Clinical 2 Just Beginning
Week 1 (of 8 weeks) of our 2nd clinical experience is over. The last 2 weeks have seemed a little rushed and busy. Finals week and the stress and studying involved were the first week of May. We then had the weekend to relax. . . . . . and then right into clinical. The semester has toughened my rear end with all the sitting in lectures, so being on my feet 40 hours this week was a little difficult. The funny thing is that when my legs will have toughened after the 8 weeks, it’ll be back to sitting for the rest of the semester (4 weeks) in the classroom and I’ll be wondering again if I have any pressure ulcers on my butt-bones.
A few classmates and I helped pass out programs for the class of 2010's graduation ceremony. It was fun to see everyone dressed up and it made me think, "Wow, that'll be us in a year." The only part that really stuck in my brain was the word "year." Another year of this. Oh man.
My clinical setting is an outpatient orthopedic clinic. Although I theoretically have everything learned and stored in my head, my clinical instructor is patient in teaching me and “helping” me remember the stuff I’ve learned and temporarily forgotten. I mainly observed this first week and began treating patients with specific impairments near the end of the week, such as performing passive range of motion and soft tissue work on patients with recent rotator cuff repairs. I also helped patients with their exercise programs. I’m looking forward to next week and doing a little more. It is so nice being out of the classroom and lab.
It’s always a challenge getting used to a new schedule, especially with Ashley (my wife) trying to rearrange her working schedule and keep our home under control. It’s definitely a challenge, but she really keeps all of us afloat. As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs, several of my classmates are married, and it’s interesting to hear how everyone tries to balance their school with their significant others. Add Spencer and Daisy to the mix, and it makes it even more interesting, but we seem to make things work.
To give you an idea of what sort of works for us, it is as follows: Since I’m more of a morning person, my routine has been to get up early to study before school, try to study a little bit during lunch, and come home and spend the evening with my family. On afternoons that Ashley isn’t working, we may run, go on a bike ride, take Spencer to the park, then come home and make dinner. After Spencer’s bath, we try to have him in bed by 9ish. If I don’t have homework (on the rare occasion), I may read him a book before Ashley rocks him for a bit and then puts him in bed. I will have started studying again by then and try to get in a half hour or so.
Due to Finals Week being at the same time as my cousin's wedding, Ashley and Spencer flew to Utah to attend. I guess that's one of the many sacrifices of graduate school. Here Spencer is enjoying the festivities with some apple juice (I'm hoping) with my family. Boy does he look sharp with his red suspenders.
So although these blogs are about me and the DPT program, you’ve got to realize how challenging and difficult it is for a significant other as well. Ashley puts up with a lot and is such a strong foundation for me throughout the craziness of this program. There have been the occasional strains when there just isn’t enough time in the day for each other, but we try to take it in stride. Although this PT program has become the majority of my life these last 2 years, it’s always behind Ashley and Spencer.
Regis University Doctor of Physical Therapy Blog 