My recent international placement was conducted at a community centre for stroke rehabilitation. It was a non-governmental, not for profit organisation, which relied mainly on the assistance of volunteers to function. Our supervisors were local physiotherapists who also volunteered their time.
Within the first 2 hours of arrival I was expected to conduct an exercise class to a group of stroke patients. By the end of my first day I had conducted 2 exercise classes and seen 3 patients. Throughout the initial week I was the primary health professional of which these patients saw for treatment. There was another Malaysian physio present at the centre, but she had her own clients, plus her training varied from Australian physiotherapy and I was reluctant to seek her advice.
I was initially challenged by this. But by the end of the first week I had learnt to trust my observational skills, and my choices of treatment. As there was no one else to double check me, I had to be confident that the skills I’d learnt, during my practical classes and that of my previous neurological placement at SCGH, were effective.
This experience has changed my perspective of physiotherapy from a student point of view, where learning is the main focus, to that of a professional, where treating, informing and educating is the main focus. I think this experience has assisted in bridging me from being a student to a qualified health professional. I know this year is aimed at doing this as well, but I think this placement really threw me out there with no safety nets.
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You are really lucky to have been able to experience this as a student. Next year is going to be amazingly scary as we are sent out into the world without the blue shirts to hide behind. At least you've tasted independence so the transition will be alot easier. From chatting with qualified physios on prac, its pretty clear that the student perspective on situations can be warped at times, and we tend to focus in on 'passing' and getting good grades, where in the real world, a pass mark is determined by the patients and the outcomes you achieve.
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