Six Tips For Your Final DPT Clinical Rotation

By Thomas Edger, PT, DPT, GCS

Physical Therapist

You are finally done with your coursework.

Your finals have been graded.

It is time for your final rotation of physical therapy school.

For many student physical therapists, this rotation will be in their choice of clinical setting or with the preferred company that they would like to start their career.

This was the case for me, six years ago. I lucked out and my final clinical rotation was with FOX Rehabilitation, the practice of my choice.

Some people might not have the clarity I had going into my final rotation and others might. Either way, your final rotation is both an exciting and nerve-racking time in your physical therapy school career.

Now, I am on the other side of the coin and I have now been a clinical instructor for FOX for the past four years. Last year, Dr. Jimmy McKay, PT, DPT, invited me on FOXcast to give tips to PT students who are approaching their first clinical rotation. Today, I am here to chat about tips for your final rotation.

DE-STRESS

As I detailed on the podcast, stress is a constant companion of those who have survived the trials and tribulations of DPT school. While I do think students are way more relaxed entering their last rotation compared to their first, they are sure to feel stressed about various aspects of their final rotation.

Is my CI going to expect me to treat patients on day one?

Am I going to do an evaluation the first week?

What if I don’t know the right way to document my treatments?

I think a good way to alleviate this stress can be as simple as asking your CI some of these questions before you start with the introductory email or phone call.  Another idea is to see if one of your fellow classmates previously had this particular rotation or CI, and any recommendations they may be able to offer you. I believe when you know what to expect, it will generally lead to less stress regarding a foreign situation.

For my students, their first few days usually consist of reviewing our documentation system, meeting our patients, setting expectations, and other orientation-type information. The moral of the story: Do not stress about the first day of your clinical rotation, whether it is the first or last.

FIND YOUR STYLE

A key area of growth while you are on your clinical rotation is to find your own way of treating patients. The phrase goes, “Imitation is the highest form of flattery.” Being on your clinical rotation, though, does not simply mean watching what your CI does and replicating exactly that for every patient.

The goal of a CI is to give you tools to add to your clinical toolbox and help you understand when to use them. This does go both ways, though. One of the reasons I love having students is because they offer a fresh take on treatment approaches and consider areas that I had not previously thought of working on with people. I still use exercises and tasks that I have picked up from students with whom I have had the pleasure of working with.

FOSTERING GOOD HABITS

When I spoke on the podcast, I used this tip to talk about the importance of getting yourself into the habit of point-of-service documentation. I wanted to expand this point from documentation to all aspects of the PT role. Practice point-of-service documentation, practice using RPE/BORG Scale to monitor intensity, practice taking pre/during/post exercise vitals, try different FOMs that your CI does not use, etc. The possibilities are endless.

There is no time like your clinical rotation to establish habits of a well-rounded clinician that will help you in your career moving forward.

SHARPEN YOUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS (VERBAL/NON-VERBAL)

Being a physical therapist is a job that demands you to be an effective communicator, both verbally and nonverbally. Even within FOX, we put a lot of emphasis on interdisciplinary communication with our occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists. Over the course of a day, especially if your area of practice is in a senior living community, you interact with a variety of people. At FOX, we try to bring an exchange of abundance to those interactions.

PICK YOUR CLINICAL INSTRUCTOR’S BRAIN

Your CI with FOX is not there because it was his or her turn to take a student. Clinicians are CIs because they want to be and were able to meet the stiff qualifications to become one. Every year, a CI completes roughly 1,700 hours of treatment so they have a wealth of knowledge and information.

Ask questions. Do not be a passive observer.

Ask your CI why they did a certain functional outcome measure.

Ask your CI about their career, where have they worked.

Where did they do their rotations as a student?

What are their hobbies outside of work?

READ THE LITERATURE

Part of providing clinically excellent care is to be current on the latest and greatest literature in your area of practice. Speaking for myself, I have a word document of studies relevant to our area of practice. I often give students these resources in the first few weeks of their rotation to generate discussion and brainstorm possible treatment approaches for patients on the student’s caseload.

During your first few weeks as a student PT, ask your CI what resources they suggest to educate yourself more the field that you are practicing. For example, at FOX, in addition to research studies, you can listen to podcasts pertaining to three disciplines, or go to our website and read articles by various members of our clinical teams.

Overall, your final rotation is an exciting time as a PT student. You are on your way into the working world with one last stop. Use this time to refine your skills and prepare yourself for being a full time clinician.