Molly Segall
Responsibilities
During my internship, I had three rotations: Stress lab/nuclear medicine, inpatient rehab, and outpatient rehab. In my stress lab rotation, I learned how to prep, set up, and interpret 12 lead EKG readings. I ran tests including chemical stress tests, exercise stress tests, stress echocardiograms, and tilt tests. I worked side by side with exercise physiologists, echocardiogram and vascular technicians, and cardiologists daily. In my inpatient rotation, I worked in the CVICU, ambulating and performing exercises with post op patients starting day one. I also educated patients on cardiac rehab, mindful movement, and nutrition. I also got to watch an open heart surgery with one of the cardio thoracic surgeons. In my outpatient rotation, I took cardiac and pulmonary patients through their programs, took blood pressures, blood sugars, heart rates, and more. I learned how to perform a spirometry test, and a 6 minute walk test. I performed evals on new patients, and helped create exercise prescriptions for them.
Accomplishments
My greatest accomplishment would be learning how to read EKG strips, and using my expertise to know when to push a patient in their rehab.
Learning experience
The biggest lessons that I learned was how to educate and motivate patients that need to make big life changes in order to better their health. Another lesson I learned was trusting my expertise when creating exercise prescriptions and working with patients.
What advice would you give?
There are so many different paths to take in kinesiology- being a personal trainer or group fitness instructors is not the only path. The clinical side to kinesiology is just as exciting and can open so many doors for your career. Pay attention in you classes and get as much hands on experience as possible.