Navigating the Long and Winding Road of the CNS Supervised Practice Experience
Meg Bowman MS CNS LDN CHES
Embarking on your Supervised Practice Experience (SPE) can be an exciting endeavor, filled with promises of personal growth and career advancement. However, as anyone who has delved into the realm of lengthy certifications can attest, the path to completion can be a challenging one. Fear not, dear reader, for we shall navigate this arduous road together, with a dash of levity to lighten the load.
The Quest for Knowledge: Let us begin by acknowledging that your SPE holds just as much learning as you got in school, maybe even more! Because you’re not learning facts here (okay, there are some facts). Instead, you’re learning how to take all those facts you learned in school and actually apply them to practice with other humans, who may not do things the way your professor taught (or the way you want them to). Just like any epic journey, the SPE requires dedication, patience, and a little bit of determination. It is important to remember that the destination (getting your CNS) is not the sole purpose; rather, it is the transformative process of figuring out your clinical signature that occurs along the way.
The Snail's Pace: Ah, the slow progress! Even if you’re getting a bunch of hours, watching them slowly tick up on the tracker can feel as if you're on a never-ending path, moving at a snail's pace. Someone told me recently they wanted to just give up with only 100 hours to go! It's easy to become disheartened when witnessing your peers get more hours while you feel like the tortoise inching along. Guess what - your journey is your own, and trust me when I say supervisors aren’t judging you for how fast (or not fast) you go toward accruing hours.
“the destination (getting your CNS) is not the sole purpose; rather, it is the transformative process of figuring out your clinical signature that occurs along the way”
Embracing Patience, Darn It: The SPE process often tests the limits of our patience. You already went to school, and now we gotta do THIS? Let’s compare this to food, shall we? Just like a fine wine or a meticulously prepared meal, some things take time and are worth the wait. You’re one of them! Embrace the opportunity to savor the learning process, and before you know it, time will have flown by, leaving you feeling confident in your new role as a nutritionist.
The Power of Milestones: One way to combat the overwhelming feeling of the SPE is to break it down into smaller, manageable milestones. Celebrate each milestone (every hundred hours or every fifth client?) as a significant achievement. Treat yourself to a reward, and take the time to acknowledge the win with peers, friends and family. Remember, it's the little victories that keep us motivated and remind us that progress is being made, even when the finish line feels elusive.
Humor as a Companion: In the face of daunting challenges, sometimes a sprinkle of humor can work wonders. Find levity in the situation and laugh at the absurdity of it all. Share your experiences with other CNS candidates who are on a similar path; they'll understand the struggle and might have their own amusing tales to share. Humor has a unique way of diffusing tension and making the seemingly insurmountable hurdles appear a little less intimidating.
Self-Care Amidst the Journey: I know you talk to your clients about the importance of self care. But what are you doing for yourself? I learned a solid lesson right after completing my SPE. I’d been going so hard for so long with so little sleep that I managed to give myself shingles at age 37! The heck! I wish I could say that I learned my lesson there on self care, but maybe you can learn from what I say not what I do? The SPE process can be mentally and emotionally taxing. It's crucial to take care of yourself along the way. Make time for activities that actively nourish your spirit, whatever they may be.
The Joy of Completion: Finally, after what feels like an eternity, you’re done with 1,000 hours and have completed the BCNS exam. The moment you receive your CNS is indescribable. How do I know? I’ve seen many a text message from candidates celebrating this win. Usually, they just say “I got it!” I get why they are sometimes tongue tied. That email awarding your CNS is one second in time compared to the years of school and SPE. It's the culmination of all your efforts, the validation of your dedication, and the proof that perseverance pays off. And that, my friends, can take your breath away!
Good luck on your journey,
XOXO, Meg