The Basics.
Following induction, I embarked on 3 weeks of intense clinical skills to prepare us for going on the wards and it was quite frankly, the most intense three weeks in my recent memory (hence the lack of posts!). Rather than dissipating, the overwhelmed feeling I spoke of in my last post grew and grew and grew. However, I equally need to remember that I love what I am doing and I am good at it (no matter what my brain says sometimes).
The main things I took away from the three weeks were that my basic clinical skills are actually pretty good. I can talk to patients, I'm confident with a variety of personal care, I can take manual observations without really having to think about the process, my basic life support skills are pretty darn good. It's some of the more academic things that are proving a tad more tricksy. My anatomy and physiology knowledge leaves a lot to be desired...I know a lot and can reel of various facts and phrases but I don't actually really understand it. I'm also feeling somewhat lost when it comes to writing assignments, reading journals and generally being an academic. I like knowing things, I don't apparently like the actual process of learning them!
As well as learning the basics, I've also been trying to get to know a whole bunch of new people which for someone who appears confident but is actually relatively introverted is somewhat draining. Socialising is great but I really need time to recharge afterwards and I just haven't had that time. The girls I've become close with are all lovely, a bit wacky (so we suit just fine!) and are motivated to do well...which will help keep me motivated. I found these three weeks particularly difficult healthwise and the girls have been really caring in looking out for me, and sending me home when I've been to stubborn to accept I'm not well enough.
It's been really rubbish timing to have a bit of a health wobble - but it's equally not surprising. I've been doing too much living and not enough managing my long term condition! I've become quite severely anaemic and it's having a huge impact on my energy levels. Even walking up the stairs is leaving me breathless and exhausted. However, my GP has once again listened to my instincts that I'm "not right" and we're doing what we can to improve things. I just need to be a bit more careful with my time - free time doesn't always mean social time or study time, I need to rest too.
TTFN x
The main things I took away from the three weeks were that my basic clinical skills are actually pretty good. I can talk to patients, I'm confident with a variety of personal care, I can take manual observations without really having to think about the process, my basic life support skills are pretty darn good. It's some of the more academic things that are proving a tad more tricksy. My anatomy and physiology knowledge leaves a lot to be desired...I know a lot and can reel of various facts and phrases but I don't actually really understand it. I'm also feeling somewhat lost when it comes to writing assignments, reading journals and generally being an academic. I like knowing things, I don't apparently like the actual process of learning them!
As well as learning the basics, I've also been trying to get to know a whole bunch of new people which for someone who appears confident but is actually relatively introverted is somewhat draining. Socialising is great but I really need time to recharge afterwards and I just haven't had that time. The girls I've become close with are all lovely, a bit wacky (so we suit just fine!) and are motivated to do well...which will help keep me motivated. I found these three weeks particularly difficult healthwise and the girls have been really caring in looking out for me, and sending me home when I've been to stubborn to accept I'm not well enough.
It's been really rubbish timing to have a bit of a health wobble - but it's equally not surprising. I've been doing too much living and not enough managing my long term condition! I've become quite severely anaemic and it's having a huge impact on my energy levels. Even walking up the stairs is leaving me breathless and exhausted. However, my GP has once again listened to my instincts that I'm "not right" and we're doing what we can to improve things. I just need to be a bit more careful with my time - free time doesn't always mean social time or study time, I need to rest too.
TTFN x
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