Time Out to Shine

I went on a couple co-monitoring visits with my new company mentor this week. As a new monitor years back, I flew by the seat of my pants armed with basic training, lots of information thrown at me all at once, expected to start paddling, swim, no idea what I was doing really. Statistically, a small percentage of beginning clinical research associates make it through those initial stages of hard-knocks, "doing time" to gain experience, to survive, but somehow I made it through - I learned the hard way, didn't question much, figured it out as I went, rough around the edges but I got the job done. All this time, no one really explained the small details, the subtle glue that holds the processes together, and just on two mentored co-monitoring visits, I am beginning to understand and it's all making more sense. Someone finally took me through step by step in a real-life situation study in which I will continue to excel when I'm up to speed. Thank you, Lisa, for your self-confidence, maturity and for taking the time out to care.