Initial Entry - Margaret River

Now to embark on a rural placement based in Margaret River and Augusta, I am both intrigued and nervous. Intrigued by the environment, both physical and social as well as the exposure I will have to a vast array of presentations. Nervous about the demands of musculoskeletal physiotherapy in a private practice setting and the extensive background theory required to stay afloat in this rural situation. I am hoping I have the knowledge required and am able to utilise what I have appropriately to excel in this placement, as from my last I have grown very anxious towards physiotherapy and feel my success in this placement could be vital in me continuing physiotherapy as my chosen career path.

AMR physiotherapy practice in Margaret River is a single treatment room private practice. Being rural, I expect the nature of this placement to be quite different to those in the metro areas. From peers I have learned that rural placements offer different patient-therapist dynamics, such that rapport is easily established and patients are open and accepting to any therapy on offer. Also, that rural covers an extensive field of treatment areas, mainly musculoskeletal based and movement dysfunction related, though the occasional patient (human or animal) may arise with something different.

In terms of the structure of this placement, I have discussed this with peers as well as the physiotherapist based at the Margaret River practice and have established that I will indeed be thrown into the deep end and shown how to swim. Initially I will be seeing patients at my own pace, with full supervision. I will be sharing the one treatment room between myself, my supervisor and another Curtin student; I will also have opportunities to observe. As the placement progresses, I will need to develop efficiency to be seeing my patients in 20 minute time intervals, and supervision will grow scarce.

My role in this experience will be to act as a professional physiotherapy student, with all the relevant knowledge of a new graduate. I will be expected to apply, expand and share my knowledge while in this clinical setting so as to develop myself as a physiotherapist.

Prior to starting this placement I have the following concerns:

· My ability to recall information from my knowledge base when it pertains to the patient opposite me.

· My physical capacity in musculoskeletal physiotherapy could be limited.

· I tend to get flustered when under close observation and find this quite intimidating. Having close supervision in the initial weeks could impair my performance, which would limit my supervisors faith in my ability and therefore lead to further close supervision, vicious cycle.

· Rural setting, being somewhat disconnected from my supports in Perth could have an impact on my overall performance. This could swing both ways, flourish with independence or crumble under it all.

Overall I am looking forward to a fresh start and a new opportunity to restore my desire to become a physiotherapist. I am hopeful that this field will be something I enjoy as it seemed that the musculoskeletal aspects at PMH, such as hip surveillance and BOTOX clinic were the areas I enjoyed the most.