4.1 Demonstrates the ability to give constructive and timely feedback.
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 named Noah. 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.
In order to help him with the process, I gave tips and remained in communication with him for the few months before he was accepted to the program at UTHSC. I also aided him by proof reading different materials during these months and provided timely feedback so he could meet the deadlines for OTCAS as well as the different time criteria for the UTHSC Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program. This opportunity will help me as a future practitioner by giving me practice in relaying important constructive feedback to help individuals succeed!
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 named Noah. 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.
In order to help him with the process, I gave tips and remained in communication with him for the few months before he was accepted to the program at UTHSC. I also aided him by proof reading different materials during these months and provided timely feedback so he could meet the deadlines for OTCAS as well as the different time criteria for the UTHSC Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program. This opportunity will help me as a future practitioner by giving me practice in relaying important constructive feedback to help individuals succeed!
4.2 Modifies behavior in response to feedback; seeks opportunities to apply feedback.
I like to believe I never have the complete picture because the way a person feels changes throughout the entire duration of treatment. Some symptoms can even flare up later on whereas before there was no problem with it. With this in mind, I continually ask the client how they feel and problem-solve how I can best attend to each individual.
One client who had undergone a bicep tenodesis surgery had many psychosocial problems with which I was able to console her on. Although her body was able, her mind was fixated on the pain and how her body had become reconditioned. As she began to cry, I made sure to support her through this feeling of grief. We had her rest, drink water, and see how she had improved already within a week. A few days later it was as though she had made a break through. What she needed at that point in her recovery was much more than a topical pain-reliever. Overcoming the psychosomatic pain she was experiencing was integral in her recovery.
I like to believe I never have the complete picture because the way a person feels changes throughout the entire duration of treatment. Some symptoms can even flare up later on whereas before there was no problem with it. With this in mind, I continually ask the client how they feel and problem-solve how I can best attend to each individual.
One client who had undergone a bicep tenodesis surgery had many psychosocial problems with which I was able to console her on. Although her body was able, her mind was fixated on the pain and how her body had become reconditioned. As she began to cry, I made sure to support her through this feeling of grief. We had her rest, drink water, and see how she had improved already within a week. A few days later it was as though she had made a break through. What she needed at that point in her recovery was much more than a topical pain-reliever. Overcoming the psychosomatic pain she was experiencing was integral in her recovery.
4.3 Productively uses knowledge of own strengths and weaknesses.
When learning the processes of Huntsville Hospital acute care, time management, patient caseload expectations, appropriate planning, goal setting, and much more, there was a significant amount of items to improve upon in this fast-paced setting. At week 3, my Fieldwork Educator afforded to me constructive feedback for me to hone my skills in this setting as I progressed. In the beginning of the Fieldwork, I did not have the structure I required during evaluations for me to attain all the information needed. This also became problematic for me for when I was learning where, what, and how to word information in patient notes. My Fieldwork Educator thought I would benefit from an evaluation "cheat sheet" that would help me stay organized while also gathering all the appropriate information that was required of me.
With the guidance of my Fieldwork Educator and through reading the OT in Acute Care book at home, I was able to make an evaluation sheet that I used the remaining 9 weeks of my Fieldwork experience. This sheet provided a much needed modification for me as I screened and evaluated clients. The evaluation sheet I created also aided my mental clarity by helping me to focus on the most important aspects for assessing clients in the acute setting.
When learning the processes of Huntsville Hospital acute care, time management, patient caseload expectations, appropriate planning, goal setting, and much more, there was a significant amount of items to improve upon in this fast-paced setting. At week 3, my Fieldwork Educator afforded to me constructive feedback for me to hone my skills in this setting as I progressed. In the beginning of the Fieldwork, I did not have the structure I required during evaluations for me to attain all the information needed. This also became problematic for me for when I was learning where, what, and how to word information in patient notes. My Fieldwork Educator thought I would benefit from an evaluation "cheat sheet" that would help me stay organized while also gathering all the appropriate information that was required of me.
