We have all been on many different community and hospital placements this year, and by now are getting used to different staff and supervisors every month! I'd just like to say, however, how much of a difference it is having staff make the effort to be welcoming.
Although most staff go through the standard "orientation" checklist, on my current placement I found the staff so much more hospitable. Every one of the therapists I have worked with has assured me, many times, that they'd like me to ask lots of questions, and that if I have any problems whatsoever to let them know. I have found that some supervisors think asking questions is a sign of 'poor knowledge' of a lack of independence, so this meant a was a lot more comfortable asking them and could therefore learn as much as possible!
Furthermore I found that in hospitals, a lot of the time staff come and go and you barely learn their names. Even other therapists have often not learnt my name over the month id been at their hospital. At this facility, my supervisor makes sure to introduce me to every staff member and patient we come across. this too makes me feel so much more comfortable and part of the team.
I think that had i assessed some of my previous supervisors again, I would have definately suggested they encourage student questions and say something to that effect at the start of the placement, as by feeling so comfortable in my current prac i believe i have learnt as much as possible!
3 comments:
I found that my country prac was the place where the staff were most hospitible and it made such a difference to my stay there. The prac Im on right now is very different, the two facility supervisors are both very busy and our orientation was so rushed that I cant even remember what was said. On my rural prac, the supervisors did not seem to mind if I asked thousands of questions, but on this prac I am on, I also get the feeling that if I ask questions they will think I dont know anything. So the attitude of supervisors can make a huge differecne to how you enjoy your prac
i aggree. the country prac really included me as part of the team and made an effort to make me feel welcome and at home. In some situations supervisors in the major hospitals just assume we are here to take some of their workload and then go home. (im sure thats not the case but its the feeling i get on occasions). I learnt so much more in the places i felt comfortable asking questions and interacting.
I agree as well. I've just finished my country prac which was definitely my favourite of the course. I really felt like a valuable member of the team and the physios went out of their way to make me feel welcome. I decided to go camping one weekend and the senior physio heard that I was planning to cycle ~70km to the national park so he leant me his 4WD for the weekend. Awesome placment!
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