Internship experience

1. HLTH 4200 Internship Experience
Sarah Padgett
Clemson Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation
1. Review your goals and objectives for your internship and assess your internship site
as it provided a setting for achieving the goals you set.
a. By the end of my fieldwork experience, I will be able to administer and interpret
a case study.
i. Due to the size of my internship site, it was fairly easy to get
acquainted with one patient and follow the patient through the
duration of treatment. I was able to observe the patient’s treatment,
whether or not I was directly working with the patient. At my site, the
therapist allowed me access to the patient notes to complete my case
study in detail.
b. By the end of my fieldwork experience, I will be able to guide patients in
treatment exercises as able by law.
i. At Clemson Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation, I have been given the
opportunity to work with many patients and guide them in their
treatment exercises. The therapists instructed me in leading patients
through many exercises. Legally, I was not able to perform manual
therapy and use treatment modalities.
c. By the end of my fieldwork experience, I will be able to describe how physical
therapists determine treatment goals for each patient.
i. My internship site has provided me with many opportunities to
observe the initial evaluation of patients. I was able to listen to and
participate in conversations between therapist and patients about
goals for therapy. At CSMR, each patient also takes a survey before
treatment begins. This survey focuses on the patient’s intended
outcome of therapy. At my internship site, I have been able to read
over the results of this survey for several patients. I have also been
able to administer this survey with some patients.
d. By the end of my fieldwork experience, I will be able to articulate by personal
strengths and characteristics that are valuable in a career in physical therapy.
i. My internship site has provided me with opportunities to learn how to
work within my gifting. The therapists and other employees at CSMR
have given me feedback about my performance, which has allowed me
to find the way I work best. My site has made me feel very valued.
2. Explain and show how you achieved the goals you set.
a. By the end of my fieldwork experience, I will be able to administer and interpret
a case study.
i. Throughout my internship, I have been able to observe patients
during the course of treatment. When administering my case study, I
focused specifically on one patient. I was observed the patient’s initial
evaluation and the treatments that followed. I have been collecting all
of the therapists’ patient notes in order to have all of the information
necessary to complete a case study. These notes have allowed me to

2. observe the patient more during treatment encounters because I was
not focused on taking notes.
b. By the end of my fieldwork experience, I will be able to guide patients in
treatment exercises as able by law.
i. I have learned how to perform many of the treatment exercises used
in the clinic. I have also learned how to communicate these exercises
to patients. I have learned about the way muscle groups are
challenged from many different exercises. With practice and
affirmation from the therapists, I have become more confident in my
ability to administer treatment exercises.
c. By the end of my fieldwork experience, I will be able to describe how physical
therapists determine treatment goals for each patient.
i. I have witnessed the communication between the therapist and the
patient about the personal goals of the patient. The ultimate goals are
restoration of function and freedom from pain. There are also
additional goals, specific to the patients, including returning to
activities that the patients enjoy. The determining of specific goals is
all based on what is expressed by the patient.
d. By the end of my fieldwork experience, I will be able to articulate my personal
strengths and characteristic that are valuable in a career in physical therapy.
i. I have been able to recognize my strengths and weaknesses by
working with patients and completing different tasks at my internship
site. I have also received feedback from my preceptor and other clinic
employees that have affirmed what I knew about my gifting. I know
that I am knowledgeable, empathetic, detail-oriented, and prepared. I
feel more confident in my ability to succeed in a career in physical
therapy based on my character.
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)?
i. My biggest project during my internship was my case study. I believe
that I completed this project well. I was able to follow one patient
throughout her first prescription for therapy. I interacted with the
patient enough to see how she was responding to therapy. I also kept
up with the patient notes throughout treatment. The progress made
by the patient was documented thoroughly in my case study report.
b. What skills did you use? (e.g. writing, speaking, organizing, interpersonal,
counseling, management, research, etc.)
i. I used many personal skills throughout the completion of this case
study. I used my communication and interpersonal skills to get to
know the patient. These skills were also used in instructing the
patient on treatment exercises. I used by organization skills to keep
track of all of the information I needed about the patient. I have used
research skills to investigate the specific injury and the effects of
treatment. My writing skills were used to compile all of the learned
information into a case study report.

3. c. Point out your strengths and weaknesses. What would you do differently?
i. My strengths in conducting the case study were interacting with the
patient and organization. This helped me to learn the patient’s goals
and see how the patient was responding to therapy. I also kept the
patient notes very organized. I was able to see the progression of
therapy by reviewing the notes in order. My biggest weakness was
procrastination of the written report. I kept up with the notes but
failed to write my report until therapy was complete. I would not
have done much differently. I do wish that I had chosen to do a case
study of a patient with a more specific injury. It would have been
easier to gather information about the injury and measure the
progress of the patient.
4. Assess your contribution to the internship site.
a. As an intern, I felt I was able to make many contributions to the work site. I
worked hard to complete my given tasks and responsibilities. I completed
my duties with an always-joyful attitude. I was able to build relationships
with all of the employees of CSMR and many of the clinic’s patients. I also
had the freedom to use my creativity at my internship site. I contributed
many ideas toward the clinic’s “spirit week” for National Physical Therapy
Month and patient appreciation. I have also become a recent addition to the
staff team at CSMR. Now that my internship is complete, I will continue to
work at CSMR as a PT aide.
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?
a. My internship has given me a great deal of clarity in my plans for the future. I
am sure that I want to pursue a career in physical therapy. I would like to
continue my education to earn a degree as a Doctor of Physical Therapy. I
can see myself thriving in this profession because it allows me to care for
people in a gentle and compassionate manner. Physical therapy would also
allow me to build and maintain relationships with patients and co-workers. I
am willing to work for this because I feel so strongly about my career goals.
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.
a. Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II
b. Health Promotion of the Aged
c. Determinants of Health Behavior
d. Abnormal Psychology
e. Introduction to Sociology
7. Were there instances at your site where the health literacy training were utilized?
Explain.
a. The health literacy training was very valuable to my internship experience. I
learned that as a health care professional, patients come to you from various
backgrounds. It is unfair to jump to conclusions about patient’s
understanding of health care. My internship served as an opportunity for me

4. to listen to patients. It also gave me a chance to communicate with each
patient in a completely neutral way. I was able to care for all patients
because I respected them as people.