Yes, you do need to do research after graduating ;)

(But, it's so much more fun!)

So, I got some exciting news that I am going to be taking the lead in revamping our cardiac rehabilitation program at my job. This is great for a few reasons:

1. I *LOVE* cardiac patients, cardiac pathologies, cardiac responses to exercise; I love the heart!

2. Up until this point the cardiac patients have been performing a modified version of the pulmonary program, which isn't "wrong" per say, but it is also not the best we can be doing for these patients

3. I am excited to use my creativity and new knowledge to change the face of this program and then hopefully help market my company and make us a larger player in this field in the area

So, this weekend I found a couple of articles from the American Heart Association on their core components and guidelines, as well as some performance measures for cardiac rehab. I'm hoping to read through those articles later today and then also look back on my school notes and in my textbooks to remind myself of all the important things that should be considered when dealing with a cardiac patient.

I'm so excited to be able to have this opportunity, with a patient population I'm very passionate about... I know I just posted last time about the stress test that I completed, and the reason for that is that I have a congenital heart issue. Thankfully, it doesn't limit my ability to do anything, but it has made me very interested and passionate for the cardiac world. And, I feel I'm in a unique situation where I can maybe relate (a little!) to my patients.

I'm also drooling over the AACPR's textbook on Cardiac Rehab, but it's also $60. I'm going to email my cardiopulmonary professor and my boss to see if we have a copy of this anywhere that I could borrow, before I consider buying it... I don't want to overwhelm myself with information, but I think it could be helpful.

I am also planning on becoming a member of the AACPR because I feel like there is a ton of information on there that would be beneficial. My cardiopulmonary professor and the respiratory therapist are both members (in our area) and it seems like it has been useful for them, so I'm debating on when to join.

So, things are feeling very exciting and also a nerve-wracking, but as I investigate, I'll be sure to post some good cardiac rehab information! :)

First Day as a "real" PT! :)

Well, as I work on filling in some missing pieces (mainly my 4th clinical experience, graduation, getting a job and studying for the boards), today was a monumental day in my journey from teacher to clinician... Today was my first day as a real-life PT!

Since I did a clinical experience prior to my employment, today felt like I'd never left. I'm not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing, but it definitely helped ease my anxiety. In fact, there were a few familiar faces today and I guess I can expect a couple more later this week. The clinic is sort of slow right now (compared to when I was there before) which I also take as a blessing that I won't be quite as overwhelmed as I work into getting into a routine.

I was working with some patients today and found myself continually going to my prior-CI to ask for permission. I sort of realized halfway through the day that technically, I can now make decisions based on my own opinions. ;) It's still nice to ask permission for someone else's patient though.

So, it was a long day... 10 hours.... Wow. My feet are absolutely killing me, so I'm looking forward to getting used to the feeling of being up and moving all day so that my poor feet don't feel like they walked through a war zone.

I'm also exhausted. It has been about 10 weeks (I would guess) since I last even touched a patient, much less was active all day. I could honestly go to bed now and am literally considering it once I finish this blog post.

I honestly can't believe I just went to work today. I literally went to work and got paid! It's crazy. I remember when I started this journey back in 2009, it seemed like 2014 would be a million years away and now it's here! The interesting thing is, now that I'm done with school I want to try to pick up some hobbies, but I have NO IDEA what I want to do with all my newly earned free time... Definitely getting back to the gym is on the top of my list, and I keep trying to convince my boyfriend we should get a fish tank. Thank goodness the Olympics are on and I can entertain myself with that for the time being! Go USA!

Observing my first surgeries!

     Last Friday and today I had the opportunity to go and see my first surgeries! Both were total knee replacements, but I got the opportunity to see two different surgeons to see if any of their techniques were different. They worked about the same way, although the surgeon I saw today moved much faster than the surgeon I observed on Friday. I was really glad I got the chance to see both because the surgeon I observed on Friday was a little slower and took the time to explain everything he was doing, which was really helpful. It was even more helpful when I went today since the surgeon today moved much faster, I felt like I had an idea of what was going on. The OR is a really interesting place... I was surprised how many people were present and how they are professional, but it is not stressful. I was explaining everything to my dad and he said, "So it'd be like you coming and talking to me while I'm working on a car!" and that describes it perfectly! They are able to do their job but also are having casual conversation at times during the procedure! It blew my mind! Really awesome! I'm excited because I am also going to get the opportunity to observe a total hip replacement as well as a cardiac surgery. My CI has been really nice about trying to find some times for me to go to observe surgery and so I'm really thankful for that because it's really interesting and it's a nice break from the day.

