Here We Go Again!

So the new semester begins....sort of. Actually class instruction doesn't begin for another week, but our clinical rotations began last week. So today, I'm trying to wrap up loose ends at home- reconciling credit card bills, fixing last minute stuff around the house, etc. My grades for last semester were quite acceptable- two B's and an A. After having a couple of weeks off, I'm feeling refreshed and ready to tackle what's coming up ahead.

As we left the last semester, things were up in the air as to which hospitals us students would be going to. I'm guessing that all the required legal paperwork wasn't in place in preparation of our arrivals, it was going to be a no-go. But over the break, our senior clinical coordinator sent out an email letting know that things were in motion and many of us would be rotating to new locations come January. I ended up at Kaiser Mountain View.

I wasn't sure what to expect. When I had told the techs at my last rotation where I would be headed, their reactions were all the same, "Isn't that the mammo clinic? It's run by a bunch of women- men don't work there." To worsen matters, my CI never replied to my email asking about the address of the facility or who my clinical instructor was going to be! I took my best shot and just showed up to where I thought I should be and it all turned out okay. It is a very small clinic, which does mammography, but they do perform diagnostic X-rays too. And yes, only women work there. So far, so good. I seem to be fitting in well. They use digital X-ray systems, so it's something new I have to get familiar with, but positioning is basically the same. Positioning is positioning, and I've managed to impress some of the techs there so far!

This school semester is supposed to be the toughest of all. Last semester was somewhat of a challenge, mostly because everything was so new- figuring out how much effort each class needed, what was the best way to prepare for each test, learning how to adjust to clinical rotations, the enormous commute, and among other things, dealing with personnel. Now that we've gotten most of those things under control, the academic load will be higher this time around. Classes haven't even gotten under way yet and already I've got to prepare for an image analysis! And to think, I was actually considering working a part-time job while in school!

I'm feeling pretty mentally prepared and am looking forward to the challenges of this new semester. I kind of know what to expect, so that's a plus. My wife is more used to my new life, so that helps too. Upward and onward!