Elizabeth interned for Community Rehabilitation Center as a physical therapy aid during spring/summer 2022 semester.
Describe a day in your life as an intern.
I would enter the physical therapy clinic and immediately pair up with a physical therapist and their patient. I would spend the day shadowing the therapist, translating for the therapist and the patient in Spanish, teaching exercises, checking patients in, retrieving ice and heat packs, and participating in the exercises with the patients! I loved this environment for many reasons! There was a very positive atmosphere and it was very question friendly. When I had questions I was often encouraged to think through possible solutions before receiving help. This was very informative because it gave me the opportunity to problem solve. The therapists were also helpful because they would demonstrate their treatments on me during down time. I gained a greater understanding and also empathy for the patients once I had been in their shoes.
What industry/job specific skills did you learn?
I learned how to appropriately interact with patients and how to communicate effectively. Communication is critical to patients so that they can understand their diagnosis and their progress. As one learns to do this effectively there will be greater clarity and greater trust between the provider and the patient. I was also able to learn a lot of medical terminology that I had previously been unfamiliar to me. This hands on experience taught me a lot of different exercises to both identify weakness and injuries as well as rehabilitate those same issues.
What is one thing you learned from this internship experience that could be applied to other settings?
This experience was beneficial to my overall development even if I don't choose to pursue Physical Therapy. I had a lot of practice with problem solving and critical thinking as I brainstormed treatment plans for the patients. I also feel that my communication skills have increased dramatically. I learned how to explain difficult concepts in simple terms and to change my communication style depending on the audience. All of these skills will aid me in my future schooling, career, and relationships.
What was your favorite part of your internship experience?
My favorite part of my internship experience was being able to build relationships with the patients and the therapists. In healthcare it is important to effectively build relationships with others so that there is trust. I found that the individuals I worked with taught me a lot about life and physical therapy. As I build deeper relationships my knowledge only expanded because I felt more comfortable asking questions. These individuals became important to me within a few months of volunteering and those relationships are priceless.
How did this internship experience affect your future goals?
This internship gave me greater confidence that I am on the right path academically. Through this in clinic experience my eyes were open to the variety within physical therapy that I don't think I would have had without this kind of experience. I am grateful for this hands on approach because it helped me solidify future goals and it gave me ideas of areas to specialize in.
How did you find your internship?
I was speaking with another BYU student who had previously volunteered at this clinic. When she found out my goals and that I spoke Spanish she jumped at the chance to share about her experience. She spoke very highly about the clinic and so I went and researched it out before applying to volunteer there.
