Clinical rotation 1-29-2011

This week I did not scan as much as I would have wanted, and on Friday I felt aprehensive about an abdomen study, because the tech was in the room with me while I was scanning, and she kept saying" No, don't take that", but she did not tell me why or how to improve it, so I decided for the sake of time, to hand her the probe and let her finish the exam. She came to me after the exam and asked me why was I hesitant in the room. I found it hard to express my true feelings, because I did not want to start a conflict. I am sure that by now, the techs have higher expectations of me, and I cannot come across as stand-off-ish. I will try harder to be more assertive, and display more confidence.

Clinical rotation 1-21-2011

Today concludes our first week of 2 day school and 3 day clinicals schedule. It is more challenging to do both, but it makes it more interesting, because we learn about OB/Gyn in class and we get to apply it in clinicals as we go along. I took Friday off, due to flu like symptoms, and I hope to get better by next week, on Wednesday. I have enjoyed being in clinicals this past two days and I am getting to be more comfortable scanning. I have seen a lot more pathology this week, and it is helpful to correlate it to our lectures. Some examples include: large liver cysts, pleural effusion, renal tumor, etc.

January 14th 2011, after my fourth week in clinicals

Today we end another 2 week course of clinical hours. I have spent most of my time either scanning or observing the ultrasound procedures at SMIL, Mountain View office. I got a chance to work with most of the techs, and I like most of them. They are all different and I am doing my best at learning how to interact with all of them. Some of them like me to start scanning and they scan after me, and finish the exam, while others prefer to scan first and then, if time allows, I get to scan. I am not sure, yet which one of these two approaches I like best, but I am glad when I get to scan at all. Sometimes, there is a time limit, or the patient is in a hurry, so I do not have a chance to scan, but most of the time I try to fit in some scanning time.

Jan 07 2011, after my third full week in clinicals

At the end of my third full week in clinicals, I feel better about my scanning, and I am sure it will only get better. But I still struggle with the abdomen studies on larger patients, and with the fact that some of the techs are not willing to teach us. I will have to stick to the ones that are willing to show me the ropes, and guide me on this path of learning.