Safety and Clinical Assignments.

Today the discussion started with safety. We talked abut fire prevention and what to do in the event of a fire. We also covered proper body mechanics and patient skin care. Other topics were basic patient positions and assessments before moving a patient. Our lab involved patient transfer using a wheel chair or a stretcher.

What follows is a paraphrase of a discussion that occurred later today regarding clinical assignments.

“There's a lot of wonderful people out there. How you present yourself in the beginning is how others will perceive you. You need to help as much as possible. You need to ask, “how can I help.” You're the student and pretty much low man on the totem pole.”

Our program has a better reputation of treating their students better than other programs. Some people will resort to treating students poorly if they were treated poorly. They think of you as a really green student. Many people are reluctant to work with first year students because there's so much for the student to learn. If you go in overly cocky, they won't like that.”

Don't go in thinking, “Oh I know something about this.” Even if you have some experience that's not the way to approach it. You need to let them show you how to do things. There's lots of right ways of doing things. You're going to learn a different way from every tech you deal with.”

That's hard when you're a student that everything isn't consistent. There will be a tech who will say, “No you never put the flasher up in a chest x-ray. Even if what the tech teaches is opposite to what your didactic experience would suggest just go with it. Eventually you'll learn your own way and use the proper principles.”

It's really good learning experience to just get along with whom ever you're assigned to. Most people enjoy working with students. You don't correct the tech by saying, “My instructor told me this way was best.”

There's ways to get along with these people: prepare and clean the room, ask how you can help. Assume a basic good work ethic. When it's slow practice your skills and get to know the rooms and equipment. They'll give you respect if you clean the rooms and equipment. Put films in the bucky use another student for practice if appropriate.”

I would add that I have a sheet that I look at often. It reads in 30 point type: Clinical success: abilities of being humble and taking direction; asking questions, assertiveness and to learn from past actions.