The intern completed a successful internship at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center in the Speech Department. The intern set goals at the beginning to learn evaluation and therapy techniques. Throughout the internship, the intern observed over 150 sessions, conducted research, and created resources to help future interns. The intern gained confidence in areas like conducting evaluations, developing treatment plans, and demonstrating exercises. The intern completed an in-depth case study on a patient and feels prepared to pursue a career as a speech language pathologist after seeing the impact of the role firsthand. The internship reinforced the intern's interest in speech therapy and solidified plans to obtain a master's degree in the field.

1. HLTH 4200-INTERNSHIP
Final Evaluation
Internship Reflection
1. Review your goals and objectives for your internship and assess your internship site as it provided
a setting for achieving those goals and objectives.
The Speech Department of Grand Strand Regional Medical Center was truly the perfect place for me to
serve as an intern and set and achieve my goals. This internship quickly exceeded my expectations and
provided me with endless opportunities, hand on experience, and one of a kind advice and encouragement
for reaching my career goals. Throughout my internship I spent the majority of my time with my preceptor
or other speech language pathologists in inpatient or outpatient swallow or speech evaluation and therapy
sessions. I set goals at the beginning of the summer to learn as much as possible about how to deliver and
conduct these sessions as well as familiarize myself with the most common diagnoses and conditions that
cause speech and swallow dysfunction. I am extremely grateful for the patience, guidance, encouragement,
and teaching of each SLP in the department. The staff at Grand Strand never stopped filling my brain with
information that I will value as I pursue a career in this field. My preceptor as well as the other staff
members worked diligently to ensure I learned, experienced, and practiced day after day at my internship
site. They never failed to explain, provide additional information, challenge my thinking, and push me to
achieve my goals as an intern. My preceptor has a background in teaching students and constantly provided
me with outside information and materials that will be useful both now and in the future. She also
challenged me each day to think outside of the box, engage myself in all aspects of my internship, to never
stop trying to understand, and to learn from everything that I do. The variety of patients I saw throughout
the hospital opened my eyes to the wide array of different evaluation and therapy methods used in this field
and allowed me to gain a better understanding of each. Without my preceptor, the staff at Grand Strand, the
phenomenal facility, and daily effort I would not have been able to achieve all that I accomplished at my
internship site. I am forever thankful that this experience led me to confidently solidify my career goals and
start the application process for a Master’s in Speech Language Pathology.
2. Explain and show how you achieved the goals you set.
1. Speech/Swallowing Assessment Goal
By the end of my internship, I will have developed an understanding and basic knowledge of how to
conduct bedside evaluations to identify difficulty in swallowing and speech language cognition, while
also being able to incorporate associated vocabulary.
After observing over 150 evaluation and therapy sessions I feel confident in my understanding of how to
conduct a swallow or speech evaluation to determine the patient’s current swallow function or cognitive
status. Through research and time spent learning and practicing vocabulary I feel as if I can use appropriate
terms associated with these procedures. Creating materials for future interns as well as writing a case study
have increased my understanding of speech and medical related terms and the process of conducting
evaluation and therapy sessions. Creating a vocabulary list of terms and abbreviations that I found most
challenging throughout my internship allowed me to master my understanding of these terms and use them
daily throughout my experience. I have been able to accomplish this goal through the objectives I set forth
at the beginning of my internship that are listed below.
• I have studied and learn speech language related vocabulary terms and practiced using them daily
throughout discussions with my preceptors and other professionals.
• I have studied and learned a large amount of general hospital related terms that are incorporated
into daily speech pathology practices and used them when they were applicable to the situation
• I took daily notes throughout evaluation and therapy sessions to better my understanding of the
techniques that were being used
• I closely observed evaluation and therapy strategies in all patients and settings and developed a
stronger understanding of the various scenarios for speech language evaluation and therapy
methods
• I noted vocabulary terms and words that I was unfamiliar with and spent time studying and
learning them outside of my internship.

2. • I studied patient charts and practice diagnosing and creating hypothetical patient goals not only for
patient’s being seen, but practiced with other patient scenarios as well.
2. Speech/Swallowing Evaluation Planning Goal
By the end of my internship, I will be able to develop and plan a bedside evaluation incorporating
different segments of diagnostic testing materials that target speech, language and cognitive deficits
to evaluate and diagnose the patient’s current level of functioning to determine future treatment.
