Life with a New PT Grad

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Life with a New PT Grad

Feeling Incompetent by Lisa West: There are a lot of times during treatments or looking at patient charts when I feel like I need to get a second opinion. Should this patient be put on hold? Will I need new orders for this patient? Is this lab value inappropriate? I usually know what Read More...
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Learning Experience by Lisa West: A few nights ago I picked up an extra evaluation at the end of the day. It was a very active 88-year old woman admitted for a GI bleed. She volunteers weekly and is completely independent at home. No device used. Upon introducing myself and my purpose Read More...
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Mandatory Lunch Meetings by Lisa West: At our hospital, the baseline for productivity is 75 percent. In acute care this is attainable on most days, but on some days can be difficult. Other tests/procedures, medical hold due to unstable lab values, dialysis, and simple patient refusals often Read More...
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Discharge Planning by Lisa West: I'm working in an acute-care hospital setting, where patients are discharged somewhat quickly, and many health care providers give their opinions on where the patient should be discharged. Sub-acute, nursing home, rehab, home... these are all possibilities Read More...
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The Board Exam by Lisa West: First, that exam was by far the most difficult test I've ever taken. You are only allowed to take a picture ID and your locker key into the test area. The testing area is a bunch of cubicles in a row with a computer, keyboard, mouse, and earplugs at each Read More...
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Boards by Lisa West: I have scheduled my boards exam for June 25. Holy cow. I haven't really started studying. I read a few chapters in my ortho notes one sunny afternoon, but since then, I haven't been in the mood to retain any information. Monday I begin with orientation Read More...
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Boards Review Course by Lisa West: Well, I'm in the middle of a two-day boards review course at Marquette University. The class has been a good reminder of the important areas to focus on, and an even bigger reminder of how much I've forgotten since some of these classes finished. Wound Read More...
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One Week Until Graduation by Lisa West: Well, I made it back to Wisconsin safely. It was a long drive by myself, but it was good. I got back to Milwaukee, unpacked all my things and then went to Appleton, WI, for a few days to visit my sister, parents and other family members. It is always Read More...
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Last Clinical EVER by Lisa West: Well, it's basically over. Two more days of my last clinical as a PT student, and then I'm off for a 4-day solo drive home. My mother was kind enough to drive out here with me (we bopped along the whole way, singing at the top of our lungs and gasping Read More...
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Blog-o-Joy by Lisa West: So, with only seven days of my clinical left, and 25 days until graduation (who's counting?), I thought I would post a list of my blessings, joys and memories throughout this journey of becoming a physical therapist. (I know a lot of these things sound Read More...
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I Lost My Heart in Arizona by Lisa Catenacci: Week One: I am LOVING my last clinical here in Mesa, Arizona. My coworkers are fabulous- except the lack of GB Packer supports here (this is a joke). I'm in an OP-Neuro setting, and so far I've seen two SCI patients, many CVAs, and a muscular dystrophy, Read More...
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One Step Closer by Lisa Catenacci: I made it safe and sound to Phoenix, AZ. My mom drove out here with me, and we had fun rambling over the country. We stopped at the Grand Canyon and hiked The Wave in southern Utah before finishing in Phoenix. A few long days in the car, but definitely Read More...
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Packing for Clinical FOUR by Lisa Catenacci: My final clinical is located in Mesa, Arizona. Needless to say, I am packing and preparing for my voyage to this Western climate. At the same time, I am also mourning the end of my third clinical. I had a great experience in Inpatient Rehab and have grown Read More...
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Watching Patients Decline by Lisa Catenacci: In this rehab setting, I have the opportunity to get to know my patients fairly well. Most of them stay in the rehab program for two weeks, and with three hours of therapy a day- you get to know the person, build relationships. In these instances, you Read More...
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What makes a good PT? by Lisa Catenacci: I don't really know what motivated me to write on this topic, but for some reason I have been reflecting on my goals of being a good PT. What differentiates a good PT from a great PT, from an average PT? I want to change lives. I want my patients to be Read More...
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