The Job has Begun!

Last week I started working at STAR in Lawrenceburg, TN. I'm only working 3 days a week right now because I am not licensed yet. But hopefully that will change. I take my exam this upcoming Tuesday and I'm very nervous. I finally just told myself that there is ultimately nothing I can do about the exam other than what I'm already doing: studying and praying hard. Worrying about it isn't going to make me pass the test.

Anyway, the job has been going pretty well so far. It's a little frustrating to go from being a student on a clinical where I can do evals and all documentation (to be co-signed by my clinical instructor) to being a tech that can only take a patient through their exercises. I can't do evals, write SOAP notes, or progress notes, or anything! The other PTs there are great, though. They let me see patients and add exercises if I want. I also write SOAP notes for my patients on a post-it for them to write in the chart. Basically, I'm making their jobs a little easier right now. I can't complain because I would be really bored if I didn't get to have any input on a patient's treatment. I'm basically using this time to get used to the paperwork, computer system, etc. It should make my transition into being a PT there a little smoother than if I just started after getting my license.

At least I'm not "free labor" anymore. I had enough of that while on clinicals for 6 months. The tech salary is much better than nothing at all.

I think I'm going to like working in Lawrenceburg. I get along well with my co-workers and enjoy the laid back atmosphere. Plus it's not terribly busy and I know I won't be slammed with 15+ patients everyday. I might have an interesting patient every once in a while... There is a large population of these individuals in Lawrenceburg, TN. I actually saw one in Wal-Mart today. There was a special parking section for their "vehicles"