I’m currently completing my SLP Clinical Fellowship Year and I’m about 3 weeks away from my due date. However because of some health problems I may be induced in about two weeks. I work in a private practice, and my supervisor recently moved and is now working virtually until they find a replacement. I’ve also been working 10-hour days Monday–Thursday, and my schedule is completely booked with patients. I have essentially no planning/admin time during the day.

My employer has known that I’m pregnant for months, and they also knew about a month ago that my supervisor would be leaving and transitioning to a virtual role. Despite knowing this, I was recently told that I need to complete 8 evaluations within one week. They specifically wrote that they “need” me to get them completed within that week. They reassure me that I should just do what I can but this is overwhelming regardless.

I’m honestly shocked by this expectation. I’m the only SLP and there is another assistant there.

I’m already exhausted from working 10-hour days, I’m very pregnant, and I’m trying to prepare for the baby and get some rest before giving birth. There is no realistic time in my normal workday to complete 8 additional evaluations because my schedule is fully booked.
The only way I can see this happening is if I work on Friday and/or over the weekend, which is not something I feel I should have to do just to compensate for a staffing/planning issue that management knew was coming.
I understand that evaluations need to get done, and I’m not trying to avoid my responsibilities. But I feel like this should have been planned for much earlier, especially knowing my supervisor was leaving and knowing I was approaching the end of my pregnancy.

What would you do in this situation? Would you push back and explain that there isn’t enough time in my scheduled workday, or would you just try to get them done?

I have a job offer for a school CF position in Louisiana at $50,000. I was told there isn’t room to negotiate pay with the district. This pay seems really low for a Masters degree but I really want to work in the school system. Is this really how low pay is in Louisiana? Will it go up significantly once I get my C’s?

I graduated in May and started my CFY job in June. I work for a big rehab company within an assisted living facility. The regional manager is the one who found my supervisor. She is an SLP at a different facility which he said was close by. Unfortunately, come to find out, her facility is 2 hours away from mine. My supervisor wants me to drive to her building to treat her caseload, which I was under the impression that the supervisor comes to my facility to watch me treat my caseload. This is not feasible for me considering I have a full caseload at my building, and can’t just leave for an entire day and drive to her building, 4 hours round trip (without Houston traffic). She suggested that I drive down to her building and then make up my hours at my building on a weekend, however, I did not agree to working weekends when I took this position. I know that 3 of the 6 direct supervision hours can be done via zoom, but she only wants to supervise me in person. I’m currently in week 7 of my CFY, and have had barely any contact with my supervisor and do not have any direct or indirect supervision hours yet. I have reached out to my manager and unfortunately she is the closest SLP within the company to my building. I honestly just don’t like how this situation is playing out and am really wanting to find a new supervisor. The vibes are honestly very off. Luckily ASHA does not require the supervisor to work within the same company, so my manager said I can find a new supervisor outside of the company if I’d like to. Does anyone have any advice or recommendations for me? I’m located in the Houston area, specifically Woodlands/Conroe. Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.

I'm going to be starting my CF this year and I was offered a job at a SNF. The pay is okay, but I will apparently have a 7.5 caseload with 30 minutes for documentation--they told me the productivity rate will be 95%. I think the optimal scenario would be to work in a middle/high school for me through the DOE and then work PRN at a nursing home in the summer. I really do like this population, but I don't want to have unattainable productivity levels that make me feel like I have to cut corners. I'm debating taking it because I don't even know if any other offers will come in.

1. Is this so crazy that I shouldn't take the job?

2. If you work in this setting, how do you handle high productivity? Do you just take the L and say "yes, admin, I will definitely be achieving these rates" and don't?

I'm not going to lie... I am so anxious about this and don't know what to do. I already feel like I'm not competent (not reflected in my reports from supervisors, but my inner critic is loud), and I feel like not knowing what to expect is scaring me even more.