     

     Today my CI let me take the lead for the whole time for two evals instead of us tag teaming like we had been. Overall, they went ok. I'm sure I'm my own worst critic! It's funny how I had all of these plans for certain things when I was in class but it doesn't really apply and everything can change so quickly in real life. It just makes me nervous because I feel like I know the right things to do, it's just the way the hospital works is so different than I expected.  I feel like if I did the evaluations that I practiced in school I would feel a lot more confident, but trying to adapt to how things are run at this hospital has been stressful for me. I almost wish we would've spent the extra time in neuro to do the write ups after patient sims like we did in musculoskeletal and cardiopulm, especially the deciding where the patient should go next... That's the hardest part, is evaluating someone and having one snapshot and basically having to make a call on where they should be discharged to and if they are a good candidate for therapy. But, I feel like I'm already starting to get a little better and hopefully with more and more practice I will get even better.  I just wish I could feel more confident, but I'm taking it one day at a time and my CI seems to be fine with where I am and where we need to go next. 

First Day of ClinEd II: Acute Care

Today was my first day of acute care for ClinEd II. I can’t believe I’m out on clinical again! It seems like it has been such a long time since I was able to be with real patients. I was nervous, but not as nervous as before I started my first clinical. This time I felt confident that I could interact with patients and was more nervous about getting there early, having a good CI and liking my placement. 

Lucky for me, I did all those things. I got a quick orientation as far as being introduced to everyone and my CI oriented me to the electronic documentation system as well as our orders for the day. We ended up seeing six patients. This is a huge difference from out-patient when I was used to seeing 10-13 patients. It seemed slow, but we weren't really sitting around doing nothing either.

 I came home a little worried because I am really hoping that I like this experience and I had an “ok” day. Nothing horrible happened, but nothing really exciting happened. But, I am keeping my hopes up that I will begin to like it more as I get used to how everything works. My CI was really good about explaining everything to me and told me she obviously doesn’t expect me to remember everything all at once. I observed for most of the day, but did get to assist with a couple people with walking. I felt fairly comfortable and I’m definitely ready to jump in, but I was also glad that my CI did not throw me to the wolves and instead allowed me to observe and get used to how everything works. 

So, here's to hoping things can only go up from here!

Clin Ed V... wait, what?

So, today when I got home, I had some pretty exciting mail. I had a letter from my fifth clinical instructor! I don't start my last clinical until October, so it is a little far out, but I was excited to open the letter. My future CI sent me a little note just saying hello and just some very basic paperwork on what is appropriate dress, expectations, how things will work, etc. Really awesome!

The reason why I'm so excited about this particular placement is because it is in a setting that I didn't think I'd be able to get a chance to experience... early intervention. For those who may be reading that don't know early intervention services are started prior to preschool for those children who are having developmental delays or other types of delays. In the state that I reside, children are eligible for physical therapy early intervention if they have at least a 25% delay in gross motor development or they have a medical diagnosis that can lead to gross motor developmental delays (such as Down Syndrome or Cerebral Palsy). Now, most of you may know, especially if you will take a look at the banner on the top of this blog, that I used to be a teacher.

Obviously, pediatric physical therapy is something that I have toyed with and thought about, since I do have a little bit of a background in children. However, this semester I have learned that pediatric physical therapy is definitely something more than what my skills as an educator were, and I expected that; what I didn't expect was how much I'd love thinking about pediatric PT, almost as much as I loved thinking about my teaching days. (I do have fond memories, it's just some things aren't meant to be...)

