Practice-based learning (placement) can be a stressful, but amazing time. There can be a lot of pressure to achieve and be the best but at the end of the day we’re only students and here to learn! Here are a few tips I’ve learned from my practice-based learning (B placement) to help things run a little more smoothly and spend more time enjoying than stressing!
1. Keep a record/diary of everything you’ve been up to!
This will help with reflections and help you see how far you’ve come at the end of your practice-based learning. This doesn’t mean spending an hour every evening noting down everything you’ve done! A quick 5/10 minutes noting down some of the key things you’ve done at the end of each day is enough and can be super helpful for completing any reflections later on.
2. Get out for at least a few minutes every day
Being stuck inside a hospital all day followed by being at home all evening isn’t going to be good for your mental health. Getting out, even just for a 10-minute walk around the block in the evening is going to help clear your mind.
3. Don’t compare yourself to your coursemates!!
I cannot stress this enough! Everyone’s experience is different, and everyone learns at a different speed, this doesn’t make one person a ‘better Dietitian’ than another. It’s so easy to compare to your other coursemates, particularly if you’re at the same hospital but it’s important to remember to be proud of what you’re achieving without comparing it to someone else. I’m sure you’ll be smashing it!
4. Meal share or bulk cook food
Cooking yourself a meal every night after a long day of practice-based learning is very tiring! If you're on practice-based learning with other people from your course I would recommend meal sharing a few nights of the week, I did this on my practice-based learning , as I was with two other coursemates and it was so helpful! If you're not with course mates trying to make multiple portions when you do cook can be useful so you only have to re-heat a meal rather than cooking again! Don’t be afraid to go for convenience foods, these are also super helpful to make sure you have time to relax in the evening.
5. Speak up if there’s a problem!
It can be easy to bury things under the carpet but if you’re struggling, whether that’s with living alone or a particular area on practice-based learning, make sure to speak to your supervisor or university tutor. Support is there if you need it, but nothing can be done to help if you don’t tell someone! Be honest in your weekly reviews, you’re there to learn and this will help you get the most out of the experience.
When I was on practice-based learning I found resources on PEN really helpful and also the BDA's Food Fact Sheets which are written specifically for the public.
