Summer is over and school has
officially started with no signs of slowing down! This semester I am taking 3
courses (Dysphagia, Motor Speech Disorders, and research), clinic II seminar,
and working at my clinical practicum 5 days a week (8:30-4:00). Even though I
am already exhausted and know this will be by far my most changing semester, I am loving every moment of it!
So let’s talk
about …………..
My classes
This
semester I have professor Cassel for Dysphagia and Motor Speech Disorders which
I couldn’t be more excited about. So far we have been doing oral mechanism
exams on each other, we made drinks with thickener and had to guess the
consistency of it (thin, honey, nectar, or pudding), and this week we did
dysphagia (swallowing) screens on one another. Everything I am learning is her
class is 100% function and mostly hands on (which is the best way to learn).
What is even cooler for me is seeing what I am learning in class and at my clinical
practicum come together and really “click”. Being in my clinical this fall gives
what I am learning so much more meaning, which means I am that much more
motivated.
My
research course is being taught by Dr. Pawlowska who is an expert in this area.
We are looking at various articles, the components of research, and will ultimately
be writing a research paper on a topic of our interest. She has also explained
to us our options for our program. We can either: take the comprehensive examination and three elective courses, develop and complete a thesis, do
research on our own or with a friend, or do research with a professor. I am
still up in the air with what I want to do at this time, but I have to decide
before the semester ends.
My
final course is my clinic II seminar. This is the course that goes hand and
hand with my clinical. We meet about 1-2 times a month, have reflections due,
are asked to read articles, and we have to make sure we are filling out the
proper paper work at the appropriate times with our supervisors. The one
assignment I am really excited about is when we have to present on a patient at
our clinical. Five of us will be assigned roles (doctor, parents,
administrator, and etc.), we will have to pretend we are in a real life
conference/IEP meeting and present on our patient of choice. The people playing
roles will be required to ask us at least one question, and we have to answer no
matter what. This will be a very real life and functional task that will truly
benefit us all in the field.
My Clinical Practicum
This semester I have
been placed at a skilled nursing facility for my adult practicum. I am
primarily working with patients who present with cognitive deficits (Strokes,
TBI’s, Dementia, and surgery complications), voice, and expressive/receptive
language. I was very nervous going into this clinical as I have not yet had all
of the courses for these areas, nor have I worked with adults. My first day I realized
I was either going to sink or swim. I was beyond overwhelmed by the
documentation required, number of patients seen in a day, and felt out of my
element. However, I chose to swim and learn as much as I could to help my
patients and myself, after two weeks there I am happy to say my nerves are completely
gone!
One of the things I
am most grateful for is having such an amazing supervisor, I cannot count my
blessings enough with that. He took me right under his wing from the moment I began.
My first day I was able to observe him all day (and take the best notes of my
life lol), the second day I had three patients (1 cog, 1 speech, and 1 voice),
and then the third day I dove right in and had 5 patients (cog, speech, and
voice). As nervous as I was to have those first three patients I knew I wasn’t alone.
Number one, my supervisor was right there with me and number two, I really did
my homework on what I could do with them. Plus when all else fails I think of professor
Cassel and use CSI (Common Sense Intervention) =)
After two weeks at
my clinical I am seeing about 6-7 patients a day, writing weekly progress
notes/updates on my patients, and have almost mastered proper note taking
documentation. Not to mention I am slowly but surely understanding Medicare and
proper billing. All in all this past two weeks has been an amazing experience
and I can’t wait to see how much I have learned come December.
Remember “Nothing worthwhile comes easy, you
have to work for it!” Plus you have the rest of my life to sleep and have a
social life lol =)
I hope everyone is having a great semester so
far! Be sure to comment below if you have any questions about skilled nursing facilities
and SLP’s, grad school, or Stockton’s Graduate Programs!!
-Jessica
