Difficulties faced by physiotherapy students on placement.
The opportunity to undertake placements is possibly the most exciting part of a physiotherapy student’s journey, as this is when we get to interact with patients and learn from professionals. However, it can also be the most nerve-racking and tense time, too, due to the pressure to get the most out of each opportunity. In this blog, I will discuss some key difficulties that I have come across in my own placements and offer some advice on how to manage them.
1. Transitioning from classroom to real life:
One of the most difficult parts of placements is remembering all the theory taught in the classroom and applying it under pressure, with real-time constraints and the pressure we put on ourselves to ensure the patient gets the best possible care. It is also highly likely that students will see conditions and new treatments that have not been taught about. Patients will not always follow the same clinical patterns that are taught, which can be overwhelming when trying to make a diagnosis and requires adaptation, which comes with experience. This is why I find it important to recognise that help is needed as a student, and it is not a bad thing to seek support and ask questions.
2. Confidence and communication:
I find that my self-confidence has a huge impact on how I communicate with patients and the team. Often, we can panic about saying the wrong thing, which makes us overly cautious. However, I have found that appearing confident and saying what is on my mind is the best way to come across and learn, as this helps build rapport with the patients and team, as they all understand that students are there to learn, and it increases engagement.
3. Managing Workload:
For many students, it may be the first time working long hours, plus having to manage ongoing university assessments and personal life. Burnout can easily occur if the workload isn’t managed efficiently. Inside placement, it is important to remember that it is ok to ask for support if left feeling overwhelmed. Outside of placement, I have found it useful to have a planner to manage time for independent study. Self-care is really important, as taking breaks and looking after yourself refreshes you, allowing you to make the most out of the placement experience.
4. Imposter syndrome:
Joining a team of qualified healthcare professionals can be a scary experience for many students. This can often lead to a lack of confidence and not involving yourself with the team; however, based on my experience, getting involved in conversation and trying to settle in as quickly as possible allows you to overcome this and feel like another member of the team.
5. Adapting to different environments:
I have always found that the beginning of placements is the most difficult part, as it feels like a refresh, with a lot of knowledge previously used may not be relevant to different settings. This feeling of starting from scratch with every placement can be frustrating, but it is important to reflect on how each unique experience helps widen your knowledge base and will leave you better off.
6. Receiving Feedback:
Receiving feedback from supervisors and patients for the first time in real practice can be difficult, especially when this is critical feedback. Often, critical feedback can be hard to hear, as on placement, students are often trying to make a good impression and are worried about getting things wrong. However, it is important to recognise that all this feedback is with the aim of aiding the learning. Taking feedback on board is one of the most important aspects of a placement, as it helps build your experience and clinical reasoning skills. Also, it is important not to dwell on the critical feedback and also acknowledge the positive feedback and recognise how much you are learning.
Conclusion:
Clinical placements are not supposed to be easy. It is important to recognise that every physiotherapist has been in the same position, as many skills are learned through experience and not just in a classroom. It is important to celebrate and recognise how far each student goes on their journey to become the best that they can.
Written by Gavin Maddocks
