Your RT Question: . I am a first year student and I start my clinical rotations this week. I want to make the best impression possible because I am going to a hospital I would very much like to work for in the future. I want to balance my lack of experience and eagerness to learn without annoying my preceptor with stupid questions. What are some common pitfalls and mistakes you see with students and rookies? How can I make the
best impression? How can I get the most out of this experience?
My humble answer: The following are some of things RT Students do that might cause a problem, although I do believe all such problems can be remedied with experience.
1. Arrogance. I have seen some students come in and think they know it all. Knowledge is fine, but humble yourself, as you are a guest at the place you're doing your clinicals.
2. Hesitance: Some students want to spend all their time watching and are afraid to do it themselves. It's okay to be a little hesitant (I know I was), but there comes a time you have to just do it. Don't worry about being perfect, because you should have a preceptor right there to guide you along.
3. Laziness: Get your work done. If you have an assignment, do it and do it promptly. If you don't get your work done this may give a bad impression of your school.
4. Incompetence: I don't see it too often, but there are some students who simply have no idea what they are doing. When you see one, you will wonder how they managed to get out of RT 101. However, I what appears at first to be an incompetent RT may actually just be a nervous student. So it's important for the preceptor to know the difference.
5. Nervous/ Anxious:
1 comment:
I just complete my RT program this past December, and my advice to students is not to look at clinicals as just required hours they have to obtain to complete the semester, but to try to get as much experience as you can, because one day YOU WILL NOT BE A STUDENT. There will be things you will not want to do, and you will be scared; however, you will have a preceptor, and for the most part they will not leave you hanging, and they will guide you through the process of whatever you are trying to learn. Another important thing is that everyday when you go to clinicals, there are people around you who are watching you. Have good work ethics! Go the extra mile!.. If a ventilator needs to be cleaned, and it hasn't been done and you are just sitting around.. take the initiative and clean it (trust me, they really like that). It is also important to always be on time, and don't call in just, because you don't feel like coming. Clinicals are like a job interview, and how you are in clinicals will determine if you will get a job there or not (trust me, the co-workers talk among each other about other students, or the manager will ask them how you work). I did all these things while doing my clinical rotations, and was offered a job before I even completed my program (DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A INTERVIEW!!). To all my fellow future RTs I encourage you to go into clinicals to get your hands dirty and ask questions, and go the extra mile, and most importantly have good work ethics and you will definitely leave a good impression!
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