How Did I Transition from Classroom to Clinic

"Overwhelming," that is what we heard from our instructors. A lot of preparations were made, thinking of every possibility and what to expect in the transition. However, it is still overwhelming.

The amount of work that we need to do is not what I expected. It also depends on how many patients will come for their procedure. Every day is a war for both mind and our physical well-being. The amount of work that we have when handling the patients will depend on their current situation—it will let our body work up, and with such conditions, the procedure will work the mind as well for other strategies in getting the image.

Working in a clinical setup is a mixture of theoretical knowledge, skills, and the ability of oneself to be innovative. In a clinical setup, it is not always based on the book; it is a case-to-case basis whether the book-based approach is applicable or you need to be clever and think of other possible ways to achieve the needed view.

It is where I encountered such cases that are common, and there are those cases that are rare. The downside of working in the field with different cases is that we are closer to the illnesses that patients have. That is why we took an infection control seminar to know and understand how such bacteria and viruses can be transferred from one to another.

Safety should always come first. Wearing masks and gloves is a must, and always practicing hand washing and sanitizing is crucial.

However, despite having the pressure and overwhelming feeling, the amount of excitement and fun that I experienced is beyond measure as well. It is fun to be in the clinical setup as I am able to learn different ways to maximize my skills and enjoy the excitement I feel every day, knowing that every patient that comes through the door will have a different case.

And lastly, I will end it with a line that my partner and I always say: "It may be gloomy, it may be rainy, it may be too hot and sunny—still, it is a great day to save lives."