Life with a New PT Grad : Student Issues and News

Code 4

Lisa West — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:47:00 GMT

Several weeks ago I was at our daily OFT (Outcome Facilitation Team) meeting when we heard over the speaker system, "Code 4. 5 th floor. Room 12." A Spanish-speaking patient had passed out and became unresponsive, and a code was called for the Stat team...(read more)

Perks of Being a New Hire

Lisa West — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:30:00 GMT

Last week I wrote a depressing blog about how awful the world is when you are a new hire, or a new grad. This week, I'd like to focus on all the reasons why it's so great to be a new hire. 1. I have lots of fresh ideas. Having recently graduated, I had...(read more)

Boards Exam

Lisa West — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:36:00 GMT

I have studied as much as I probably can at this point, and my exam is at 4:30 PM tomorrow. Which means, if I take the full 5 hours, I won't be done with my exam until 9:30 at night. Add in breaks and paperwork and breathing time, and I could potentially...(read more)

My First Paycheck

Lisa West — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:17:00 GMT

Here's a little list of things I am going to do, now that I have a paycheck: 1. Student loan payment; 2. Buy massive amounts of groceries; 3. Go to a Brewer's game; 4. Buy some work clothes! 5. Turn the lights on in my apartment, because I have money...(read more)

Health Care and Democrats

Lisa West — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:01:00 GMT

All Americans should be required to carry health insurance? Excuse me? Government-run health care? Hopefully you are all keeping yourselves updated with the latest news. As a health care provider, I agree that changes need to be made. Being forthright...(read more)

Pool Therapy and New Grads

Lisa West — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:31:00 GMT

I started work this week doing pool therapy/floating (NOT aquatic therapy)...it was a nice position that would give me some experience at the hospital before the residency begins in July. I would be able to jump between IP and OP. I have a few days off...(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)

Graduation

Lisa West — Thu, 21 May 2009 14:35:00 GMT

I am a DPT graduate. Here are two quotes I find very fitting for this stage in my life. Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us....(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)

Sick of Being A Student

Lisa Catenacci — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:50:00 GMT

In approximately three weeks, our last clinical will be over and we will be on our way to graduation and being a real PT. In the meantime, I got this email/poem from a friend of mine, who is less-than-thrilled with his final clinical rotation. Enjoy....(read more)

Professionalism

Lisa Catenacci — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:50:00 GMT

Okay, kind of a controversial subject here. And, I will clear the air before I begin- I am not pointing fingers or even implying that the current staff I'm working with is guilty of such behavior. What I'm about to write is a compilation of many settings,...(read more)

Aphasia

Lisa Catenacci — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 11:32:00 GMT

Alright, let's talk about how you handle non-verbal patients. I have twice experienced working with patients with expressive aphasia. The first patient, at my last clinical experience, was a recent CVA (within three weeks from the time he was admitted...(read more)