My top tips for new Physiotherapists

There's a busy conversation on the Twitter machine at the moment #toptipsfornewphysios - quite timely as now is the time of year that new grads are starting out in the big bad world of work.  So, I decided that 18 years after I was in that very same exciting but daunting situation, here are some of the pearls of wisdom I have collected over the years:

1. It is important to make a personal connection with the patient/client.  Always introduce yourself #hellomynameis and never assume that the name you see on the referral letter or medical chart is the name the person likes to be called.  Always ask the person how they would like to be addressed - 'Is it OK for me to call you......?' or 'what would you like me to call you?'  
2. Make the most of non-verbal communication - 3/4 of the stuff we communicate is done through non-verbal communication - how we appear to the patient.  Be very aware of this! How you stand, hold your arms, even how you are dressed will send out very powerful messages - you want to make sure you are sending out the right ones.  Be wholly attentive to the patient, get yourself at eye level, use open arm gestures and relaxed postures to encourage an environment that is conducive to the sharing of information (so important in your history taking!)
3. Always remember that we treat PEOPLE not tissues or conditions or injuries.  OK, so we do do a fair bit with tissues and injuries - that's physio, but behind every injury is a person - you'll be a better physio if you never lose sight of this. 
4. Use your own internal quality gauge when going about your work - some simple questions to ask yourself - 'Would I be happy if roles were reversed here and I was the patient and 'they' where the physio?', 'Would I be happy if my Dad/Mam/Sister/Brother/Grandma/Grandad received physio treatment like that?', 'What would I want?'........If you're happy with the service you are providing then great, if not then do something about it! 
5. If you're going to work in the NHS/HSE you will undoubtedly encounter the political stresses and strains of the system that will impact on your work.  Get yourself some advanced communication/conflict management/industrial relations training - the type of thing that comes with training as a Union Rep - when I trained as a CSP Rep years ago, my eyes were opened to exactly how the healthcare system works, and more importantly it enabled me to appreciate the complexities of the healthcare hierarchy and the personnel relationships within it - Hopefully you will have a long career in the health service, and having this knowledge will make it easier for you to contribute to strategic planning and the improvement of services and it might just prevent yourself from banging your head against a wall!!
6. If you can, get some experience working in a specialist oncology setting  with specialist oncology physios.  #cancerrehab is such an exciting area to be working in right now (it had me hooked 16 years ago!).  There is a massive amount of research coming out about the effects and impact of exercise and physical activity for preventing cancer, reducing recurrence, making treatments more effective and improving patient outcomes.........We are definitely on the crest of a very big wave and once it hits, then patients, doctors etc are going to be looking more to the exercise specialists to intervene in cancer treatment.....and that's us!!!!!
7. Do some Manual Lymphatic Drainage training.  I'm not sure if physio course itineraries have changed much since the early 90's, but I remember very little, almost non-existent teaching on the lymphatic system (apart from it being something to do with the immune system - killer T-cells, remember them!).  BUT, the lymphatic system is one of the most important systems in the body and and appreciation of how it interacts with all of the other systems and how it is involved with injury, healing, repair and nourishment of tissues will add vital information to your clinical evaluation, reasoning and treatments.  I wish I had done my MLD training years earlier than I did, I use it all the time, not just with lymphoedema and swelling. 
8. If you make a mistake or do something wrong then apologise  and learn from it - simple! 
9. The day that you think you don't need to learn anymore, or even worse, the day when you think you don't care anymore - GIVE IT UP AND GO ON GARDENING LEAVE!!!!!!!!!!
10. ENJOY every second, learn from every experience, keep an open mind, smile and laugh, be creative and have fun, reflect often, mind yourself, grow personally and professionally.  Always appreciate that you are in a great profession - you have the skills to massively impact on other peoples health and wellbeing, you meet amazing people daily, and no 2 days are the same .......... and before you know it you will be an 'old' physio (but in your mind you're still a fresh faced new grad with the whole world to learn) and you'll wonder to yourself 'How the hell did that happen?!?!?!?'