Advice on Clinical Rotations

With the Class of 2018 starting their clinical rotations, the Class of 2017 has some words of advice on how to be successful.

1. Emily G - Push yourself out of your comfort zone! The best way to get better is to tackle as much of the session as you can!
2. Chris - Don’t expect to know everything your first day, week, or month. There is a lot of material to know, so be kind and try not to place unrealistic expectations on yourself. You will continue the learning even after finishing a given a rotation. 
3. Brooke - You’re going to make mistakes and that is very okay. Accept constructive criticism and move forward. Don’t be afraid to ask questions as it is the best way to learn from the experts you’re surrounded by.
4. Leslie - Be open and flexible!  This is an entirely new way of learning and it might feel uncomfortable at first.  You’re not ever working to perfect your process, but rather continuously learning how to react to the cases/situations that you find yourself in.  Don’t ever be afraid to ask questions or try something new in a session.  Your mentors have a wealth of knowledge and experience and will guide you through the process.
   
5. Sam- The genetic counselors you will be working with are well versed and knowledgeable. Take advantage and ask questions about anything and everything. 
6. Kavitha - I found it helpful to take a few minutes at the end of each rotation block to reflect on what I had learned and what I had accomplished during that block. That way I saw how much I had done in a few short weeks and I had an idea of specific skills to work on in the next block.
7. Bryony - Make an effort to manage your time well and stay on top of things. Too much procrastination can result in overwhelming work loads, so it’s best to complete assignments as they come. 
8. Michelle - You will have fantastic days and rough days.  The fantastic days are easy.  For the rough days, just get through, move on to the next thing, and remember that people generally learn more from their failures than their successes.
9. Emily M - Make sure you take time for yourself, too. Rotations can be emotionally taxing, so sometimes a run or a manicure is needed!
   
10. Anna - Push yourself to do the things that scare you in rotations. Ask psychosocial questions, do the next portion of the appointment, crack a joke. You will be amazed at how well things turn out and you will find your own style! 
11. Sara - Write scripts for yourself to nail down the simple explanations so that you can focus on more complex skills.