What it feels like when you finish an examination for your portfolio and you try to get the radiographer to sign it.
Stardate: 91875.79
So, I'm in my last week of placement for this block, and this week is my second one in clinical skills. This is basically a week where you can take on real examinations, just a little slower, and focus on assessment techniques, as you are with a lecturer practitioner, and not on a busy department. It's actually a really good opportunity to get examinations signed off for your portfolio, and brush up on what you know, which catches up on you really quickly.
It also allows you to work with students from other placement sites and see the variations, as every Trust has their own Local Rules and protocols regarding examinations and safety etc. For example, where I'm placed, we may do different routine projections for an examination to another site, or technique may vary. Again, it all depends on where you're placed, and what the radiographers there have shown you.
The realisation has pretty much finally dawned on me that being a student radiographer is actually really hard! Balancing 7 weeks of holiday, placements, lectures, travel and expenses claims, revision, portfolios "social life", hobbies and sleeping into one academic year is not an easy task. In fact, it's knackering. Especially for students like me, who are crazy enough to have a part-time job too!
Getting portfolios filled in can be difficult for some sections, especially ours, as where I'm placed, certain types of examinations are few and far between, e.g. spines. Sure, you see plenty of chests, knees etc, but when a spine comes in, everyone wants to do it! Luckily, I'm almost done with signing off my portfolio, I just need a few more unaided examinations, then I'll take on the assessment run! (Better not leave it until the last minute.)
It's amazing how quickly a year goes by, as although it feels like September was ages ago, it also feels like it was yesterday I was standing in General X-Ray getting in everyone's way! We've got two weeks of holiday for Easter (I don't have a clue what I'm going to do for two completely free weeks!), then two weeks of lectures, an assessment week, and then all placement weeks until Summer!
I've got two more days to sign off as many things as I can, then I can relax for once (with revision sittings of course). If I can find the time, I may even go and watch the new 'Captain America: Winter Solider'!
Well, as I like to say... Geronimo and LLAP!
References
- The Hobbit, n.d. gif, viewed 9 April 2014,<http://31.media.tumblr.com/60b475d6d7c7ece10f1cda53b21de510/tumblr_ms3tfrXwoW1r9hlt2o8_250.gif>.
