For the next six or eight weeks, you are the gatekeeper that will decide if your student will continue with their program and become a practicing OT. It is your responsibility so I would encourage you to take this as seriously as you would your own career.
1. Remember this is may be the first time your student may have encountered a smelly, nasty bowel movement, looked at an amputation, knelt in urine, and heard patients crying and screaming out in pain.
2. Encourage them to ask questions. Show them that when you ask the patient about their life and listen to the answer, it can distract you and them from an awkward situation (working around your first pair of elderly breasts or testicles) and it helps build the bond you will use to educate, support and push your patient.
3. Try to be open to your student asking questions, in fact encourage it! Remind them that an engaged student should have questions; about your approach, your thoughts, what they are seeing and even how they might have handled a situation or patient. Keep in mind this is an opportunity for you to learn too, don't be immediately defensive.
4. Remind them that most clinicians like to hear themselves talk. Give them time in their day to talk to the other clinicians, aides, nurses, doctor, administration - one day that information will come in handy for them, as it did for you.
5. Remember your student will be slow at everything, but especially documentation; it may take them an hour to write a note you'd finish in 10 minutes so schedule your time accordingly. Here's where it pays to be an organized clinician, something else you can model to your student.
6. When your student is actively participating in treatments and evaluations give them space afterward to ask for feedback about your time together. Try to stay positive when you do give feedback and use the 2 positives, 1 negative sandwich rule if possible.
7. Hopefully your student won't do this but most of the students I've worked with and seen at work have cried at some point in their time as a student. If your student does cry, try to stay neutral and listen to them, find out what is going on and offer to help.
8. If your student, even your first one, is endangering patients or putting the other employees at risk don't be afraid to go to their supervisor and communicate your concerns. You are the gatekeeper to our profession and so should act like one.
9. Most importantly...you are the clinician...so act like one! Ask your supervisor or other clinicians for help if you are feeling overwhelmed as having a student can be an amazing experience or a stint in hell!
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