Name: Natalie Sfeir
Degree/license: Clinical Fellow, Master in Science in Speech Language Hearing Sciences from The University of Texas at Austin
Location: San Antonio TX
Setting you work in: Adult Acute Care Hospital
What are 1-3 of the biggest lessons you've learned so far?
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions from current and previous mentors! As a CF, you have the opportunity to really grow in your skills – but, that can only happen if you seek information you do not know. You might not know everything as a new clinician, but definitely give yourself credit for what you do know.
- Highlight your soft skills– your ability to connect with patients/clients, your most recent research + educational knowledge as a recent graduate, previous internships
- Provide a hypothesis – develop your clinical skills by hypothesizing a solution. Don’t be afraid to use your research/knowledge/education – and run your ideas by a mentor. This really helps you formulate your skills
- Rest! Give yourself rest. Whatever that might look like for you – hustle culture cannot prevail.
What did you remember or change going forward as a result of learning those lessons?
- Learning to be confident with my self as a new clinician, and remembering what skills I bring to the table.
- Asking more questions/inquiries to understand the rationale of a solution and strategizing methods for problem solving
- Remembering that I am more than my work – I am a human being. I have hobbies, I need rest!
What did you expect going into your CF? Did your expectations match? What was the same? Different?
I truly didn’t know what to expect! I knew it was going to be a period of discomfort – and it certainly was as you adjust to working full time and developing your clinical style. I also didn’t recognize how fulfilling it would be and how much thinking on my feet I would be doing.
What would you tell your past self now that you are a working SLP?
Relax! Things work out! I am proud of the hours I spent studying and the organizations I participated in – I just wish I could take off some of the stress I carried!
What advice do you have for future CFs?
Please keep asking questions – even if you feel you “should” know the answer (within reason). Find internships in settings you are even remotely interested in. Find mentors from all different avenues – grad school, shadowing, internships, STEP community. I am always open to chat and/or mentor.
