Bridging the reality gap.

Abstract

Feedback from recent graduates indicates that many encounter the reality shock described by Marlene Kramer in her study of nursing.1 As defined by Kramer, reality shock is the phenomenon that occurs when there is a disparity between the values and expectations inculcated during the professional education process and the realities experienced in the work world. The greater the disparity, the more untenable the work world may be for neophyte physical therapists. In fact, some sadly speculate as to whether they were educationally overprepared in relation to what they can actually do in their employment environments. Recent policy decisions of the House of Delegates regarding independent practice and postbaccalaureate professional education tend to imply that the problem may be that of underpreparation. Those decisions also reflect professional values of independent thinking, decision making, and problem solving that seem to be inherent in the philosophy of many of our professional education curricula.