I quickly found myself interested in the different types of diagnostic testing used by SLPs to evaluate
patient’s cognitive abilities. I incorporated a section for diagnostic testing methods in the intern notebook
and study guide that I created for future interns. This section includes not only copies of the tests but also
instructions and guidelines for administering and scoring each test. Outside of observing my preceptor as
well as other SLP’s administer and deliver different testing techniques, I spent a great amount of time
researching testing methods, their uses and measures, instructions for administration, how to score, and the
meaning of scores. I took notes and closely observed my preceptor’s strategies during administration of
tests and developed an understanding of what particular responses and scores mean for the patient’s future
treatment and therapy goals. Taking data during the delivery of tests by my preceptor allowed me to
practice scoring, assessing, and suggesting my treatment plan and therapy exercises to address the patient’s
specific problems and challenges. Through these actions along with the objectives listed below I was able
to achieve this goal and feel confident in my understanding and abilities related to the main diagnostic tests
used in speech pathology.
• I observed a variety of different testing methods my preceptor used when diagnosing a patient’s
cognitive ability and established a strong understanding of why each test is used and what is being
measured.
• I researched and gained a better understanding of the types of tests that are used by SLP’s and feel
comfortable suggesting which test is most appropriate for the situation at hand.
• I researched and discussed with my preceptor how to administer and score different types of tests
and recorded data for scoring purposes during test delivery at bedside.
• I discussed patient responses and scores with my preceptor following the delivery of a test which
included discussing key observations, determining the patient’s biggest difficulties, proposing
therapy strategies and treatment plans, and brainstorming exercises that will be beneficial to that
particular patient.
• I practiced administering a cognitive test and used my understanding of scoring to determine
future therapy goals.
3. Speech/Swallowing Intervention Development Goal
By the end of my internship, I will be able to fully understand as well as demonstrate the most
common exercises that build lingual and labial muscle strength to increase swallowing and speech
functioning.
Throughout my internship I worked with many patients suffering from severe injuries that impaired their
ability to swallow limiting their choices of foods and liquids. Swallowing exercises are an important part of
regaining ability and strength to swallow safely and ultimately reach their baseline diet. I observed these
exercises being used in both inpatient and outpatient settings and over the course of my internship I saw
many individuals regain the strength needed to eat or drink again through persistent practice of swallowing
related exercises. By observing these patients I was able to notice improvements from the daily
incorporation of exercises. Depending on the patient’s deficit there are a variety of different exercises used
and I feel comfortable with the most commonly used exercises for swallowing function. I researched these
exercises further and learned new exercises to incorporate in the intern notebook that I created for the
hospital. I am confident in my ability to demonstrate the exercises to patients as well as my understanding
of which exercises target which problems. Through observation and practice I have fully accomplished this
goal. The objectives listed below also helped me reach this goal.
• I reviewed exercise worksheets that were given to me by my preceptor prior to using them and
gained confidence in how to demonstrate the ones that are most commonly used.
• I practice exercises with my preceptor as well as during observation and feel confident in doing
them myself

3. • Through research, observation, and discussion with SLP’s I understand the importance of each
exercise and which area and muscle it targets.
• I took notes on which exercises are used in therapy sessions and how the SLP demonstrates each
exercise to prepare myself for demonstration in the future.
4. Swallowing Therapy Evaluation Goal
By the end of my internship, I will be able to determine how a speech language pathologist evaluates
their patient’s swallow function to chose the safest diet for their current status as well as how they
evaluate day to day progress in the acute setting.
Swallowing evaluations were the most common order conducted by SLP’s in this setting. I saw a wide
variety of patients with a wide variety of conditions affecting their ability to swallow safely and effectively.
Exposure to a variety of situations and conditions allowed me to gain a solid understanding of factors that
affect diet recommendations for patients. I also spent time understanding the different dysphagia diet
levels and the types of foods that are allowed and prohibited from each diet level. I feel confident in my
understanding of which foods and liquids test the patient’s ability at each diet level when conducting an
evaluation or therapy at bedside and feel as if these skills will prepare to successfully administer bedside
swallow evaluations in my future career. I was able to accomplish this goal through these efforts along with
the following objectives:
• I discussed evaluation strategies with the SLPs and observed their presentation of foods and
liquids as well as note-taking methods before, during, and after evaluations and therapies.
• I reviewed patient charts and notes made by each SLP before, during, and after sessions to gain a
better understanding of diet recommendations were made.
• I observed sessions with a variety of patients and proposed conclusions of my own regarding their
progress and status to compare with conclusions made by my preceptor.
• I paid close attention to goals set for each patient and followed to see whether or not goals were
met before the patient left the acute care setting.
• I researched and reviewed different swallow testing methods and gained a strong understanding of
which diet is associated with each food or liquid.
5. SLP Affective Goal
By the end of this internship, I will have a better understanding of whether or not a career in this
field is what I will choose to pursue in the future as well as a decision as to whether or not this setting
would be the best fit for me if I end up in this career.
Throughout the duration of my internship I have spent a great amount of time thinking about a future in this
career and weighing out the pros and cons. Prior to this internship I did not know much about speech
pathology as a career especially in the acute care setting. This internship has far exceeded my expectations
and has taught me more than I could have ever imagined. I have been exposed to an incredible amount of
information, people, situations, and experiences that have opened my eyes further to pursuing this career.
