The Student Sonographer Journey

I am so happy to hear that my tips on securing a traineeship on Ko-Fi is already helping some of you! As you begin your traineeship, remember, there are days you will feel stupid! This is completely normal and all part of the journey. We have all been there! As long as you always put your patients first and try your best, you'll get through this.

Apologies again for another delayed Newsletter! I am discovering that 2 weeks rolls around very quickly. I have been attempting returning to work as a locum, 8 weeks after surgery, and just got through my first week (with reduced hours). Unfortunately, it's two steps forward and one step back, very slow progress. More activity results in more pain, but I will get there eventually. And this also applies to gaining your strength as a trainee Sonographer. You need to be very aware of your ergonomics and take it seriously when your supervisor on site, or at uni, tries to correct your technique. We know through experience and pain. Whether it be bursitis in your shoulder or a sore neck, every little niggle can affect your performance at work, your longevity and your overall happiness.

When you're learning probe control, many students grip the probe too tightly. Try to remember to relax and anchor your scanning arm. Ask your supervisor how to do this effectively. Hand/wrist and finger strength comes with time and your fine motor control will improve along with strength. Always check your bed and screen height/position and bring your patient as close to you as possible. This is SO SO important. Learning these habits early will help prevent injury.

Make notes in your phone or a notebook every day, on topics you want to research further. Write down diseases, pathologies and abbreviations that are queried on referrals to google when you get home or in between patients. If you spend just 15-20 minutes at the end of each shift doing your own research, you've learnt something extra every day. Don't rely on the universities to spoon feed you, take your education into your own hands and make your career your passion. I found so much more enjoyment in doing my own reading. If you find reading bland, find a You Tube video on the topic. There's so much at your fingertips now as a student that many of us Sonographers never had.

In the back of your book have a page for interesting cases. Follow up on the scans you have performed by reading the radiologist's report. Look up the images and reports from other modalities. Unfortunately, I hardly ever see students doing this anymore. I know we are in a time poor environment, but you must push yourself to learn everything you can from every case. Especially if you are like me and not from a radiography background. I still look at every shoulder Xray and mammogram before I perform the ultrasound for example. Initially, no, I had no idea what I was looking at or for; but over the months and years I started to use other modalities as my cheat sheet. It's amazing how much other imaging can help with your ultrasound! Utilise every tool you have, especially the radiologist. The radiologist is busy, yes, but many are happy to teach. They are a wealth of knowledge sitting right there at your disposal! Also, if you have access to pathology reports from biopsies, look these up too; match the ultrasound image with the pathology, it's the best way to get feedback.

I don't believe you have to spend hours every night reading. I did, but you learn in hindsight. Everyone's learning style is different, but being efficient is never wrong. It's hard to know what's important as a student, new to the field. Ask your colleagues. Learning peaks and plateaus, this is normal. Try to mix things up by using different machines and learning from different sonographers and radiologists. We all have different strengths and experiences.

Remember while you're feeling sorry for yourself and grieving the loss of your social life: this is just a small chapter in the rest of your life.

Good luck and happy scanning,

Kelly

https://ko-fi.com/kellysono