When Will You Stop Feeling Like a New Grad PT?

We got into a good discussion at work a couple weeks ago. One of those random thoughts that turns into a good discussion. I had a full time PT student at the time and was filling out the dreaded CPI, which means I was putting down “entry level” for every category and trying to explain why in as few words as possible. But what informal title comes after “entry level” has been reached? Lead PT, Senior PT, Expert PT? How do we monitor or measure our progress as we develop through our careers? So I did what anyone would do: I asked our most senior PT “when did you start feeling like you weren’t a ‘new PT’ anymore?”. He’s been a PT for over 20 years and has worked mostly in the sports and orthopedics world and alongside one of our docs for nearly his whole career. He is our clinic ‘guru’ and is much faster than using Google, which we all appreciate. He put some thought into the question and came to the conclusion it was probably around 6-7 years after passing his boards. I’m coming up on being a PT for 8 years and I’ve only recently felt like I’m not a new grad in the last couple years. That feeling usually only lasts a little while, then I’ll see some sort of patient I haven’t seen or somebody I think is going to do super well then doesn’t and I can’t figure out why for a minute. For me, it has come down to building up confidence and sharpening my self-awareness.

Confidence

I’ve been fortunate to have been reassured by coworkers or physicians that I’ve provided really good care for my patients. A few weeks back, one of our docs said, “I’m not sure if you came into this job trying to be the ‘shoulder guy’ but you’ve certainly embraced it and done really well for yourself.” Unsolicited compliments tell you quite a bit about what people think of you and speak louder than feedback you might seek out on your own. Those compliments give you confidence. I think that feeling of confidence is what helps me not feel so “new” anymore. I basically walk into each evaluation feeling like my patient and I can work hard and overcome whatever it is they’ve come to see me about. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still a voice in my head saying “don’t forget this, don’t forget that” but for the most part, I feel confident in my skills. When you feel confident, it shows in your verbal and non-verbal communication. Your voice becomes a little stronger when you try to drive home a main point. Your words roll off your tongue without hesitation. Your body language suggests confidence. Then the snowball continues…

Self Awareness

Knowing what I don’t know has been another part of not feeling so “new” anymore. It helps to know you don’t have to have a perfect answer for every question a patient might have. That fact has been invaluable for me and helps me to stay relaxed when patients ask me difficult questions. Our patients (and people in general) appreciate honesty much more than we think and it earns respect from them, too. Developing self awareness can be difficult, but asking yourself “why?” can be a great first step. You want to try to be the Goldilocks of inquisitive-ness, asking yourself too many questions can be paralyzing and not asking enough questions can lead to less than ideal treatment plans. Find that middle ground and it can be challenging for yourself, but also really rewarding.

I feel a lot of times we as PTs are resistant to allowing ourselves to embrace our feelings of confidence or perceived inadequacy. Don’t be afraid to be honest with yourself and let your confidence show. Don’t be afraid to say you don’t know something. These are things I’ve learned so far on my journey in physical therapy over the last 8 years. It’s helped me become who I am today. I’m interested to see how things change and grow over the years to come. The bottom line is: all any of us try to do is be the best version of ourselves – both professionally and personally.

What’s your story so far?

Brett