My passion for health as a whole but also specifically my passion for therapy and helping patients reach
goals, small or large, has multiplied. From conversing with other professionals throughout the hospital I
have first handedly seen the value of an SLP in this setting and how meaningful their time and service is to
these patients. Spending time with each SLP and discussing their education and experiences as well as
listening to their personal insight has provided me with valuable guidance for the future. By completing this
internship I am confident in my decision to pursue this career in the future and feel positive that I have
completed this goal. The objectives below further explain how I accomplished this goal and reached this
decision.
• I spent time learning about each SLP in the department and gained insight on their individual
experiences thus far in their career.
• I learned about each SLP and their personal pros and cons of this field as well as pros and cons of
different settings in which this career is practiced.
• I researched graduate school programs to obtain a Master’s in SLP and researched the different
settings to practice SLP to help narrow my options in the future.

4. • I discussed graduate programs with each SLP as well as listened to personal opinions and
experiences each had related to their time achieving their Master’s, which allowed me to narrow
down the program that will be best for me.
• I discussed with my preceptor the skills needed to be successful in this field as well as day-to-day
challenges and rewards.
• I followed patients through not only speech therapy, but also physical and occupational therapy to
assure myself that speech therapy interests me the most, while gaining an understanding of the
value of all types of therapy.
• I developed a lasting relationship with the SLPs and therapy department at Grand Strand Regional
Medical Center for future reference.
3. Choose one project/assignment and describe it as follows:
a. How well do you think you accomplished the project or dealt with the experience(s)?
One of my projects that I completed throughout my internship was a case study of a patient at Grand
Strand Regional Medical Center. I put forth a lot of effort to make this case study as thorough and
detailed as possible and feel as if I was successful in completing an in depth case study. I spent a lot
of time reading doctor’s notes, collaborating with other therapists, as well as time with the actual
patient. As I completed this project in my first few weeks of my internship I had to strive to
understand the patient’s condition, prognosis, therapy strategies, etc. Many terms, exercises,
processes, and strategies were very unfamiliar to me at this point in my internship, which posed
significant challenges when writing my case study. However, through communication with other
therapists, thorough research on all details and aspects of this study, as well as active and critical
thinking I successfully completed a detailed case study.
b. What skills did you use? (e.g. writing, speaking, organizing, interpersonal, counseling,
management, research, etc.)
To gather information on the patient’s condition and status I had to speak with several SLP’s who
were working with this patient throughout her time in the hospital. I monitored the patient’s status by
checking on the patient with my preceptor each day and during therapy sessions I used interpersonal
skills to communicate with the patient to better understand her status and prognosis. I organized and
compiled the information reported by nurses, physicians, surgeons, PT, OT, and the SLP’s that were
all in contact with this patient throughout her two weeks at Grand Strand. Throughout the duration of
writing my case study I researched various topics and applied the information to the patient’s
condition and recovery. Critical thinking came into play when incorporating notes from physicians,
nurses, etc. as well as applying the research to complete the case study. Writing skills were used to
compile the information and write the report as well as when editing and making changes.
c. Point out your strengths and weaknesses. What would you do differently?
My completed case study was very in depth and detailed which was a definite strength of this project.
The case study fully analyzed the patient’s changes and steps to recovery while in the acute care
setting. My interest in this patient’s diagnosis and treatment plan enabled me to complete this project
to my full potential. Incorporating notes from other physicians, surgeons, nurses, as well as OT and
PT also made the case study more thorough and well rounded. I was not at the hospital on the
weekends the patient was here therefore I missed a few therapy sessions and had to rely on notes from
the SLPs. For the future I think it is important to be an active member of each therapy session to
avoid relying on notes from others and to be able to first handedly witness change.
4. Assess your contribution to the internship site.
I feel as if I was able to contribute to my internship site daily. From gathering items for swallow
evaluations to completing projects they will be able to use in the future I feel as if I was of assistance to
them each day. Although I spent majority of my time observing, I was able to help SLPs set up and clean
for evaluations and therapy sessions to give them more time to work with the patient. I was also able to
record data for sessions to make it easier for my preceptor when writing reports. The relationships I built
with each SLP enabled them to ask for my help when needed as well as include me in everything they do.
As the first student this department has had, I feel as if I was able to pave the way for future interns. The

5. SLPs in this department are now confident in their ability to teach and train students in the future and I was
able to help them create a program to do that. I think my assistance was beneficial to the department each
day that I was at my site. Each SLP contributed to the unbelievable amount I learned about speech
pathology however I feel as if I also positively contributed to the speech department and hopefully sparked
a future of educating students at this hospital.
5. Has your experience changed or reinforced your career goals. Changed or reinforced your
educational goals? Could you see yourself as a professional in this field?