So, given that I've had some years dealing with children and teaching, I really wanted to get into pediatrics with an age group and a setting that I didn't have any exposure to and EI was that opportunity. So, of course when I found out that I did get the placement, I was so excited. And, today, getting that letter made me realize how much I am looking forward to rounding out my PT school days with that clinical.

It seems like so far away, and in just a couple of weeks I'll be heading off to Clin Ed II at the hospital, so I have a ways to go before I can really start dreaming about my days with the kids... But, it was a great surprise in the midst of finals week to see that there is hope that I will make it to the end of this year and will FINALLY graduate. :)

Last Day :(

I can't believe it has been 10 weeks. Today was my last day at my first clinical! :( I think back about how scared I was with day one and how nervous I was to start and now I am so sad it's over. I feel like I learned SO MUCH from my CI and the clinic I was placed in was absoutely perfect for me! I would honestly recommend where I went to any of my classmates/students because it was that awesome. Everyone was great to work with and having the extra worker's compensation piece was super interesting. I feel like I definitely utilized my #1 lottery pick well without even really knowing it. (Thank God!)

It was hard to say goodbye to my patients, but I know they are in good hands. I will really miss them! So many wished me good luck at school and how I will be a great PT some day. It was so validating even though it was bittersweet. I know Monday will be hard when I am sitting in class and not treating patients.

I am so proud to say, "I did it!", though. :) Now, to keep the momentum going...

The countdown is becoming much more real...

41 days until the first day of school... Let me just throw some adjectives out there of what I'm feeling:

excited, nervous, determined, scared, committed, unsure, proud, sick.

Yes, I realize that these words are contradictory... But, alas, that's what I feel, so I'm saying it. It feels like I made this commitment YEARS ago (In reality, it was only about 7 months ago) and even longer since I was in a classroom learning (hello August 2010).

Thus, I am a creature of habit, and I have grown quite used to my habits, my life as it is right now. Friday was a hard day for me. It was my very last day of work at the Physics Department. Honestly, if that job paid more and was in a closer location to my new house, I would keep it forever. The physics department taught me so much more than I ever expected. I remember being so nervous to start (I'm always anxiety ridden when I start something new) and on Friday I was crying because it had all come to an end.

I'm excited to start school, but I am so sad to leave all those I've become so close with in the past year behind. I really felt so important and appreciated at my job, and I will cherish that time forever.

And so, I am almost done with getting everything in line for school; just my terrible, horrible bloodwork awaits me (needles, needles, needles... hate, hate hate) and then I'll have everything set; other than my parking pass.

I also applied for unemployment and I'm hoping to be able to keep renewing it throughout my schooling; but we'll see if I can keep re-opening my claim or not. Right now my initial claim is being processed, so we'll keep our fingers crossed that I can get a couple hundred dollars every 2 weeks to help with the cost of gas and whatnot.

So, I am both anxiety-filled and excitement-filled as the last 6 weeks of freedom are closing in on me and school will be starting sooner, rather than later.

Needles and doctors, oh my!

So a lot of my classmates and I are lamenting on our facebook group about all of the health requirements we have to fulfill. Ugh. I mean, I guess it's your sort of normal run of the mill stuff, but I don't do well with big long to-do lists that involve pointy needles.

So, just as a warning to all who may apply, you have the potential of looking forward to all of the following (makes me feel like I'm a teacher again, yuck):

1. FBI fingerprint check
2. Criminal Background check
3. Child Abuse check
4. Current CPR training
5. TB test
6. Blood titers for a slew of things (hepatitis, measles, mumps, chicken pox, etc)
7. Physical

Yay. On top of that I also have to go my heart check-up in July and my "lady" doctor. July is a crappy month.

I got my two-week notice letter in the mail and it made me really sad. I really do love my job and I'm going to miss everyone when I'm gone. It's really hard for me to focus in on getting everything organized so that they will be able to find things when I'm gone. Really sad. I'm a creature of habit, so this is hard for me. I just keep thinking, "I had an entire year before school" and now I'm staring July 1st in the face... It just seems like yesterday I was applying. And although I am sad about my job ending, I am very excited about school... I think. (Ok, I'm more nervous!)