Lookin' like a fool...and I have my pants pulled up!

I've pretty much come to the conclusion that our PT program is a total joke. I feel like a complete idiot at my current clinical. My CI isn't making me feel that way, he's actually been pretty nice about the fact that I am a dumb*ss. But every time we see a new patient, I pretty much just stare at him blankly because I have no idea what to do. Yesterday, we were getting ready to evaluate a patient who had bilateral tibial stress fractures and he asked me, "so what do you know about stress fractures?" and I just sat there in silence for a good 30 seconds before finally saying, "uh..well they're more common in runners." and he says, "so what should be look for? what's the most important thing we should consider as far as treatment?" and again I sat in silence for about 2 minutes until I finally said, "well, she might have an eating disorder." oh wow......yeah talk about looking like an idiot. He was like "well, maybe, but we should really look at her ankles. She's likely an over-pronator." Which should have OBVIOUSLY been my first answer. Wow, I feel dumb.

Yesterday I also got schooled by some PTAs on manual therapy because my CI was off for the afternoon. The ATs and Rehab Aides had to show me how to work the cybex machine. And apparently LTR should have obviously stood for "Lateral Trunk Rotation," which I did not know. Someone punch me in the face.

So obviously, after studying all day on Thursday for the surgery observations I am going to be doing on Tuesday (thank goodness for a day away to NOT feel stupid!), I will be studying treatment protocols all weekend. I spent $100 on a book that we SHOULD HAVE been required to purchase in PT school, as it has all the treatment protocols for pretty much any type of orthopedic diagnoses. I'll be attempting to memorize that book in 2 days. Plus, I've recruited my mom to come over and be my test subject for pretty much every single special test and manual therapy technique I can think of to practice between now and Monday. Anyone else who is willing to let me practice on them, please come over, because I definitely need all of the practice/help I can get at this point. Wow...