Optometry is a wide subject that is both academic and practically demanding at an undergraduate level. Whilst many understand the academic side, being prepared for the work expected in the clinic is often underestimated.
This post is written by Jason Searle, an optometrist and associate lecturer, who has noted common factors that separate great students from those that tend to fall behind. If you are committed to your future vocation, read below and implement the following tips to your clinical prep!
Know Your Pre-Work
Before each clinical session, make sure you’ve reviewed any pre-work or explanations provided by your instructors. This will give you a head start and prevent you from being caught off guard during the session. Imagine the satisfaction of being prepared enough to conduct what you need to do in this session without having to wait for a supervisor to give you a demonstration or brief! 🤓
This also applied to attending any pre-practical/clinical sessions (lectures, seminars, presentations – being prepared will maximise that limited time in the skills lab!)
Arrive Early and Be Ready
Arriving before the scheduled time is crucial. Not only does it allow you to attend pre-clinical briefings, but it also sets the tone for your professionalism. As an aspiring optometrist, punctuality matters. Patients trust you to be on time and ready to provide care. Plus, being late means playing catch-up all day – not a great start!
An added benefit of being early is that you may be the first to get to your preferred bay, slit lamp or supervisor! There is truth to the phrase “The early bird gets the worm!”
Maximise Your Clinical Time
Complaining about not having enough clinical time? Look in the mirror! If you consistently arrive late or skip pre-work, you’re missing out. Similarly, if you spend most of the time talking about the latest Netflix show or football results, you aren’t using your time wisely. It’s fine to be social, but don’t do it at the expense of your education – or that of your fellow optometry students. Optimise every minute by being well-prepared. Trust us; it pays off.
Dress the Part
Wear appropriate attire for clinic. Not only does this adhere to your university’s professional dress code, but it also signals that you’re there to work. Leave the casual wear for socialising – clinic time is for serious business! 👔.
Clinical dress helps put you in a professional mindset and saves the issue of deciding what you need to wear.
You certainly want to avoid looking like you’ve just rolled out of bed and turned up. Looking the part is a major part of being a professional!
Say No to Distractions
Phones and tablets can be useful for note-taking or clinical images (if allowed), but don’t let them distract you. Stay focused on the task at hand and don’t let them distract you from developing the professional skills you are there to learn or disrupt any rapport you build with your colleagues and patients.
Reflect and Grow
After each clinical session, take a moment to reflect.
What did you learn?
What could you improve?
Spending time considering this will aid your development – you’ll identify what you are good at but also what you need to improve.
Writing reflective pieces is essential as a professional, with the General Optical Council requiring you do so after all CPD (Continuing Professional Development) sessions – so doing this now is like performing a mini-CPD session. Future you will thank you!
Use Spare Clinical Time Wisely
When you finish tasks early, don’t gather around and chat. Instead, practice other skills (with permission). You’ve paid tuition fees for this time – make the most of it! 🕰️ You may even find that you have the chance to utilise additional clinical time during gaps in your timetable, should there be room and the lecturer in there allows. It always pays to make as much use of the time in clinic where possible.
Practice at Home
You may not have a slit lamp or an OCT at home, but you can make or purchase your equipment to practice some skills away from the clinic. An occluder or a pen torch is relatively inexpensive and be used to hone your skills in numerous ways. So, rather than thinking that you cannot do things at home, find ways that you can practice the core principles of optometry. Be creative, but make sure you act safely!
Ask Questions and Seek Feedback
If you are unsure of anything, do not be afraid to ask. Even if you think it is a silly question. If you are unsure of anything – then there are probably 5-10 other students also unsure on the same thing but afraid to raise a hand or send an email. The more you know, the easier the learning process will be.
Additionally, seek feedback from your supervisors and your peers. If you don’t then you risk becoming complacent or cementing common mistakes into your routines. Feedback will help you grow, with some of the harsher feedback often allowing you to rapidly improve in your weaker areas.
Remember, optometry is not just about acing exams; it’s about becoming a competent and caring clinician. Follow these tips, and you’ll be well on your way to clinical success! 🌟 If you have any further tips, please feel free to comment them below!
Disclaimer: This blog post is meant to be fun and informative. Always follow your university’s guidelines and consult your instructors for specific advice.
Jason Searle is a clinical optometrist that also supervises undergraduate optometry clinics.
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