3.1 Invests in the acquisition of evidence through participation in workshops, continued education and pursuit of additional degrees.
In order to better serve the future clients I will have, I have made it a goal to complete various continuing education workshops and classes to better understand the clinical issues which will effect the various populations I may encounter. These courses give insight into OT's role within various areas described with the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (OTPF), therefore increasing my proficiency as a future occupational therapy practitioner.
As a future OT practitioner with countless different diseases, cultures, medicines, and therapies to understand, it is important that I take the time to learn and achieve proficiency in the different topics which I deem are most valuable for me to learn based on the clientele which I am serving at that moment in time. If I do not do this, I can most certainly still do a fine job when creating plans of care (POC) or giving a treatment, but I will not be the phenomenal practitioner that my heart wants to be. As I continue to learn, I hope to engage in workshops, online modules, and classes to become accredited in different therapies to better serve my future clients.
In order to better serve the future clients I will have, I have made it a goal to complete various continuing education workshops and classes to better understand the clinical issues which will effect the various populations I may encounter. These courses give insight into OT's role within various areas described with the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (OTPF), therefore increasing my proficiency as a future occupational therapy practitioner.
As a future OT practitioner with countless different diseases, cultures, medicines, and therapies to understand, it is important that I take the time to learn and achieve proficiency in the different topics which I deem are most valuable for me to learn based on the clientele which I am serving at that moment in time. If I do not do this, I can most certainly still do a fine job when creating plans of care (POC) or giving a treatment, but I will not be the phenomenal practitioner that my heart wants to be. As I continue to learn, I hope to engage in workshops, online modules, and classes to become accredited in different therapies to better serve my future clients.
3.2 Is a knowledgeable consumer of global research related to occupational therapy and utilizes an evidence based approach to practice.
Through the consumption of research and evidence-based courses, I have been able to better cater to individuals under my care during my Fieldwork experience. Both of my Fieldwork experiences Brough to light a very large yet understated issue people face when they are in stages of life requiring our services. This, is why I sought to learn about occupational deprivation and disruption through a course offered by AOTA.
Occupational deprivation is a universal experience, whether chronic or acute. This universal pandemic is a call for occupational therapists to be the first line of defense to help regain each person's independence in the activities which are meaningful to them. Occupational deprivation does not have to be only from deconditioning or chronic illness. Occupational deprivation can look like: moving away from a place with community accessibility, poor time access to occupation, physical illness, mental illness, barriers from safety, and more. The mental and physiological effects of occupational deprivation significant diminishes well-being and quality of life for all groups of people. This, is why it is so vastly important that OT's advocate for occupational justice and find/ create resources to aid in the re-attaining of occupation.
Through the consumption of research and evidence-based courses, I have been able to better cater to individuals under my care during my Fieldwork experience. Both of my Fieldwork experiences Brough to light a very large yet understated issue people face when they are in stages of life requiring our services. This, is why I sought to learn about occupational deprivation and disruption through a course offered by AOTA.
Occupational deprivation is a universal experience, whether chronic or acute. This universal pandemic is a call for occupational therapists to be the first line of defense to help regain each person's independence in the activities which are meaningful to them. Occupational deprivation does not have to be only from deconditioning or chronic illness. Occupational deprivation can look like: moving away from a place with community accessibility, poor time access to occupation, physical illness, mental illness, barriers from safety, and more. The mental and physiological effects of occupational deprivation significant diminishes well-being and quality of life for all groups of people. This, is why it is so vastly important that OT's advocate for occupational justice and find/ create resources to aid in the re-attaining of occupation.
3.3 Integrates individual clinical expertise and patient values with the best available external clinical evidence.
In order to better serve individuals in the acute setting, the practitioner must be ready and diligent in creating a task or scenario with which many components can be assessed at one time. Learning how to assess clients in a way which also serves to engage them in a way which can help them discharge sooner is a needed skill. By creating engaging ways for clients to participate in their rehabilitation, OTs can maximize client outcomes. In this same way, I as an evaluating therapist sought to integrate clinical reasoning with evaluations so that clients unknowingly could receive benefits.
For example, various podcasts I have listened to as well as studies from NCBI have shown positive outcomes based on early mobilization in the acute setting and reduction of pneumonia. Due to this, I would ask clients to mobilize to the edge of their bed (EOB) and then I would have various ADLs or activities with which they could choose from to complete in sitting. This way, I could assess their bed mobility, core strength, static and dynamic stability, functional reach, coordination, pain tolerance, hemodynamic stability, cognition, and more.
As a future OT, I aim to integrate best available evidence with my clinical reasoning to maximize the rehabilitative process for all clients within my care.
In order to better serve individuals in the acute setting, the practitioner must be ready and diligent in creating a task or scenario with which many components can be assessed at one time. Learning how to assess clients in a way which also serves to engage them in a way which can help them discharge sooner is a needed skill. By creating engaging ways for clients to participate in their rehabilitation, OTs can maximize client outcomes. In this same way, I as an evaluating therapist sought to integrate clinical reasoning with evaluations so that clients unknowingly could receive benefits.
