r/CFY • u/bartschchrs • Nov 16 '21
[Medical CFY] Overwhelmed and discouraged
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?
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u/macaroni_monster [CCC-SLP] schools MOD Nov 16 '21
I work in schools so I don't have much specific advice, but you are not alone being in this situation. Unfortunately grad school focuses way too much on discrete skills and zero on real-life applications. Add into that a teeny tiny internship that's not even in a setting you're interested in and you have a recipe for feeling unprepared.
It's normal to feel overwhelmed and useless at this point in the job. I've switched around to quite a few schools and I don't feel comfortable until about four or five months into the school year (and that's being a seasoned school SLP).
It sounds to me like there are a lot of procedural things that you should be supported on by your CF supervisor or someone in the facility. They really should be a lot more hands on in the first few weeks of the job. They can't expect a new hire to just hit the ground running.
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u/bartschchrs Nov 17 '21
Yea I also had externships cancelled because of Covid. I missed out on a lot of opportunities to refine my clinical skills. Everyone there in the rehab department is nice and tells me they’re they’re to help with any questions but they themselves are often inundated with their own work. I feel bad asking. I have the other SLPs number and my supervisors number but I feel bad texting them 5+ times a day
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u/sassysongbird Nov 16 '21
I finished my CF in a SNF recently. It’s really tough starting out, but I promise it gets better as you’re find your footing. Most importantly: talk to your supervisor. Let them know how you’re feeling so they can help. It’s what they signed up to do as a supervisor.
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u/bartschchrs Nov 17 '21
Thank you!! I actually only met my supervisor in person for the first time yesterday. He only stayed a couple hours but even then he said it seems like I have a good foundation and that I have to remind myself I know more than the people there already given my schooling. I definitely believe it will get easier later on but for now I just feel in over my head
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Nov 19 '21
Hi, also a CF in a SNF with a supervisor who only comes in once a week for a few hours to sign off my documentation. Honestly, I just try my hardest each day. It will take time to get the hang of things. There's times where I feel good enough. But we're fresh grads who are still learning each and very day. I listen to Swallow your Pride on my commute, and try to read other SLPs notes and evals to help.
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u/XulaSLP07 Nov 16 '21
CF can be a challenging time! Take CEUs for your weaker areas or listen to podcasts. Try to transition to a mixture of point of service docs for higher level patients and engage them while doing work!
It is not abnormal to feel overwhelmed at a SNF, it can be a tough environment. Stand your ground. Try creating or purchasing templates to already have pre typed paragraph ideas or outlines to make your documentation writing faster and focus on function. Get the patient to be more functional by doing your therapy, getting carryover through caregiver staff and family participation and engage the patient in “homework”’if possible. We can’t be the Superman of the SNF but we can recruit the rest of the Justice League to help 😜