Initial Entry - Placement 1 Yr 4

Initial Entry – Placement 1, Year 4

I will be attending Mandurah and Pinjarra Physiotherapy Clinic for a musculoskeletal placement. I am feeling both excited and very nervous for this placement. I am feeling excited because I believed I will be challenged in this placement with a variety of musculoskeletal conditions and excited for the opportunity to have my own patient load and cases. The nervous feeling I have comes from the case mixes I have read that says that we only have half hour appointments, even for the initial assessment. This concerns me since I haven’t had much previous practice with a shot time restraint in my other placements.

After phoning the placement, I have the understanding that I will be given my own full case load early on in the 5 weeks. The placement has 2 clinics, where I will spend 3 days at the Pinjarra clinic and 2 days at the Mandurah clinic. I believe that at the Pinjarra clinic it will be structured where I will be working as an independent with the supervisor treating her own patients, but there for assistance when needed. This placement also allows me to attend a hydrotherapy session which I am looking forward to after doing my 4P hours in a hydro pool. When driving past the placement to work out parking, I noticed a Pilates sign on their signage, which I would be interested in learning about if possible as well.

I believe my role as a student in this facility will be one as a team member of their practice. As a 4th year I believe that it will be expected to be an equal party and have my own learning, gaining experience and patient care, as well as their practice’s reputation at heart. I, however hope that consideration is taken into the fact that I am a student and that I will be given situations to learn and ask questions/advice.

My main concern of this placement is the time restraint placed upon me with initial assessments. Despite this concern, I believe that it will make me become a more efficient practitioner; I would just worry that initially I may leave out things due to the time. Another concern I have is wearing myself out on this placement, due to the 12 hour days I will have with driving time. A way to overcome this is to ensure good rest times and making sure I am eating properly.

This placement should provide great experience to work on my musculoskeletal skills and to see how a private practice works compared to a hospital.