4th Year Initial Entry

It is my first rotation for my 4th year placements and first rural. I am quite nervous because I have never been away from home before, and I don’t have the luxury of going home to family and friends after a hard day’s work.

After last year’s placement, I feel more confident and comfortable in dealing with patients and carrying out assessments and treatments. However, I know the level of expectation for 4th year is higher than 3rd year, so that makes me a bit nervous as there is a lot more responsibility placed upon us.

I think it should be a fulfilling and educational placement. I’ve never been on a general surgery ward or done outpatients before so it will be a good chance to experience both aspects as I want to go into musculoskeletal physiotherapy after graduation.

Overall, this placement should be a great preparation for what is to come throughout the rest of the year as well as what the work will be like once we become qualified. I think I will have a hard time the first few days trying to adapt to being away from home as well as the hospital environment. I’m hoping that by the end of the placement I have mastered my time management as that was an issue on my last placement.

I hope overall my communication skills, professionalism and hands on skills as a physiotherapist will become strengthened so that I can become more confident and successful in my future placements and my career.