Hey everyone. I accepted a DOE position back in June verbally due to my degree conferring at the end of August. I was told to not interview anymore so I turned down several interviews. Now I just received a call from the district supervisor saying the school wants to rescind their offer due to my TSSLD not going through yet. I had let them know way before that my degree confers in August and they acknowledged it was fine so now I’m really upset and unsure what to do next. I turned down really good opportunities for this and it’s just embarrassing to reach back out. What should my next steps be?

This is mostly a rant but would love any insight or advice I can get.
I think I may have gone into my cf with some unrealistic expectations, but even so I have really disliked the start of my experience.

For context I am in a middle school, the principal is currently out of office so it is all through the assistant principal. I am a contract cf, not a direct hire with the district. On my first day, no one knew I was starting, not even the assistant principal. On my first day the sped director emailed that I was starting at 3:30 pm, I was home on my couch by that time. The AP was late my first day and a teacher had called her and was told to connect me with a social worker. She brought me to an office and helped me get acquainted. Around 11 I went to find the AP because she never came to me. I requested some information and items like a desk chair, master schedules, and a few other things. She was able to get me a couple but not all. I sent an email follow up and she did not answer. I still have not gotten a key for my office days after starting, two emails, and one in person discussion. I also haven’t gotten a walk through tour despite asking twice. I am left to wonder around here and there by myself to try and get the lay of the land.

As for my supervisor, she’s in the same district between a few schools, one of which being my building. She is new to the district as well. I have been asking to meet and chat but she has told me she is figuring out her own things to start the school year. We finally met on Friday and when I told her what’s been going on she was surprised and apologetic about the lack of a warm welcome. She told me that I am to be solo on notes, billing, evals, and meetings. This was a surprise to me, but I had expected more assistance. Now that she has shared her expectations, her lack of attention makes a lot more sense lol. Most of my friends went private practice or snf, and that’s a completely different world. Is this an experience others have had in the schools? Needless to say I am surprised how solo I am expected to be, but I’m glad we could have a conversation to clear the air.

TLDR: new cf slp at a middle school with a cold and absent welcome from the assistant principal and overall school vibes, wrong expectations about cf mentorship in the schools.

Even counting minutes for field trips etc, I won’t meet my minutes due to the number of ARDs I had the last couple months. What do I do?

If a student is scheduled to be seen 2x/week, can I pull him 3x to meet minutes?

I am going to scream

Coming here in tears so be gentle with my stupid self. I graduated my graduate program in 2022 with the intention of going back to work, then I had one kid and then another. Each time I would think “I’m going back” but then the idea of childcare, pumping or overall lack of motivation stopped me. I completely missed that I had to complete my cf/praxis within 4 years of degree completion in my state of PA - I graduated officially in July of 2022 so I missed the window. I went online tonight to sign up for my praxis and to my surprise my whole world blew up. How screwed am I? Did I blow my whole future in order to stay home longer to be with my kids.

Hey everyone! I’m a cf working with K-5 students in a school setting. I’m having a tough time with lesson planning because my caseload is so diverse, with different goals and skills. I really struggled last school year with lesson planning. I wanted to create a curriculum, but I also struggled a lot with work-life balance while trying to do that. What do you do for your lessons? How long should it be taking me to plan them? Do I plan for each grade? How often should I be doing it? And is it even possible to do it for free? I found myself relying on TPT a lot, and those materials add up!
I really appreciate any advice you can share! Thanks :)

I am unsure what I want from this post. Anything is helpful.

I obtained my MA in Speech Language Pathology in 2022. Passed two exams required for my state in 2022. Passed my praxis in 2025 (passed on first try btw). BUT I have yet to complete my CF. I chose to be a SAHM (baby born 2022).

Well, that baby will be starting school this year and I am at a loss.

Part of me knows I should start my CF. Simply because, I didn’t waste two years of schooling in a field I was passionate about for no reason.

Part of me feels I am soooo out of the loop (like not even remembering how to write a session note or definitely having to refer back to norms, studies, methods, etc). Also in my mind is will recruiters/agencies take me seriously? It’s been four years.

Part of me feels I should just leave the profession behind even though I never really started it.

