Goals
Educational Goals
Clinical Experience 3: Providence Alaska Medical Center
I chose Providence Alaska Medical Center as a clinical experience in order to broaden my understanding of neurological rehabilitation. I hope to develop a well-rounded repertoire of treatment options for neurological pathologies, refine skills related to hands on intervention techniques, and continue to cultivate my clinical decision making skills related to patient evaluation and discharge. Overall, I would like practice at entry level or beyond entry level skill in all areas.
Clinical Experience 4: MTI
I chose to select MTI for a clinical experience based on the their focus of manual therapy and orthopedics in the outpatient setting. MTI also recieved stellar recommendation from previous students who had completed clinical experiences at MTI and faculty members at UND. I look forward to the opportunity to become proficient in basic manual therapy while being introduced to more difficult manual therapy techniques as well. Along with the opportunity to refine technical abilities in an advanced outpatient setting, I also look forward to fostering the growth of professional behaviors such as interpersonal and communication skills. Overall, I would like practice at entry level or beyond entry level skill in all areas.
Now until to Graduation
Professional Development Goals
Currently I foresee the majority of my physical therapy career in the private practice setting. Owning a physical therapy practice will combine my goal of owning a small business, my passion for promoting the profession of physical therapy, and my interests in orthopedics as well as prevention & wellness. Realistically, I do not foresee owning a private practice until the second half of my career (15 years from now). Developing a strong community presence through owning a private practice will provide a platform to serve community members by educating them about the benefits of physical therapy, and impacting their health and wellness issues. Overall, I hope to motivate individuals to become proactive regarding their health and empower them to experience the fullness of life.
While private practice is my ultimate goal, I would like to begin my career for the first 3-5 years in the inpatient setting as a way to gain a clear understanding of the disease process at the acute level. I feel this will be beneficial as I venture into the outpatient and private practice settings because it will provide me with deeper insight into the rehabilitation process and a greater depth of knowledge and experience as I continue to mature clinically and professionally as a physical therapist.
Also, as a way to develop knowledge, skill, and professional credibility, I would like to become specialized either in orthopedics or manual therapy by my 5th year post graduation. At this point, I have a strong interest in both. Graduation does not automatically mean that I have all of the knowledge that I ever need to practice as a physical therapist, rather it is the minimum amount of knowledge I need to practice physical therapy in a safe and constructive manner. Becoming a specialist in orthopedics or manual therapy will allow me to expand upon the knowledge and skills that I currently have and build my professional credibility as a physical therapist.
Clinical Experience 3: Providence Alaska Medical Center
I chose Providence Alaska Medical Center as a clinical experience in order to broaden my understanding of neurological rehabilitation. I hope to develop a well-rounded repertoire of treatment options for neurological pathologies, refine skills related to hands on intervention techniques, and continue to cultivate my clinical decision making skills related to patient evaluation and discharge. Overall, I would like practice at entry level or beyond entry level skill in all areas.
- Evaluate patients using the FIM with 90% accuracy (as compared to CI).
- Demonstrate entry level to beyond entry level skill in the evaluation, intervention and discharge of patients with CVA.
- Independently evaluate a patient with a spinal cord injury using the ASIA impairment scale.
Clinical Experience 4: MTI
I chose to select MTI for a clinical experience based on the their focus of manual therapy and orthopedics in the outpatient setting. MTI also recieved stellar recommendation from previous students who had completed clinical experiences at MTI and faculty members at UND. I look forward to the opportunity to become proficient in basic manual therapy while being introduced to more difficult manual therapy techniques as well. Along with the opportunity to refine technical abilities in an advanced outpatient setting, I also look forward to fostering the growth of professional behaviors such as interpersonal and communication skills. Overall, I would like practice at entry level or beyond entry level skill in all areas.
- Demonstrate independence in appropriately selecting and performing all entry level manual therapy techniques for the lumbar, thoracic and cervical spine by the end of the clinical experience.
- Independently perform 100% of the evaluations by the second half of the clinical experience.
- Prior to the completion of the clinical experience I would like to independently evaluate, treat and discharge a patient with lumbar disc involvement.
Now until to Graduation
- Pass the PEAT with at least an 80% on the first attempt.
- Complete the research project titled "A Pilot Study to Investigate the Influence of the Timing of Student Clinical Experiences and Student Characteristics in Hiring of New Graduates" by October 1st.
- Practice with entry level to beyond entry level skill in all areas by the end of my 4th clinical experience.
- Improve soft skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, communication skills, and professionalism in the clinical setting.
Professional Development Goals
Currently I foresee the majority of my physical therapy career in the private practice setting. Owning a physical therapy practice will combine my goal of owning a small business, my passion for promoting the profession of physical therapy, and my interests in orthopedics as well as prevention & wellness. Realistically, I do not foresee owning a private practice until the second half of my career (15 years from now). Developing a strong community presence through owning a private practice will provide a platform to serve community members by educating them about the benefits of physical therapy, and impacting their health and wellness issues. Overall, I hope to motivate individuals to become proactive regarding their health and empower them to experience the fullness of life.
While private practice is my ultimate goal, I would like to begin my career for the first 3-5 years in the inpatient setting as a way to gain a clear understanding of the disease process at the acute level. I feel this will be beneficial as I venture into the outpatient and private practice settings because it will provide me with deeper insight into the rehabilitation process and a greater depth of knowledge and experience as I continue to mature clinically and professionally as a physical therapist.
Also, as a way to develop knowledge, skill, and professional credibility, I would like to become specialized either in orthopedics or manual therapy by my 5th year post graduation. At this point, I have a strong interest in both. Graduation does not automatically mean that I have all of the knowledge that I ever need to practice as a physical therapist, rather it is the minimum amount of knowledge I need to practice physical therapy in a safe and constructive manner. Becoming a specialist in orthopedics or manual therapy will allow me to expand upon the knowledge and skills that I currently have and build my professional credibility as a physical therapist.