Blog #2: Work Readiness Skills

Tolerance and Respect

In my internship at Asher Clinic Physical Therapy, I am constantly around people, so it is very important that I use the work readiness skill of being tolerant and respectful. One day, I was shadowing a physical therapist while he was treating an overweight patient. The patient was complaining of severe back pain and blaming her new mattress for this pain. Initially, I thought that the back pain was obviously a result of her weight. However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized how jumping to these types of conclusions was wrong. Therefore, instead of jumping to a conclusion, I decided to open my mind to the possibilities. From this situation, I learned that it is very important to be tolerant and listen to patients respectfully with an open mind in order to be a good physical therapist.

Acting with Diligence

I also used the work readiness skill of acting with diligence. When I am given the task of documenting information or folding laundry I always ask clarifying questions to make sure that I can execute the task correctly. Even when it comes to the simple task of folding pillow cases, I carefully observe others do it and ask questions when need be. I am a perfectionist, so I always try to complete my work accurately and to the best of my ability.

Professionalism

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I have to wake up at 6:15am in order to get ready and commute to my internship. Although I should be used to waking up early by now because of school, I am not. I am not a morning person. So, when I show up at my internship, I am often not feeling 100 percent. One of the things I struggle with in the morning is putting on a smile and holding back the yawns. I believe that this area of professionalism is one I need to work on. In the future, I am going to try my best to put on a smile and stay positive because I now know how important professionalism is in the workplace.