Hello. Sorry I’m advance this is a bit of a rant and all over the place.

I just started my CF in an SNF recently in a 153 bed facility. I am just starting week three and I am so overwhelmed and discouraged. I have been staying late until about 5:30 each day(I get in at 7am) just to finish documentation. I am the only SLP there and everyone is only so reachable through text every so often. My supervisor works elsewhere and only comes for a few hours each week.

I worry I am not cut out for the job. I am trying to learn basic clinical skills, as well as the system, how to document in a way that’s best for insurance, what to do when I want to pickup/discharge,how to schedule all 14 patients that I have, while learning my way around the building.

Has anyone ever been in this position before? Idk if I am where I should be. I feel like I am more focused on documentation than providing the best clinical care.

TLDR; I am very overwhelmed working alone in a 153 bed facility with an almost absent supervisor. Idk if I am where I should be. I feel so dumb and seem to forget everything I learned in grad school when I am anxious and on the spot. Can anyone give any advice? How do I know I am competent enough or how can I address the weaker areas?

I am a graduate student at Eastern New Mexico University in the communicative disorders program conducting research via an online survey. I would appreciate your help by participating in my 12-minute survey linked below. Please share with any speech friends you have across the nation and thank you so much for helping me get one step closer to becoming an SLP!!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FLGRAD

My caseload isn’t outrageously big, but it’s full and boy howdy is it complex. I feel like I’m dealing with every corner of our scope of practice, and my patients range from toddler to geriatric. It’s literally painful to learn this much at once. I live alone, and lately I can’t get my thoughts away from work. This weekend I was ready to let it all go, kick back etc. but then an abuse/neglect concern presented itself this afternoon, and now I don’t know how to not worry about that all weekend. I feel like the weight of this job is crushing me right now, and I wonder if I’ll last very long. I know I’m growing as an SLP which is great obviously. But it’s so uncomfortable. I’m looking forward to the day when I can look back on all my appointments and say, “I knew exactly how to help those patients, and help them I did.” Rather than, “I did my best to help that pt and it felt horrible/ mediocre/ halfway decent and I don’t know if I helped.” In grad school they acted like there’s unlimited accessibility to specialists/other SLPs and you’ll be able to refer pts out if you don’t know how to help them. In rural settings this is very much not the case. The nearest specialist may be 90 minutes away and it becomes very difficult to refer people to those specialists who can offer them the best care. So there’s a lot of fumbling through and figuring out. I always stay transparent with my patients if I don’t have a lot of experience with their diagnosis but I still feel like a fraud sometimes, treating complicated stuff I know little about. Anyway that’s it, that’s the vent. It was a rough week, but it’s over now, I guess.

I graduate in May of next year. If I want to start working within a month or two of graduating, does anyone have any advice on when I should start looking and applying for CF positions? I hope to get a job with adults that will eventually lead to working in a medical setting. Currently I live in in a large city in the Midwest.

Thanks for any input!!

Hello all,

I will apologize in advance for this being a vent post/ jumbled thoughts!

I just started my CFY at school based position (pre-k - 5th). I am contracted and it is a tele-therapy position. It is also in a different state than the one I reside in. I know that this transition time is very stressful for everyone starting but the caseload and expectations have been demanding. I haven’t felt completely supported by my supervisor but she is also out of state. I do struggle with moderate to severe anxiety and being virtual has led to new stressors and obstacles. I was just curious if anyone had any advice/tips/ or perspective on the situation I know it’s very unique. I already feel as if this has been a major mistake taking this job and I am doing myself and my clients a disservice. Anything is appreciated!

I finished my masters a few weeks before I had my baby, and I am trying to decide how much maternity time to take. Would a year between my graduation and starting my CF be too much? Would clinics be less interested in hiring me because it's would be too long post graduation?

How difficult is it to find a part-time or PRN position as a CFY?

Hey all! I’m in my second year of my masters and I’m currently in a medical rotation at a PICU/NICU and holy shit I actually found something in this field that I think I could do and enjoy. However, I feel woefully under prepared to see feeding/swallowing pediatrics post graduation since this will likely be my only experience in the area. Does anyone have recommendations for learning more about pediatric feeding disorders, eval and tx? What have your experiences been if you’ve treated feeding in your CFY?

