Clinics has been an amazing experience to be honest. I've loved just about every moment so far. Every case that I've had to work through has brought to light and solidified so many of the things that I sat in class learning and understanding. I'm working with live patients that have involved and loving owners attached to them. I've gotten a great handle on how to work with the owners, relay to my clinicians what the presenting complaint and physical exam findings are, and figure out what the next steps should be.
Clinics is empowering and defeating all at the same time. Just embrace it. You are a sponge in clinics. You are in clinics to just absorb all the things that you can. Embrace it!
You are going to have moments where you feel like you are on cloud nine. You really understand what is going on with your case and you can communicate the next steps and diagnostics with your clinician and rotation mates. You feel comfortable with everything that is going on surrounding your case and feel confident in how you are interacting with your clinicians.
Then there's the opposite of course! You aren't totally comfortable with the subject of your rotation. You aren't a whiz at the problems that your case is presenting with. You aren't confident in sharing your findings and thoughts with your clinicians/rotation mates. You just feel at a loss!
I don't think either of these feelings are foreign to anyone that goes through clinics. Someone may be stronger in one subject and you may be stronger than others in another subject. And I'm here to tell you that that is COMPLETELY okay.
You are a sponge and your job is to just absorb all the things that you can from clinics! Embrace the moments that you feel empowered and knowledgeable. Share your knowledge with those that may be struggling in your rotation. Embrace the moments that you feel less comfortable with your cases and reach out to those around you to seek out the answers and information. Be the sponge!
Clinics will build you up and tear you down at the same time...and that's okay! The best advice I can give to you is...just keep swimming. And of course be a sponge :)
