An easier week…
This week hasn’t been so difficult. We had a lab test yesterday in our imaging class which, to my surprise, didn’t turn out to be quite as difficult as I had imagined. Our lab tests seem to be general applications of what we have learned, so I’m definitely comfortable with this content at this point. We have been concentrating on film density through a series of lab experiments were we modify mAs, kVp, SID, and film/screen speeds to observe density changes. We have also implemented the inverse square law and density maintenance formulas to manipulate density as well. Another purpose of these experiments is to gain an understanding of what happens in the primary and secondary beam when these changes are made. We’ll be having a written test on Tuesday that covers the classroom material from this section.
This weekend is going to be fairly full with study time. The imaging test will be followed on Thursday by a film test from the clinical class. After I get those two tests knocked out, I’ll be digging in pretty hard to prepare for the skull anatomy and positioning test that comes the following week.
I’ll be back at my regular clinical site tomorrow morning. I have a couple goals that I definitely need to complete tomorrow and Friday. I want to comp the knee, patella, and shoulder exams. After those, I’m not sure what else I’ll comp in the ortho office unless I get a couple forearm and femur exams. I might be able to comp the hip if another exam comes up also. I’ll eventually see a humerus exam somewhere hopefully…
I love the fact that you put up a website like this. This is my first clinical rotation and I was so nervous the first two weeks, I thought about quitting but your blogs have helped me understand that I am not the only one and that my confidence will come. I am a lot more confident and anxious to get as many comps done before spring break as possible. I go to Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, OH and came across your website in a search for exactly this. Keep working hard and thanks for the great site!
Talene » Thanks for the comments :) I’m glad you found something useful here. Early clinicals are intimidating sometimes, but it does get better as you go. You should try blogging your experiences also.
I have another site that is getting quite popular too if you wanna check it out:
http://radiography.ning.com