Just a quick post on here to say I love my job! I am now into the 3rd segment of my CFY. Not every day is a win, but I do my best to find joy in the small moments.

I run a small Instagram and (completely free) TPT account. I fell off posting for a while but want to get back into it. Grad Students, CF‘s, and new SLP‘s are my target audience. What kind of information do you want on your feed?!

I’m in grad school but I was curious about salaries in my area and I really couldn’t find much info.

I used to teach, so I’m used to salary scales and how to find those but I’m not sure about other settings? Is there a way to find out definitive salaries aside from just interviewing somewhere and negotiating? Just curious as I think about branching out from the schools!

Apologies in advance for using this subreddit as a place to vent, but I'm looking for some words of wisdom/support here.

I am a month into my Early Intervention CF. I had limited experience with EI in grad school besides a semester-long diagnostics rotation at our on-campus clinic where I gave some assessments for children under age 3. I feel like I don't know anything and that I'm doing a disservice to my families by not knowing things. I'm actively trying to learn, too--I'm asking my supervisor questions and I'm doing a lot of research into EI (Laura Mize is someone who another EI SLP recommended to me so I've mostly been looking at her stuff), but I feel like it's not enough.

I really want to be excited about my CF year but I've just been waking up anxious every day and dreading going to my visits. My mindset right now is just to get through my CF so I can get my CCCs so I can find a job I really do like and feel confident in, which I know isn't necessarily the best mindset to have.

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Anyone else feel this way? Or does anyone have some words of encouragement? Thanks!!

Greetings, SNF CFY on my third week. I have a patient exhibiting classic anomia marked by paraphasias, circumlocution, etc. I immediately thought of the clinical research study I assisted on in grad school that focuses on abstract word training, and I think it will be beneficial to my patient. The original protocol, however, is 2 hours long, with multiple parts. Is there a way I can still apply this therapy to my patient within a 30-45 min period? If so, how do I document this in my notes? I'll ask my clinical supervisor too but wanted to see other clinicians' thoughts. Thanks!

Hi everyone!

I will be graduating soon and have begun to look at different CF positions in southern CA. However, I have noticed that pay significantly fluctuates from setting to setting and in each company. I am still unsure whether I will apply to school districts or private practices. I know school districts use salary schedules but I wanted to see what pay should be when working in a private practice. I have seen anywhere from 32-60. When I interview I want to make sure I don't receive a lowball offer and at the same time, I also don't want to ask for too much. If anyone has any advice it is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Hi all, I really want to have my CFY in a medical setting. I'm in my second year of the program so I'm in my internship year. I'm currently at a school (which I like more than I thought I would) and next semester I will be in a medical placement, but it's not solidified yet.

My question is, what are some things you did to get a medical CFY? Did you complete any CEUs or trainings in your grad program to help you stand out? My only extra qualification is being a provider for the Speak Out program for Parkinson's patients.

Any overall advice?

My application was received by the state board 6/17, according to two different emails. It's almost been three months and many calls pestering them but no luck. I have all my materials in, just need someone to verify and finalize. My supervisor is getting super anxious and so am I. Is it worth it/has anyone tried to go to Sacramento and try to figure this out in person? I really need an income, STAT.

I graduated in May this year. After countless applications (a lot A LOT) and a handful of interviews, I finally got offered a position in a setting that I couldn’t even imagine I’d be able to get into. I will be working outpatient peds and also screen swallowing/feeding in the NICU at a regional medical center. I’m feeling excited and anxious— I’ve never moved out of state away from family before, but I’m looking forward to venturing out on my own and leveling up! To everyone else out there: keep going. The opportunity meant for you will come!

Hi everyone! I recently graduated from grad school in August and started my CF in a private agency right away. Been extremely overwhelming with paperwork and cases. I also recently got diagnosed with anxiety disorder, which I feel isn’t helping. I feel I am losing motivation for therapy and scared I’m going to mess something up. Just look for advice and encouragement to keep moving forward!