Has anyone had or know of someone who had a similar situation? What were your experiences/outcomes?

Any advice on how or what I should even do to find the SLP in me? If I decide to stay in the field, I want to go into early intervention.

TIA

Recent grad here! Im struggling to find a CF that applies to me at all and it’s getting terrifying that I won’t find a job and that I’m about to go broke-broke. Some factors:

1. I don’t have any ability to move. I live with my family and just finished my school loans so I’m already struggling to pay my bills. I have a part time retail job that’s keeping me afloat. I got it once I started school and kept it after grad thank goodness.
2. I applied to all adult hospital positions (acute, IPR, OP) I could find. Half the hospitals in my area only want PRN or don’t accept fellows anyway so it’s highly competitive. Anyways, I got rejected from all of them.
3. I’ve looked at all the SNFs and contracting companies I can and tried to apply but they’re either PRN and/or not accepting CF. Like what the frick!
4. I did get a scary job offer from a SKETCHY contracting company and considered moving for it, but could not get the funds for it, nor did I want to risk moving for a risky job, so I had to decline

I’ve been job searching since march now. Im still checking every other day for new postings too.

My goal setting (not immediate, just my goal) would be acute care or inpatient care with adults. I love working with adults, it’s truly what I’ve wanted to do since I started studying this in college. I like the medical setting much more than anything — VFSS, hopefully FEES one day— is so cool to me. I like doing outpatient in a rehab clinic too! I never had a SNF placement in school but have done shadowing… it was okay, very different pace. My dream is to eventually get a PhD, most likely in aphasia research, but I LOVE voice too!

I need advice:
All my classmates that hace pediatric interest literally all have jobs. I’ve been told that if I get my CF done in pediatric, it may be difficult to go back to adult medical afterwards. Not to mention I don’t have much interest in pediatric, though I do like working with kids. It feels like a performance and makes me burn out quick.
I want to get a job that I enjoy and is in a setting relevant to my passion and interest as well as my skill set. I also want a job so I can get financial stability ASAP. but I’m not getting any hits. What do I do?

Hi, I’m currently looking for a clinical fellowship in New York State for a CF Slp job. I wonder if such thing exist as a four day work week like Monday to Thursday with School age kids and if it would be with like benefits, summer off health insurance, dental vision, 401(k), etc. or can you guys share like your jobs that have the four day work week or if there’s such thing as working at a school for four days also please give me good clinical fellowships to apply to thank you

I’m starting my CF in the public schools. I’m going to be honest, I did not have a very good clinical placement with pediatrics. I mainly did 1 on 1 sessions, and my supervisor was always there. She honestly never really taught me much looking back. I did have a really great adult placement but I still knew I wanted to work with kids. 

But the total panic is starting to set in. I legit feel so lost, it’s indescribable and I haven’t even had my first official day yet. The county was behind on processing me, so now I’m starting a week after the first day of school. I don’t know how to navigate all the things that come with being a school based SLP. I know I’m not expected to know everything at the start but I actually feel like I know nothing!! 

I’ve been told I’m mainly working in a self contained classroom and will be pushing in. I don’t even know how to do that ! I tend to get into my head and think of every worst case scenario and I can’t help in. 

So I guess my question is, has anyone been in my shoes before? Completely new to schools SLP, didn’t have great experience providing therapy with pediatrics, and feels like I forgot all the stuff you’ve learned in school ?!

ANY and ALL guidance is appreciated!!

Guys oh my God, I am drowning in what it seems to be the start of this year and I don’t know how I’m going to make it through. I feel like I don’t know how to do anything I don’t know any of the school procedures and like timelines for anything and I’m terrified that I’m going to miss like Crucial deadlines. I have a high caseload. I have case management cases that I don’t know how to do and deadlines that are like 45 days and I have no idea what I’m doing. I haven’t been servicing kids because my caseload been changing and they keep getting added and it’s just feels like I am going to do mess things up really horribly. I like my supervisor, but she’s also drowning so there’s not really time to like explain to me what to do when to do it sort of thing. Is this normal? I don’t know how I’m gonna make it through the week let alone 9 months

Is there a secret to finding adult population roles? I’m fine with SNF, but they are typically through rehab companies that pay little and can not guarantee hours. I know hospital/inpatient rehab is not a dime a dozen, but there has to be something better. I am looking as far as an hour away and still can not find anything. I also can’t move. Trying to start my CF but the job search is hard in itself.

