Author:
hjhogle
Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 3:22 pm (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 3
Whoa, slow down.
Let's summarize.
1). You don't like how "they" treat you.
2). You're comparing yourself to your classmates.
3). You're having a hard time remembering what you've learned.
4). You're having second thoughts.
Am I on track?
4). Second thoughts? Of COURSE you're having second thoughts. You've made a big decision and now you're scared you made the wrong one. Cut it out.
1). "They" who? Your classroom instructors? Radiographers at your clinical site?
Here are some thoughts about Radiographers. Remember, these are my opinions, things that I've learned in my career. But I'm no expert.
* You ARE a kindergartner. You don't know anything, you aren't helpful, and you slow them down. Pressure on Radiographers to do more patients in less time has increased exponentially in the last few years. Hospitals are being paid less by insurance companies, yet they're expected to provide the same level of service. One answer is more procedures in less time with less staff. You're upset because they're not helping you. Guess what? Their job isn't to help you. Their job is patient care and the production of diagnostic quality images. If, along the way, you get to learn from them? That's great. But they aren't responsible for your education - YOU ARE.
So stand up and take charge of your experience. You can't remember something - go find a Radiograher who's doing that exam. Watch them quietly, don't interrupt. When they're through or in between things, ask them how they do what they do. Let them know that their expertise is important to you - I found the Radiographer that all the Rads loved working with. I wanted to know how she did it. So whenever I had a chance, I watched her. Quietly, I didn't speak to her. After that went on for a week, she asked me what I was doing. I told her I liked how she did things, I was impressed with her professionalism, and I wanted to become the kind of Radiographer she was. She cracked up. BUT. She mentored me, even when I went to another clinical site. She was hard as hell on me - I will be forever grateful to her.
* Even if there were plenty of time and no pressure, not every Radiographer is a born mentor. Think of people you know in your massage therapy life. Is everyone you know good at everything .. always in a good mood .. always ready to encourage and support others .. good at teaching, good at explaining, good at helping? Good God, you're asking a lot from mere mortals. And hear me clearly - you will run into many much more difficult people in every job you ever take - whether you work in massage or healthcare. You'd better get used to it now. Suck it up. For heaven's sake - USE IT. Remember, every person is a good example. Some are a good example of professionalism. Others are a good example of .. something else. Watch difficult people carefully. How they sound, how they behave. Then when you notice that sound or that behavior coming from you (and you will), you can identify it quickly and stop it.
2) Your classmates are "getting it" and you're not. Ha! I love it. Now you know what's going on in the heads of others? If your ESP is that good, you ought to change careers for sure. The truth is, YOU THINK they're getting it more than you are. C'mon, we all know people who are really good at looking the part. Doesn't matter if they know a damn thing, they LOOK like they do. So what's going on with your classmates is none of your business. The issue isn't them, it's you.
You're feeling dumb because you think you're not getting it. Oh my God. You've been at this for .. 6 or 7 whote months and you're not an expert? Get out the whips, boys.
Honey, you need to do something about your expectations - yours are all whacked. You have unrealistic expectations of others and certainly of yourself.
REALITY CHECK. You are a student.. If you were expected to know everything, you could have saved yourself some $$ and skipped the program entirely, yes?
Difficult Radiographers? They're facing pressures that you know nothing about AND they're not responsible for your education. Give them some slack.
You? Drop the perfectionism. Remember you're a student - suck it up. Students always get to do the scut work - that's how the world is designed in any profession. USE THAT. Do anything thrown your way. If you need help, ask for it. You won't get it otherwise (no one else's ESP works, either). Pay attention. Write things down. Keep a pocket-sized notebook in your pocket and write down everything. Any time you get 2 seconds free, offer to help any Radiographer that's working. Don't necessarily expect them to slow down and talk you through it - let them do their job. Watch them carefully and ask questions later.
Stick just as close to difficult people as you would the born mentors. They have as much to teach you, it's just harder to hear.
Hospital radiography departments are not designed as eductional environments for students. They're designed for patient care - your education is an afterthought. So you be in charge of that. You want to see something, know something, practice something? Go get it.
Good luck, and don't forget to breathe
hjh, RT