Life with a New PT Grad : Education

Background in Physical Therapy

Lisa West — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:22:00 GMT

A friend of mine is an MD, and he often does other work using his MD education as a basis for other jobs. He serves as an "expert opinion" in some court trials, does consultation work for medicine companies, and teaches lectures occasionally. Although...(read more)

Learning Experience

Lisa West — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:26:00 GMT

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)

Mandatory Lunch Meetings

Lisa West — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:57:00 GMT

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)

The Board Exam

Lisa West — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:10:00 GMT

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)

Boards

Lisa West — Thu, 28 May 2009 20:54:00 GMT

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)

Boards Review Course

Lisa West — Thu, 14 May 2009 12:50:00 GMT

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)

One Week Until Graduation

Lisa West — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:21:00 GMT

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)

Last Clinical EVER

Lisa West — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:10:00 GMT

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)

Blog-o-Joy

Lisa West — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:49:00 GMT

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)

I Lost My Heart in Arizona

Lisa Catenacci — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:27:00 GMT

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, and many additional pathologies I never could have imagined treating. It is really interesting to see patients in this setting.

Our department has a handful of PTs, OTs, and two speech therapists. On my third day we had a staff meeting and I got to see how beautifully the different clinicians interact and work together to make the department a better place. Although the staff teases each other, they respect each other immensely. They problem solve as a group and encourage each other to become better clinicians. They teach each other and most importantly, they thank each other and recognize when someone has helped another.

The thing I'm dealing with now is trying to decide where in the U.S. I'd like to end up. I never questioned leaving Milwaukee, but the staff here in Arizona is truly the greatest asset of this PT department. Not to sound naïve, but I feel like the world is my oyster and I need to find where my heart fits best. It has been a long journey going through PT school, and the real adventure doesn't even begin until I have my diploma.

One Step Closer

Lisa Catenacci — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:51:00 GMT

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 a great experience.

Meanwhile, I've been getting all my stuff together for my licensure and board exam. I sent in my application to the Department of Licensing and Registration (or something to that effect). The Dept. replied with all the log-in information I need to take the open-book exam on state physical therapy practice. My next task is to take that exam, and then I will be one step closer to scheduling my board exam.

I've seriously considered hiring a personal assistant to do all the licensure paperwork for me (or at least taking a volunteer on board). The second I look at it, I break out into a cold sweat- nervous and scared I'm going to miss a huge detail and I'll never be able to practice physical therapy. The letterhead on some of these applications could throw me into an anxiety attack at a moment's notice. Luckily, my classmates are all going through the same process, so we can compare notes and make sure every form is notarized and every line signed.

As long as we are on the topic- does anyone have any advice about taking the board exam? How to study? How to prepare for such a huge exam?

Packing for Clinical FOUR

Lisa Catenacci — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:22:00 GMT

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 close with many of my colleagues.

Back to packing. How do you even start for a two-month extravaganza? I have some textbooks I will bring along- Neumann's Kinesiology book, my notes from Ortho and Neuro classes, and my Netter Anatomy book. I also have a book called "Physical Rehabilitation" which I'm slowly reviewing before I take the board exam.

Clothes? I guess I'll just pack everything I own. What if I need a sweater? I better pack one just in case. Rain clothes? Exercise outfits? Skirts and dresses for when I want to dress up a little? There's no way to predict what I'll need, and I'd rather be comfortable with what I have than brag about being a "light packer."

Obviously, I'll need my computer, camera, iPod, cell phone stuff. Contact lens, alarm clock. Shoes and makeup. "Miss you" cards to send to my family.

The other thing I need to prepare myself for is the road trip to Arizona. My mom has graciously offered to drive with me and fly back to Wisconsin, so I will have someone to keep me company and to keep me on the right route (I'm notorious for getting lost).

Other than that, I have some paperwork to prepare before I start my fourth clinical, and then I'm ready to go! This will be my last clinical, and it is in an outpatient neuro setting. Now I can finally start the 8 week countdown until my graduation! Hooray!

Watching Patients Decline

Lisa Catenacci — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:41:00 GMT

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 get a sense of accomplishment and overall happiness that these patients improve in function, are (mostly) discharged home with a clean slate in front of them.

Sometimes, though, things aren't all that wonderful. Sometimes patients don't get better. Sometimes, they keep getting worse. They walk less. They comprehend little. Doctors try different medications, hoping it will help. Everyone hopes it's just a fluke, but in your heart you know this patient is slipping, and it's the circle of life.

Circle of life? How am I supposed to explain to my heart that my patient is dying, and there isn't anything you can do? It is really, really hard.

There are all these categories I am evaluated on during my clinical internships. Documentation, professionalism, safety, blah blah blah. There is one category, "Stress Management". Where is the category of emotional growth? Of letting go? Of dealing with death? How do you keep a safe emotional distance, but still leave space to connect?

Maybe there should be a category called "Dealing With the Important Stuff".

What makes a good PT?

Lisa Catenacci — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 15:15:00 GMT

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 better off after working with me. I want to make a difference. A friend of mine once said, "We don't make goals, we make commitments." I am 100% committed to doing the best I can to become a great physical therapist.

I think being a good PT is similar to being a good teacher. You can know a lot, and be very intelligent- but if you cannot communicate and connect with your patient/student, your knowledge means nothing. Being a PT means being able to form good relationships with your patients. (Is anyone else counting how many times I'm using the word "good"? It's kind of annoying, but I can't think of anything else at the moment.)

I have a strong desire to continue learning, which is why I applied for and accepted the residency program for next year. The bottom line is I want to be an exceptional physical therapist- and I am willing to do everything to make that commitment.

What do you think makes a good PT?

Finals Week

Lisa Catenacci — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:17:00 GMT

This is it--my last week of finals ever! This is, of course, excluding the ultimate "final exam," the board exam I will take after graduation in May.

I have a very successful system when it comes to studying for exams. Basically, I spend most of the week just getting organized. I have piles of study guides, handouts and articles to review. I paperclip them together and then take a study break. I feel very overwhelmed with even the preparatory phase of studying.

Part of one of my practical exams next week involves watching videos of patients prior to the practical exam, and then having a discussion based on those patients. Doing the work for this practical is more mental stress for me than some of my final written exams. I know I have set aside time to get on a computer with internet access to get the videos, watch them, write down notes on their impairments and functional limitations, then refer to my class notes to imagine what I would do in that setting. This is a lot of work.

Anyway, for written exams, my studying process is not a good example for young children trying to perfect their study habits. I usually take my study guides and flip through them a few times-in front of the TV. Football games are wonderful for studying. On the morning of the exam I wake up between 4:00 and 5:00 in the morning and go to Starbucks. I enjoy the background noise at Starbucks. I am completely focused and cram as much information as I can until the exam begins.

I'm kind of going to miss those mornings at Starbucks! It's a nice change of pace from the regular routine of classes. Maybe when I am a clinician I can read the paper at Starbucks every morning before going to work! The paper, and my monthly APTA magazines.