2/24/2019 0 Comments Reflective Journal #6Honestly, I am not very knowledgeable when it comes to networking, not in the least. It is difficult for me to wrap my mind around meeting someone just to say that I have met them, so that I can use them as a resource later. Perhaps I am thinking about it negatively or with the wrong attitude, but when I am intentional about meeting someone it is usually because I have a desire to know them and know their story. Networking in itself is hardly ever something that is in the forefront of my mind. I think that I sometimes feel guilty or wrong about what I think networking is because I don’t want to seem like I am using others. I am sure that there is a happy medium between being genuinely interested in knowing people and knowing how to network, and I would like to find that.
So to approach the question of how I approach networking, I do not really approach it at all. I do not actively seek out opportunities to network for my future profession; however, I know it is something that will be helpful in the future. I cannot and do not expect employers to take my own word about who I am if they do not know me or trust someone else’s opinion of me. Therefore, I would like to learn more about networking and how to do it with class without making others feel used or just like another stepping stone to get me to where I want to be. Additionally, I would like to better understand how to create that relationship with someone that I can then call back on upon to have that “it’s who ya know” moment. If I only meet someone once or twice, how appropriate is it that I call them up to ask for a job or reference or whatever else? Because I feel at that point they do not necessarily know much about me if anything at all. I have had opportunities and been presented with chances to network, especially within the pre-health club and trips with athletic training, but the amount of times that I have taken advantage of these opportunities are few. I feel like I struggle to take advantage of these opportunities because of my poor understanding/outlook on my abilities to network. I would like to learn more about the topic.
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2/9/2019 0 Comments Reflective Journal #4I feel like trust is one of the components that makes our job so special. We are given ample opportunities to create relationships and build that trust with the athletes, something many other health professionals do not have the opportunity to do. Personally, I love taking advantage of this opportunity. When I first arrive with a team, I make an intentional effort to learn all of the athletes’ names. I feel that this is a very simple task, but it can make a lasting impression, especially with bigger teams where it is easy to feel like another number on the team. In most aspects of my life, I try to relate to people using humor. When I have been around the team long enough for them to get used to seeing me, I try to initiate conversation with humor, sort of like those ice breaker games without the awkwardness (although sometimes it’s still awkward). Eventually, by simply asking them about their days, where their from, chatting about their major, or making intentional conversation, it’s easy to see that the trust begins to grow. There is no better feeling than when an athlete chooses to approach you with their questions or for help; it feels as if you have taken the next step with the team.
I feel that establishing trust may be the most important step in the relationships with the athletes. As athletic trainers, it is already most people’s first reactions to doubt your knowledge and education due to the stereotype that surrounds the profession, AKA “professional water boys”. I have heard multiple times that all some athletes think we do is make ice bags and set up the water. Due to this stigma, it is important that we show them that we ARE invested in their lives and in their health while being vigilant about what we do to show that we are competent and capable of being great clinicians. When an athlete trusts us, they are more likely to buy in to the treatment or rehabilitation that we are providing them with, which will help the psychological aspect of the healing process. If an athlete does not have confidence in their athletic trainer, the athlete will constantly be hesitant to do what he or she says or trust their diagnosis. Additionally, I feel like this can put a lot of pressure on athletic trainers to be “perfect” because one wrong diagnosis can potentially ruin the trust that was established with the athlete. 2/3/2019 0 Comments Reflective Journal #3As we prepare for the BOC, I am feeling very encouraged. Last semester, I didn’t specifically do BOC preparation, so the first practice test went extremely well for me. I increased my scores in each domain except for one. I have been very intentional about growing in domain 4 because I was not in the least satisfied with my score in it last year, and it was nice to see that the work I put in is really paying off. As for right now, I am trying to focus on the material that I don’t have to recall often while in the clinic - equipment fitting, different types of budgets, specific numbers for range of motion, etc. Additionally, I want to revisit rehabilitation progressions to ensure that I am confident in those before I sit for the exam.
Today, we took our second practice BOC exam of the semester, and I am feeling even better than earlier in the week. Today, my overall score increased by 4%, and my domain four score entered into the 90% range. This was about a 20% jump from my last domain 4 score, which was extremely encouraging to me; however, I do feel as if these rehab questions were much more straightforward than they have been previously. What was slightly disappointing was my domain 2 score. It dropped down to 66%, which is the lowest I have received in this domain since we started taking these tests. The questions that fit into this domain covered a much larger variety of injuries and illnesses than before, which included many more neurological conditions that I am not as familiarly with.This decrease in score allowed me to get a greater understanding of what conditions I need to review to not only pass the BOC, but to be a great clinician. These practice tests are by far my favorite way to study for the BOC, but I do also like asking questions while faced with a real life situation in the clinic. I feel like the more practical the situation, the more likely it is that I will retain the information. Additionally, it is encouraging when I see test questions on topics where I have conducted research in the past and have retained the information that I found and read about. I feel like if I continue doing these three things, along with continuing my review of therapeutic modalities, rehab progressions, and anatomy, then I will have confidence when going into the BOC exam in March. |
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April 2019
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