Day Ten: Week two, concluded

Did terrific on practical #1, aced the med term test (well I don't know truly how well yet, but I'm sure I did well), and all assignments were turned in on schedule.

Now time for a Friday/Saturday where I do absolutely nothing school-related. It's time I took some time off.

Then back to the books. This Labor Day weekend doesn't get to be fun just because I want it to be. I have two more tests this week plus a five-minute presentation to give. Oh, and ANOTHER practical coming up on bed mobility and transfers.

It sounds like a lot, and it is. But I think I'm finally getting the hang of this schedule.

Day Nine: Now that THAT'S over...

Practical #1 completed. Don't know yet how I did (I find out tomorrow). And I'm not going to violate my honor code by talking about what was on it, I'll just say I was pleasantly surprised.

Big med terminology test tomorrow. Gotta study hard. This week just doesn't stop!

Day Eight: Goniometry!

Goniometry is harder than it looks! That's probably what they expect from us, though. I always knew the therapists I'd observed were masters of measuring a patient's exact body landmarks. Hardest part had to be keeping the proximal arm steady during an active motion. After that it's just a matter of reading the right markings.

Well, the teachers have been saying that we're the "over-achiever" class. Apparently we're far ahead of the previous class. And instead of trying to get us to conform to their idea of where we should be, they simply keep raising the bar. Pretty great quality to have in a teacher.

Day Seven: Almost falling asleep

Definitely had one o' "those" days today. Getting out of school and working out was a really nice reprieve from the doldrums of sitting in a desk for seven and a half hours. All day.

Not to complain. Wednesday will get better. I have Kinesiology lab all day Wednesdays, and that's always a fun course.

We're doing goniometry, too (measuring range of motion in joints) so that'll be real fun.

Day Six: Work, work, work!

SO busy with studying these days I hardly had time to research/write on this blog. Sorry for the late entries. It's been hectic. I had a fun, relaxing weekend full of two whole days of NO school only to follow it all up with a super busy week including my first practical. So, yeah! Go school!

Anyone else get that feeling? I'm sure I'll look back on all this one day and go "Wow, I can't believe I made it this far."

Weekend Article: New Delaware law will include Telehealth outreach, dry needling

Delaware Gov. Jack Markell gushed about a new state law that opened doors for the practice of dry needling (a practice that dates back to the ancient days of Chinese acupuncture) and updated the definition of physical therapy practice in the state -- an update which now includes telehealth plus the ability to allow non-native visiting physical therapists to treat patients when they are "affiliated with athletic teams and organizations or performing arts companies who are temporarily practicing, competing, or performing in Delaware" (Brady 2014).

The move was seen as a major coup for the state Physical Therapy Association, as evidenced by George Edelman, PT, OCS, MTC, president of the Delaware Chapter. "The legislative process was very arduous," Edelman said. "I am grateful for all of our chapter members who attended hearings, met with legislators, and sent emails or made phone calls in support of HB 359" (APTA 2014).

The APTA chapter president could not have been more proud of the trajectory seen for his state. "We are thrilled that Delaware now has a physical therapy statute that reflects 21st century practice" (APTA 2014).

American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). (2014). New Delaware PT law includes Telehealth, dry needling [Press release]. Retrieved from http://www.apta.org/PTinMotion/News/2014/8/22/DelawarePracticeAct

Brady, Gerald L. (2014). House bill 359: An act to amend title 24 of the Delaware code relating to physical therapy and athletic training. Retrieved from: http://www.legis.delaware.gov/LIS/LIS147.NSF/vwLegislation/HB+359?Opendocument

Day Five: Emotional rollercoaster

That's what this week has been, largely. Just a series of ups and downs the size of which left me tired and weak by the end of each day.

Can't say I didn't enjoy it, though!

Future PTA students - those of you who read this blog, anyway - please do take notice. I don't know your program or your instructors. Everything is coming from my personal experience and my own instructors at my own campus. But what IS uniform with your program, most likely, is the pacing of the courses. And it is fast. I have a four-year degree in English from a local university and I've never had to learn so much in so little time. They cram 15 weeks of school into 11 to make room for administrative stuff plus clinicals. And I can guarantee that will be what your program wants from you.

No, if I'd had a better idea of the pace of this program (and had more than just people's words to go on), I'd have had all my homework done well ahead of time. Needless to say, I'm not exactly behind, but getting homework done is a critical process that slows study time down. It's nice to have weekends for a short reprieve, but once Monday hits it's going to hit hard.

I'm just saying: get ahead of the game before it gets ahead of you. That's the lesson I learned the hard way this week.