Prior to this internship I was uncertain about the career path I wanted to take. I have had an interest in
therapy specifically speech therapy since I was young however I have been hesitant to conclude this is the
career for me. From a young age I knew I wanted to be in the health field, but have left my options open as
to exactly what I want to do. I have explored many careers and aspects of the health field but have always
circled back to my interest in speech. When choosing where to do my internship I knew I needed to spend
some time in speech therapy to solidify my interest. Words cannot begin to describe my experience each
day at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center. I was exposed to more than I ever imagined and my passion
for a future in this career grew rapidly. Through my relationships with each SLP in this department I have
learned so much more about this field and the endless opportunities it presents. By interacting with patients
one on one and seeing the difference you are able to make each and everyday I am confident this is the
career I want to pursue. This internship fueled my passion for this field and solidified my career goals. I am
thankful for this experience and eager to start graduate studies to become a professional in this field.
6. Relate your internship experience to your academic work on campus. List at least 5 specific
courses (by title, not number) either in your major or outside your major that were useful at this site.
1. Anatomy and Physiology: This class was the most useful during my internship experience as it
provided me with a base of knowledge related to the anatomy and functions of the human body.
The knowledge I gained from this course made it easier to understand how the neurological
diseases and disorders I was observing were affecting each patient’s speech and cognitive
function. Understanding basic swallow function was important in being able to diagnose a patient
with a particular type of swallow disorder. Having an understanding of the parts of the brain, their
functions, as well as important cranial nerves was important in understanding the parts of the body
and function affected by each disease or disorder. Overall having a basic understanding of the
body especially organ and system function was essential in being able to learn more and increase
my knowledge each day at my site.
2. Psychological Psychology: This class played a huge role in my understanding of the neurological
aspects of my internship. Majority of the patients I saw had experienced a neurological
dysfunction or brain injury. I found it very important to understand the brain and how it works as
well as the many things that can go wrong. I learned basic neurological concepts in this course as
well as different disorders and diseases that I came in contact with during my internship. It was
very helpful to have a background in neuroscience and cognitive functioning as these both play an
important part in speech.
3. Human Health and Disease: As an intern in the hospital I experienced several types of diseases
including chronic diseases, infections, different disorders, etc. This class familiarized me with
several types of common diseases and I was able to apply this information to what I was seeing
each day in the hospital. I was then able to make a connection between these diseases and how
they affect an individual’s health and overall function. I was also able to gain a better
understanding on how certain diseases and infections develop or are noticed as a result of
hospitalization. Having a background of understanding of disease made it easier to follow the
patient’s health and prognosis.
4. Overview of Health Care Systems: I found the information I learned in this course very
applicable to my internship. This course provided me with an understanding of the delivery of
health care as well as the financial aspects of the system. This allowed me to understand the
billing system at the hospital and how insurance played a role in the services each patient was
provided. Many of the patients we saw were in great need of rehab following discharge from the
hospital. I saw how insurance and availability of services impacted the rehab in which each patient
was accepted. I was able to apply what I learned about the health care system to each patient and
scenario I observed.

6. 5. Health Appraisal Skills: Grand Strand Regional Medical Center requires employees to be CPR
certified and this was part of my requirements before beginning my internship. Becoming CPR
certified in this class allowed me to qualify for interning at this hospital. I kept my up to date CPR
certification card with me each day at the hospital and felt confident in my ability to perform CPR
if necessary.
6. Intro to Psychology: During my internship, I came across many different psychological and
neurological disorders. These disorders often have a great impact on individual’s cognitive
abilities as well as swallow function and speech. Learning about many of these disorders in this
class allowed me to make the connection between the disorder type and it’s affect and speech,
swallowing, and cognitive function. This class also provided me with important brain education
that I applied daily in my internship.
7. Were there instances at your site where the health literacy training were utilized? Explain.
Health literacy training was useful each and every day at my internship site. It was important to explain to a
patient their current condition and why they are feeling and functioning they way they are. In doing so, it
was necessary to take into account their level of health literacy. Many patients did not understand their
current health status and needed an explanation at their level of understanding. The SLP’s and physicians
used a number of booklets, brochures, and diagrams when explaining medical conditions to patients and
loved ones. Each patient varied greatly in health literacy level some understanding much more than others.
Dealing with different age groups also was a factor in health literacy and how to communicate with
patients. Explaining conditions to children was much different than adults and required a basic explanation
that they were able to connect with and understand. My preceptor did a great job of making sure each
patient was aware of their status and condition as well as their prognosis. She also ensured each patient
knew their options of recovery and rehabilitation to help them make the best decision. Health literacy was
important in steering patients in the right direction for future recovery. Often times something that we both
found easy to understand was difficult to describe and explain to patients especially those with little
medical background. This taught me the importance of using health literacy skills to ensure effective
communication between the patient and the provider.