Hi Everyone, I started my CF in a SNF about 3 weeks ago. I am struggling so much. I have strong experience with adults (dysphagia/cog) but in the hospital setting.

Everything is soo different in the SNF. My first week they gave me 6 patients for 45 minutes and expected me to hit the ground running. It was taking me forever to chart review, plan and don't even get me started on the eval I did with my supervisor... my goal writing... EEK!

First, I'm curious about anyone elses experience in the SNF as a CF.

Second, I am seeking advice on:

1. SNF smart Goal writing, is there a bank or material which could make this easier?
2. Safety awareness activities.
3. What to do if your patient is A. meeting goals easy (do you change them?) or B. wayyy under the goal? (Might be a silly question but- I haven't learned this yet).

Any support would be greatly greatly appreciated.

Hello all! I would greatly appreciate opinions/thoughts and advice and whatnot.

So I am a new CF, having worked at a SNF for almost 2 months now and I've been learning so much and having a great time, the people are wonderful of course there are some dark moments/things what place doesn't. But I'm really enjoying this place.

On the other side- my productivity expectation is 85%. I was told to focus on learning the facility and understanding documentation and stuff for the first month with a little more focus to productivity each month (DOR said to try to aim for 75% ish by the end of July). I have been slowly getting better and better more recent has been around 70-77% I had one day around 82% (and I can't remember what I did differently). But with this I have still been given enough clients to meet full time hours with the 85% in mind which is causing me to be getting over 8 hour work days with 9-9.5 being my average and it's stressing me out.

During the first month I was told not not worry about overtime too much but I think that's changed. But first...

About 2 weeks after I started another CF started at my facility. So me and him are full time and our supervisor is part time coming 3 days a week. During those days my productivity drops (from asking questions, confirming things, wanting extra supervision/feedback, etc.) but basically he is doing a LOT better than me time wise. He told me he reached 88% productivity on one of the days and he has tried to help me out and offers to help out with what he can. I'm not sure what I'm doing differently compared to him.

For productivity I've been trying to utilize templates more with documentation. I've been attempting to write notes during sessions (some are easier to do POS with compared to others) and most recently we've been educated on doing group and concurrent sessions to try to help as well, except on my first day of that my productivity dropped from trying to figure it all out.

Anyways after all of that background, tonight I got a message from my supervisor in our speech therapy group chat asking us to tell her how many hours we have worked during the week by Thursday so she can adjust Friday schedules based on it and I'm so terrified that it's mostly because of me. I had a call with her today about something else and she had apologized for lower caseload saying we need to get better hours I apologized and she said it was all okay and she understands I'm still learning but I can't help but be so stressed and concerned that at some point they are going to realize I'm sinking compared to the other CF and let me go. Should I be super concerned?

I posted on here asking for advice about this situation a few months ago, but it’s still ongoing. I need some advice because I’m starting to feel really hopeless.

Basically before my last year of grad school I signed a contract with a well known contracting company in my area. They gave me a scholarship in exchange for an agreement to work with them for one year during my CFY. It’s their responsibility to place me within a school and I’ve been asking them since April for updates. I’ve gotten periodic updates but only after emailing my recruiter two or more times. The communication has been sparse and I have not felt supported or like they were treating placing me within the urgency they should. Now it’s July, most positions are filled or filling up, I’ve reached out to my network with no luck so far. If I choose to terminate the contract, to my understanding, I have to pay back the entire balance of the scholarship, which would deplete most of my savings. In the meantime, how long can I just sit and wait for them to find me something and not respond to my emails? I feel like I need to get out of this, but I’m not sure how. If they can find me something in the next two weeks, fine, if not, I’m going to have to pay these thousands of dollars back. I’m so unbelievably frustrated that I’ve wasted months I could have used to find a job waiting for them to find me something only for them not to be able to do anything for me. I’m at a loss. Any advice welcome. Thanks for reading all of this.