For example, various podcasts I have listened to as well as studies from NCBI have shown positive outcomes based on early mobilization in the acute setting and reduction of pneumonia. Due to this, I would ask clients to mobilize to the edge of their bed (EOB) and then I would have various ADLs or activities with which they could choose from to complete in sitting. This way, I could assess their bed mobility, core strength, static and dynamic stability, functional reach, coordination, pain tolerance, hemodynamic stability, cognition, and more.
As a future OT, I aim to integrate best available evidence with my clinical reasoning to maximize the rehabilitative process for all clients within my care.
3.4 Applies the domain of occupational therapy in gathering, evaluating, setting goals, planning and implementing occupational therapy.
For my evaluations in the acute setting, I apply the domain of occupational therapy by evaluating areas outlined with the OTPF. I assess occupation by asking what they need to do or enjoy doing, or what has been disrupted due to their current state. I assess contextual factors by asking whom they live with and by gaining insight into their environment in case modification is needed prior to return home. Performance skills are assessed via motor skills through functional movement, process skills via cognition, and social interaction skills by evaluating appropriate behavior and response. Client factors are assessed mostly through body functions and body structures.
All of these areas outlined with the domain of Occupational Therapy within the OTPF allow me as an evaluating therapist to gain a holistic view of the patient in order to set appropriate goals during current length of stay as well as appropriate planning for discharge recommendations.
It is important for me to wield the OTPF to my advantage in every setting so that I can dissect all of the moving parts which make up the holistic view of my future clients. In this way, I will be able to systematically pinpoint and address important and neglected aspects which could seriously impact individuals for better, or worse.
All of these areas outlined with the domain of Occupational Therapy within the OTPF allow me as an evaluating therapist to gain a holistic view of the patient in order to set appropriate goals during current length of stay as well as appropriate planning for discharge recommendations.
It is important for me to wield the OTPF to my advantage in every setting so that I can dissect all of the moving parts which make up the holistic view of my future clients. In this way, I will be able to systematically pinpoint and address important and neglected aspects which could seriously impact individuals for better, or worse.
3.5 Contributes to the knowledge base of OT practice by mentoring students, performing research, publishing, presenting and/or teaching.
During school, I and a few classmates volunteered to speak at an open house at UTHSC for new prospective students. Around this time, I was at my local gym when a man comes up to speak to me. We found out that he had recognized me from this open house and was going to apply to be in the program that coming cycle.
Over the course of a few months, I helped him wrap his head around the process of applying to the UTHSC MOT program as well as setting up aspects of OTCAS, the online portal for prospective OT students. Before I left the Memphis area I also met up with him for a couple of hours over dinner to discuss the program and answer questions about the Fieldwork placement process, how to maintain a healthy schedule in and out of class, what to expect in some of the more difficult classes like Gross Anatomy, and more. Located under "Leader Change Agent" within my website, in section 4.1 is just a small glimpse of the mentoring process which I provided for him. I am pleased to say that he notified me of his acceptance to the program and I know he will be a phenomenal OTR!
During school, I and a few classmates volunteered to speak at an open house at UTHSC for new prospective students. Around this time, I was at my local gym when a man comes up to speak to me. We found out that he had recognized me from this open house and was going to apply to be in the program that coming cycle.
Over the course of a few months, I helped him wrap his head around the process of applying to the UTHSC MOT program as well as setting up aspects of OTCAS, the online portal for prospective OT students. Before I left the Memphis area I also met up with him for a couple of hours over dinner to discuss the program and answer questions about the Fieldwork placement process, how to maintain a healthy schedule in and out of class, what to expect in some of the more difficult classes like Gross Anatomy, and more. Located under "Leader Change Agent" within my website, in section 4.1 is just a small glimpse of the mentoring process which I provided for him. I am pleased to say that he notified me of his acceptance to the program and I know he will be a phenomenal OTR!
3.6 Incorporates continued education as a lifelong practice with the commitment to remain up-to-date and well-informed.
As part of my Commitment to the professional community and patients alike, I am a TNOTA member through which I am able to stay up to date on best clinical practice as well as education in clinical areas I have not yet been able to observe. Through this membership, I receive access to different perks such as Aspire OT which allows students to gave free CEUs.
It is important that I renew memberships like TNOTA and AOTA so I can access important resources which will impact the services I provide to others. These memberships will guide me in the future to learn about necessary topics as well as acquire resources to give clients who are in need of direction. Part of being a great practitioner is not always having the answer, but knowing also where to find them or who to find them from! In future practice, I hope to diligently and intentionally address the needs of clients with the knowledge I acquire from maintaining these memberships.
As part of my Commitment to the professional community and patients alike, I am a TNOTA member through which I am able to stay up to date on best clinical practice as well as education in clinical areas I have not yet been able to observe. Through this membership, I receive access to different perks such as Aspire OT which allows students to gave free CEUs.
It is important that I renew memberships like TNOTA and AOTA so I can access important resources which will impact the services I provide to others. These memberships will guide me in the future to learn about necessary topics as well as acquire resources to give clients who are in need of direction. Part of being a great practitioner is not always having the answer, but knowing also where to find them or who to find them from! In future practice, I hope to diligently and intentionally address the needs of clients with the knowledge I acquire from maintaining these memberships.