Week 1!

 The first week of my 12 week externship at NMMC is finished! Overall I had a great week. I love working with the adult population, and I am adjusting to the hospital setting.  My days are long. From the time I get there (at 8:15) until the time I leave (4:00-4:15) I do not stop working. There is always a patient to see or paperwork to be done.

My dad insisted on taking my picture Monday like it was my first day of kindergarten... Haha.

Ignore how horrible the picture is.... I had to take it at the end of the day and I looked and felt SO tired.

 My caseload this week (and as it will be typically) is comprised of 4 patients. I see them each twice a day for 45 minutes. Two of the patients are recovering from strokes, 1 is a patient with Lupus, and 1 is a stage 4 lung cancer patient. I work primarily on their cognitive deficits and their voicing.

At lunch time we do a swallow group. All of my patients I recommend for swallow group and the other SLP's swallow patients eat together and we monitor, ensure safe swallow, give cues,  instruct on compensatory techniques and do trials with different food consistencies.

In the mornings I go to staffing on my patients. I (and my supervisor!) meet with the patient's nurse, OT, PT, primary physician, pharmacist, social worker etc... and discuss each aspect of the patient. I am learning A LOT of medical terminology! It' s neat to listen and learn how each of the disciplines fit together.

In the afternoons we document on our patients for reimbursement purposes. I'm learning a lot about Medicare/ Medicaid and how to show that our treatment is effective.

The day goes by super fast, which I am thankful for. I'm always exhausted from walking up and down the hospital halls and pushing wheelchairs. I must be burning like a bazillion calories every day.

And speaking of calories...

I joined this place on Tuesday!

 As a NMMC sponsored intern I get a discounted membership. Their facility is so nice, and exercising is a good stress reliever for me.  And losing some weight won't be a bad thing!


I cannot tell you how much I look forward to Fridays! This weekend Evan came to Pontotoc, and I loved every minute of having him here. I never dreamed us being apart for a week at a time would be this hard. I may or may not have cried when he left after church today...

 Rigby loves Evan too!

Week 2 starts bright and early tomorrow! I am excited. :-) Ready to go and learn even more!