Slow and Steady Really Does Win the Race

Like many dietetic interns out there, I was shaking in my boots before finally starting my clinical rotation. Up to this point, I had only heard stories from my fellow interns’ experiences at their own clinical rotations, and I still really had no idea what to expect. However, not knowing what to expect is kind of par for the course for any dietetic internship, which I think we all have gotten used to. Nevertheless, I was still beyond nervous for clinical. But, the second I met Alli-Kay McDonald, my preceptor and Registered Dietitian at French Hospital Medical Center, my nerves instantly subsided. I was welcomed with nothing but open arms, kindness, understanding, and humanity. I’ve heard the horror stories from clinical where interns were thrown into it head-first on day 1; and I could not have had a more opposite experience, thanks to the wonderful Alli-Kay. From day 1, Alli-Kay made it apparent that clinical is not a race, it’s not a test, and it’s not meant to be intensely stressful! It is a time that allows the intern to fully immerse themselves in new knowledge and experiences, and take each day as an opportunity to learn something new and grow. Alli-Kay did not expect me to walk in on my first day and know how to chart for 7 patients! She allowed me the time I needed to learn at a pace that was comfortable for me. She was on my side, and I could feel that. She wanted me to succeed, and “going fast” was never the answer.

Shining a spotlight on Alli-Kay Mcdonald, she is Highest Ranking Registered Dietitian at French Hospital Medical Center. She completed her undergrad at Cal Poly (go Mustangs!) and attended a combined Dietetic Internship and Masters program at the University of Texas. Alli-Kay enjoys learning about all-things clinical and being on the management side where she is able to work on improving policy. Her goals for the future are to hold a teaching position as a professor or lecturer, which explains why she has been such an amazing teacher to me. I asked Alli-Kay the top three things that she aims to teach her interns, and her responses made all the more sense as to why I have already learned so much from her.

1. She wants interns to understand that it is critical that YOU remember that what YOU do is important, despite how others might dismiss the work of a clinical dietitian in the hospital setting. Dietitians make a big difference in the outcome of people’s lives and it is imperative that you remember that your work as a clinical dietitian is irreplaceable.

2. Look at the BIG PICTURE. It is so easy as a dietitian working in a clinical setting to get wrapped up in the details (which is explained by our type-A personalities) and get stuck in the muscle memory of just “checking the boxes.” Clinical dietitians are so detail-oriented, so it is important to take a step back sometimes and look bigger and look beyond the minute details.

3. Consider the person you are talking to. These people are in a hospital and as Alli-Kay put it so simply, “it is probably not the best day of their lives, it may even be the worst.” Don’t ask patients, “how are you doing today?”, because you know that answer. Consider the situation they're in and how they must be feeling. As much as it is our job to provide clinical care, it is essential not to forget the customer service piece.

During my first few weeks at French Hospital, she said to me that it’s all about “quality over quantity.” Speeding through the learning process and just going through the motions to get patients done is most certainly not her philosophy. We took the time to learn together, and she made sure I had ample time to learn all the details. This ultimately led me to so much more success later in the rotation than if I had been rushed through those first couple weeks. I had the time to slow down and pay attention to the minute details, which helped me improve the quality of my work. This approach has helped to facilitate a lot of great conversation between us. I have the time to ask many questions and engage in conversations about different MNT topics. Questions are highly encouraged and accepted, and if you know me, I have a TON of questions. Alli-Kay never makes me feel silly for asking any of my questions, and I feel more than comfortable asking about things I maybe do not know or know how to do. I’m not afraid to admit to my weaknesses or identify areas that I know I need improvement in. Alli-Kay’s approachable disposition allows for open communication and honesty, which I think is incredibly important.

As a preceptor, Alli-Kay makes me feel so supported. She’s my biggest cheerleader! She is always working with me, and never against me. The preceptor-intern relationship is of great importance. If you feel comfortable and supported by your preceptor, you are going to be so much more successful and happy! Alli-Kay recognizes that at the end of the day, we are humans first. We get overwhelmed, we go through different things in our personal lives, and we experience different emotions. It is okay to feel stressed and overwhelmed sometimes, it is natural! During one of my weeks at French, Alli-Kay and I had 2 pretty busy days, busier than normal. I was just getting used to charting 4 patients in a day and settling into a groove. We had 18 patients to get through that day, and it was my time to step up and take on more of the load. As the day progressed and 8 am quickly became 1 pm, I was feeling a bit stressed that I would not get through all of my patients before the end of the day. Alli-Kay could see that I was starting to stress out and she told me, “I’m not going to let you drown.” This reassurance of support meant everything to me. Alli-Kay is never going to let me fail or crumble. She is never going to throw me into the deep end, to see if I can swim. Her support was evident from day one and I could not have asked for a more encouraging and positive preceptor to guide me through my clinical rotation.

Registered Dietitians at French Hospital, Alli-Kay Mcdonald and Angela Fissel

Alli-Kay is not only encouraging and supportive of her interns, she is also extremely compassionate towards all of the dietitians that work with her at French, and all of her patients. During my first week at French when I was shadowing her most of the day, I saw how she spoke to patients. When Alli-Kay talks to her patients at bedside, she makes every patient feel heard, cared for, and important. She does not rush through conversations because she has other patients to see. She expresses compassion for their situation and does everything she can to make their time in the hospital as good as it can be. She always goes the extra mile to make sure all of her patients get the same amount of attention and quality of care. In the office, Alli-Kay has done an amazing job of creating a working environment where all of the dietitians feel supported by one another, and help each other to get the job done. Everyone is working together, and that is the best kind of environment to work in.

To think how scared and nervous I was for my clinical rotation, Alli-Kay has eased all of those nerves. Clinical can come with a lot of overwhelming feelings; long and busy days can get stressful and being inundated with so much new information can feel like too much. But, my preceptor has created a supportive learning environment, where I have been able to grow so much already! Going into week 6 of my clinical rotation, I am looking forward to learning and growing even more. Clinical comes with a huge learning curve, but with a supportive and encouraging preceptor like Alli-Kay, it doesn’t have to be stressful! During my time with her thus far, she has shown me that going slow and steady, really does win the race. Clinical doesn’t have to be a sprint 24/7, it’s a marathon with many different opportunities to slow down and absorb it all. Her positive words of encouragement motivate me to keep going. When she gives me that little boost of confidence with a “good job” at the end of the day, it reassures me that I can do this, and that she will be right there supporting me every step of the way.