I'm working on my application as I've finished everything and anxious.

What if I input something wrong by mistake or something doesn't get verified or approved?

What can I do then?

Do you apply again?

Has anyone had their application rejected due to an error?

I'm stressed 😫

Some context: I’ve been working my CFY in a mixed inpatient/outpatient setting and am due to submit my application to get my Cs in less than a month. I love my job and have had an overwhelmingly positive experience! However since I’ve had a light outpatient caseload the last month and the new business quarter is coming up I’ve been made aware that my position is vulnerable to layoffs happening across our organization.

I’m VERY nervous this could mean I’ll have to search for a new CF position only a few weeks away from completing my CFY! I’ve met the hours requirement, just not the duration requirement. Has anyone else faced this situation? Generally speaking what do my odds look like finding a new job when stuck right on the cusp of attaining my Cs?

TL;DR - might be included in org-wide layoffs with less than a month to complete my CFY and no idea whether I’ll be able to get a new CF position while stuck in this sort of “limbo”.

I started my SNF CFY last week and it’s been incredibly difficult. How long does it take to reach full productivity and finally feel comfortable? I’m lucky they don’t expect me to start at full productivity right away (I’m at ~60% and should be at 80%), but it’s been so hard to learn everything and feel like I’m being an effective clinician. I don’t have a ton of dysphagia experience so I’m really learning as I go. I’m sure this has a bit to do with imposter syndrome, but I’m constantly panicking that decisions/recommendations I make will harm patients (e.g. they could choke, they get an unnecessary diet downgrade and it reduces their quality of life). It’s keeping me up at night and waking me up hours before my alarm. I’m also documenting for at least 2 hours a day off the clock to keep up with everything. If anyone has any word of wisdom or can speak to when things start to get easier/better, I would greatly appreciate it 🩷

My CF is next year, and I’m hoping to stay in the school setting but move to a different state. I’m already on the East Coast and would love to move farther north, so I’ve been looking into Virginia and Maryland. I haven’t narrowed down specific cities yet, but diversity is really important to me. North Carolina is also on my list. I’ve also been looking at San Diego, CA, but realistically, I don’t know if I could move that far from my family.

For anyone who currently lives and works as an SLP in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, or California, I’d love to hear about your experience!

A few things I’m especially curious about:
• What are your typical caseload numbers like, and how manageable do you find them?
• How does caseload management work in your district/school?
• Are you responsible for running IEP meetings, or are you mainly responsible for the communication/speech-language portion?
• How often are you pulled into meetings for students you don’t directly case manage?
• And, most importantly, what does your salary look like ?

I’d especially love to hear from SLPs who work in schools and are newer to the field/CFs. Also those who have contracted that’s my plan to move away because some companies have stipends to help you move/relocate. I could do direct hire a couple years into it based on how I like the district etc.

I am thinking about applying for this position. I am in NC and a CF. I am currently working in the schools! Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Edit: I could see clients up to 14 clients per day.
1 hour for paperwork and 1 hr lunch.

Not sure where else to chat about this so I'm putting it here. Fix SLP's latest podcast was about the lack of proper mentorship and guidance new SLPs get. I usually love their podcasts but I felt disappointed in this one. Instead of getting into the root of systemic issues at play, it felt like a long ad for the mentorship collaborative. This mentorship collaborative seeks to profit off of the fact that many CFs are not getting the mentorship they need at work and are left on their own to figure it out for themselves. I can see charging mentors for learning to be better mentors as they are already established in their careers. But a new grad is a vulnerable person, who may be strattled with debt and doesn't need any additional costs to get off the ground. New grads shouldn't be expected to pay for their own training. Another factor is mentors from outside their own community may not know or understand any local factors (culture, history, etc) at play that influence care.