If you're about to start your pre-registration year you may want to give this a read...
It may feel like you've been revising your entire life (you probably have) and the end is super close I promise!
If I am totally honest, I found my pre-reg year the hardest yet. Constantly working and revising can be so difficult, and it can feel as though it's never going to end. BUT it will! And there is no better feeling than receiving the results for your final OSCE's and seeing the word "PASS" next to your name! (your face is likely to look a little like this when you see that)
1- FIND A BUDDY- whether it be Skype, or in person. Having an optom buddy to moan/discuss all things pre-reg will legit save you! Revise together and test each other with questions! A few hours quizzing each other before our OSCE's at the end made the world of difference! Being put on the spot with a random set of questions is perfect practice for the big day!
2- LITTLE AND OFTEN- Try to do a little bit of work every day. If you can get away with revising/making notes during work/lunch, do it! It'll save you time to catch up on KUWTK when you get home.
3- GOOD IMPRESSIONS- Your first visit will scare the absolute crap out of you. Make a good impression! Go over all the competencies and practice every day on colleagues to nail it when the time finally comes! You'll also have less to do the next time your assessor visits.
4- SEARCH FOR RGP PATIENTS- RGP patients are honestly the hardest to find when you need to do 3 new fits and aftercares! Of course colleagues will help, but it's good to have a real patient. Ask any newly qualified optoms in your area if they have any patients who'd be willing to help! You'll also be amazed at how many of your parents friends are/ were RGP wearers!
5- COURSES- if the company you're working for hold events/ courses to go on-GO! It's a great way to catch up with uni friends and laugh about who has the worst supervisors. Hearing how everyone else had that crazy patient will make you feel better too.
6- GOLDMANN- GAT is so important! Make sure you practice at least once a week before your visit with this competency! You will also avoid looking like a dumb fool when you attend HES, and a consultant asks you to perform it on each patient for him!
7- SUPERVISORS- Make sure you build a good relationship with your supervisor. If they aren't pulling their weight, tell someone! They're there to support you throughout this awful year.
8- RECORDS- Your records are literally so important. I found it best to analyse them myself and see if I could change anything. Following that, I'd ask younger optoms in work to read over them, then finally my supervisor for the final check.
9- YOUTUBE- Visual fields were the death of me. I hated the visual pathway and found analysing fields (24-2) so difficult! Searching for youtube videos which explained how to analyse each field was so helpful. ALSO!!! VF defects and where they're found in the pathway is super important, and your college assessor is definitely going to ask you about this! Here is a link to a youtube video I watched several times to drum this into my head! VF DEFECT VIDEO
10- ENJOY- This may be a terribly challenging year, but do try to enjoy it! Some of the most difficult patients during my pre-reg were also my favourites. You will cry with laughter thinking about how you reacted to each crazy situation, and all of these moments will help mould you into a patient, kind and fun optometrist.
Of course this is a hard year, but you will learn so much! It's totally different to uni, and the pathology you finally get to see in reality and not just in KANSKI is amazing! You are guaranteed to come across the weird and wonderful, and trust me, there's plenty of it in this line of work!
Please comment any questions below.
Good luck guys and girls!
ALEX xxx
If I am totally honest, I found my pre-reg year the hardest yet. Constantly working and revising can be so difficult, and it can feel as though it's never going to end. BUT it will! And there is no better feeling than receiving the results for your final OSCE's and seeing the word "PASS" next to your name! (your face is likely to look a little like this when you see that)
Here are my top 10 tips to get you through what could be the worst year of your life:
1- FIND A BUDDY- whether it be Skype, or in person. Having an optom buddy to moan/discuss all things pre-reg will legit save you! Revise together and test each other with questions! A few hours quizzing each other before our OSCE's at the end made the world of difference! Being put on the spot with a random set of questions is perfect practice for the big day!
2- LITTLE AND OFTEN- Try to do a little bit of work every day. If you can get away with revising/making notes during work/lunch, do it! It'll save you time to catch up on KUWTK when you get home.
3- GOOD IMPRESSIONS- Your first visit will scare the absolute crap out of you. Make a good impression! Go over all the competencies and practice every day on colleagues to nail it when the time finally comes! You'll also have less to do the next time your assessor visits.
4- SEARCH FOR RGP PATIENTS- RGP patients are honestly the hardest to find when you need to do 3 new fits and aftercares! Of course colleagues will help, but it's good to have a real patient. Ask any newly qualified optoms in your area if they have any patients who'd be willing to help! You'll also be amazed at how many of your parents friends are/ were RGP wearers!
5- COURSES- if the company you're working for hold events/ courses to go on-GO! It's a great way to catch up with uni friends and laugh about who has the worst supervisors. Hearing how everyone else had that crazy patient will make you feel better too.
6- GOLDMANN- GAT is so important! Make sure you practice at least once a week before your visit with this competency! You will also avoid looking like a dumb fool when you attend HES, and a consultant asks you to perform it on each patient for him!
7- SUPERVISORS- Make sure you build a good relationship with your supervisor. If they aren't pulling their weight, tell someone! They're there to support you throughout this awful year.
8- RECORDS- Your records are literally so important. I found it best to analyse them myself and see if I could change anything. Following that, I'd ask younger optoms in work to read over them, then finally my supervisor for the final check.
9- YOUTUBE- Visual fields were the death of me. I hated the visual pathway and found analysing fields (24-2) so difficult! Searching for youtube videos which explained how to analyse each field was so helpful. ALSO!!! VF defects and where they're found in the pathway is super important, and your college assessor is definitely going to ask you about this! Here is a link to a youtube video I watched several times to drum this into my head! VF DEFECT VIDEO
10- ENJOY- This may be a terribly challenging year, but do try to enjoy it! Some of the most difficult patients during my pre-reg were also my favourites. You will cry with laughter thinking about how you reacted to each crazy situation, and all of these moments will help mould you into a patient, kind and fun optometrist.
Of course this is a hard year, but you will learn so much! It's totally different to uni, and the pathology you finally get to see in reality and not just in KANSKI is amazing! You are guaranteed to come across the weird and wonderful, and trust me, there's plenty of it in this line of work!
Please comment any questions below.
Good luck guys and girls!
ALEX xxx
Some words of wisdom there -don't you wish you had you to give you advice as you were going through it? Hahah
ReplyDeleteHonestly Miss Ambrosino, you've taken the words straight out of my mouth! Hahaha! x
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ReplyDeleteIt's difficult to find knowledgeable people in this particular topic, but you sound like you know what you're talking about! Thanks craigslist south jersey
Thanks! Feel free to ask any questions! Alex
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