (The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital) said they wouldn't take anyone who wasn't a 2nd year. I am a 2nd year now so I don't really understand their rational on that one.

I really wanted something in Salt Lake City because that is usually where my family goes for holidays and the affiliation is going through Thanksgiving. Plus I love spending time with Christopher and his family. So I finally got Mountainland Rehab to say yes. Then I had to choose a location. They have a clinic not far from Christopher's house so I picked that as my first choice. 5 minutes is such a better commute than fighting traffic to get downtown, a 25 minute drive on a good day.

Six weeks before I was to come down to Salt Lake City I was told that my CI (Clinical Instructor) had moved to a different clinic. Things were up in the air for the next month as to who I would be with. A little stressful with finals and all not knowing where I would be going. Finally two weeks before I was to go down to Utah I learned who I would be with and that I would be working three 12 hour shifts, MWF. I was a little nervous about this, but it has been a great experience.

My CI is awesome. She is totally chill and really wants me to learn and get exposure to what physical therapy is all about and how to think critically. It is nice to see that what I'm learning in school is really going to apply to my future practice. I have had some problems with my right arm. Some of the manual treatments I do really kill. I need to take some time to give myself some personally therapy.

I've spent a lot of time with my nieces and nephew. Sometimes I need to take a break and get out of the room, but we have fun most of the time. They are super cute though.

Oh and we headed up to Idaho for Ivan's baby blessing. He is such a cute baby. We got a picture of Ben and Ivan together. They are going to be such good friends.