Job Interview
I've been back for exactly 2 weeks now and this past week I've had a few interviews for physio assistant positions. There's been a few offers sent my way and there's one in particular that I'm very interested in. It's a private clinic that works with 95% neuro clients. Neuro may or may not be something that I will do long term but it's definitely one field that is the most challenging. My plan was to get into neuro initially so that I don't forget my hands-on skills so this clinic is perfect. The people there are also quite chilled and relax, somewhat like myself.
One of the partners is a quadriplegic and he is a very up front person. He will ask and say whatever comes in his mind. I like that because he was very honest with me. He said that if he say me on the street, he would not guess that I was a physio. Initially I was quite offended by that comment because I actually think I look the part. He said that I looked like a student because I look young. He then told me that his first impression of me was that I was very confident, relaxed and casual person. All of which I am....
He then went on and told me what his concern of me was. He was concerned about how some clients would react to me because I was young and attractive. That was his only concern. What the heck was my initial thought. Well I can't exactly change that now can I??? Being a quadriplegic himself I guess he could relate to the clients and how it they would feel because we do get physically close to the clients. Let me explain why he's so concern about the clients' comfort level:
There's this main machine that will be the focal point, if you will, of the clinic. It's called the locomat and it is the most amazing machine I've ever seen. Check it out: http://www.hocoma.ch/
It was created by the swedish and the first one available to the public in Canada. There are only 2 other machines in Canada and those are only used in research but even then, very seldomly. It's basically a robotic treadmill machine that helps clients go through the normal walking pattern. The client is harnessed up in the air and then these robotic legs are attached onto them. Then the robotic legs will start moving once the treadmill is moving. This enables physios the retrain the brain what normal walking is like again. This very machine has the potential to accelerate recovery in head trauma injuries, stroke patients, etc... They say that after a stroke, we have about 6 months to get as much gain back as possible and then the improvements slow right down. The goal is to retrain normal functional movements until we feel as though gains have plateaued. That's when aids will be considered.
One very realistic issue for clients is that they may not be able to control their bladder or sexual arousal while using this machine. It's not a big deal because when you're dealing with neuro patients they usually can't control it to begin with, let alone when they are harnessed up where there is constant pressure on the bladder. Everyone would get the same sensation of having to go to except we have control of our bladders. Anyways so his main concern was that clients may not feel comfortable because I look young and what not. Education and building patient-therapist rapport...that's all I've got to say.
Nevertheless, he said that he will give me an offer even though they still had a few call backs to interview. It was very weird because near the end he was trying to convince me of why I should accept thier job offer on Tuesday. Even if I only work there for a few months, I can put on my resume that I am 1 of only about 12 physios who will have the training to use the locomat machine. I'm thinking that it'll be great if this machine actually does become the next treatment method but useful if it doesn't. It can go either way because the machine is quite costly and I can't see hospitals affording it even though it seems very beneficial.
Regardless that was definitely an interview like no other. I never expected to learn what first impressions I gave people....very interesting...I liked them though and I do agree that of all the places that I've spoken to, I think this is the best fit for me at the moment. I'm kinda limited at the moment.
I'll keep you all posted...I could be starting work by the middle of this week....
One of the partners is a quadriplegic and he is a very up front person. He will ask and say whatever comes in his mind. I like that because he was very honest with me. He said that if he say me on the street, he would not guess that I was a physio. Initially I was quite offended by that comment because I actually think I look the part. He said that I looked like a student because I look young. He then told me that his first impression of me was that I was very confident, relaxed and casual person. All of which I am....
He then went on and told me what his concern of me was. He was concerned about how some clients would react to me because I was young and attractive. That was his only concern. What the heck was my initial thought. Well I can't exactly change that now can I??? Being a quadriplegic himself I guess he could relate to the clients and how it they would feel because we do get physically close to the clients. Let me explain why he's so concern about the clients' comfort level:
There's this main machine that will be the focal point, if you will, of the clinic. It's called the locomat and it is the most amazing machine I've ever seen. Check it out: http://www.hocoma.ch/
It was created by the swedish and the first one available to the public in Canada. There are only 2 other machines in Canada and those are only used in research but even then, very seldomly. It's basically a robotic treadmill machine that helps clients go through the normal walking pattern. The client is harnessed up in the air and then these robotic legs are attached onto them. Then the robotic legs will start moving once the treadmill is moving. This enables physios the retrain the brain what normal walking is like again. This very machine has the potential to accelerate recovery in head trauma injuries, stroke patients, etc... They say that after a stroke, we have about 6 months to get as much gain back as possible and then the improvements slow right down. The goal is to retrain normal functional movements until we feel as though gains have plateaued. That's when aids will be considered.
One very realistic issue for clients is that they may not be able to control their bladder or sexual arousal while using this machine. It's not a big deal because when you're dealing with neuro patients they usually can't control it to begin with, let alone when they are harnessed up where there is constant pressure on the bladder. Everyone would get the same sensation of having to go to except we have control of our bladders. Anyways so his main concern was that clients may not feel comfortable because I look young and what not. Education and building patient-therapist rapport...that's all I've got to say.
Nevertheless, he said that he will give me an offer even though they still had a few call backs to interview. It was very weird because near the end he was trying to convince me of why I should accept thier job offer on Tuesday. Even if I only work there for a few months, I can put on my resume that I am 1 of only about 12 physios who will have the training to use the locomat machine. I'm thinking that it'll be great if this machine actually does become the next treatment method but useful if it doesn't. It can go either way because the machine is quite costly and I can't see hospitals affording it even though it seems very beneficial.
Regardless that was definitely an interview like no other. I never expected to learn what first impressions I gave people....very interesting...I liked them though and I do agree that of all the places that I've spoken to, I think this is the best fit for me at the moment. I'm kinda limited at the moment.
I'll keep you all posted...I could be starting work by the middle of this week....
posted by Sub29 at 11:48 AM
1 Comments:
That's amazing Sabrina! :) Will definitely keep you in prayer.
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