With the guidance of my Fieldwork Educator and through reading the OT in Acute Care book at home, I was able to make an evaluation sheet that I used the remaining 9 weeks of my Fieldwork experience. This sheet provided a much needed modification for me as I screened and evaluated clients. The evaluation sheet I created also aided my mental clarity by helping me to focus on the most important aspects for assessing clients in the acute setting.
4.4 Maintains balance in personal and professional life while prioritizing professional responsibilities and commitments.
Even though Field Work can be daunting, challenging, and exhausting at times for a student, I pride myself in my ability to make time to do things that make me who I am. During both my Fieldworks, I have managed to be in my best friend's wedding, see my family multiple times, play pickle ball, go to the gym 4-5x per week, and much more!
Whenever the week feels tiring, it is my routine and my relationships with others that keep me grounded. As a future healthcare worker, it is important that I continue to do the things which add to my life so I can focus on giving my all during the week to all clients under my care.
Even though Field Work can be daunting, challenging, and exhausting at times for a student, I pride myself in my ability to make time to do things that make me who I am. During both my Fieldworks, I have managed to be in my best friend's wedding, see my family multiple times, play pickle ball, go to the gym 4-5x per week, and much more!
Whenever the week feels tiring, it is my routine and my relationships with others that keep me grounded. As a future healthcare worker, it is important that I continue to do the things which add to my life so I can focus on giving my all during the week to all clients under my care.
4.5 Demonstrates functional level of confidence and self-assurance.
While completing my Fieldwork Level 2B, I was able to increase my proficiency in not only my hard skills as far as therapy goes, but also increase my confidence and self-assurance in my soft skills. Being able to have knowledge or be able to provide a certain therapy is only part of the work when one becomes an occupational therapist. We must also be able to complete actions autonomously and rest assured in the work we give day to day.
At the beginning of the rotation, I struggled with being able to understand and memorize all of the extensive moving parts within the acute setting. Over time with the guidance of my fieldwork educator, I began to become more comfortable and understand not only the conditions which I was treating, but also the procedures of Huntsville Hospital. By week 5, I was starting to understand the documentation and how to address certain things within documentation. by weeks 6-8, I began understanding how to manage the time constraints and how to collaborate with other clinicians. By week 9-12, I was managing the full caseload and began to really cultivate my skills as a future OT. During the last portion of my fieldwork, I became more comfortable with the treatments and evaluations which lead me to start seeing each client's potential as something fun rather than something to be scared of. I began to stray away from the rigid eval I had once relied on which made me feel as though I was truly grasping how to evaluate well and how to grade tasks to the appropriate level for each individual.
As a future OT, being independency in required but so is dependency. Although I know I can function as my own person within settings, I hope to never become so comfortable by myself that I fail to collaborate with others when it is needed.
While completing my Fieldwork Level 2B, I was able to increase my proficiency in not only my hard skills as far as therapy goes, but also increase my confidence and self-assurance in my soft skills. Being able to have knowledge or be able to provide a certain therapy is only part of the work when one becomes an occupational therapist. We must also be able to complete actions autonomously and rest assured in the work we give day to day.
At the beginning of the rotation, I struggled with being able to understand and memorize all of the extensive moving parts within the acute setting. Over time with the guidance of my fieldwork educator, I began to become more comfortable and understand not only the conditions which I was treating, but also the procedures of Huntsville Hospital. By week 5, I was starting to understand the documentation and how to address certain things within documentation. by weeks 6-8, I began understanding how to manage the time constraints and how to collaborate with other clinicians. By week 9-12, I was managing the full caseload and began to really cultivate my skills as a future OT. During the last portion of my fieldwork, I became more comfortable with the treatments and evaluations which lead me to start seeing each client's potential as something fun rather than something to be scared of. I began to stray away from the rigid eval I had once relied on which made me feel as though I was truly grasping how to evaluate well and how to grade tasks to the appropriate level for each individual.
As a future OT, being independency in required but so is dependency. Although I know I can function as my own person within settings, I hope to never become so comfortable by myself that I fail to collaborate with others when it is needed.
4.6 Uses humor to diffuse tension.
Many times over the course of my acute/ICU cardiac rotation, I was given many openings with which to use my therapeutic use of self in order to increase or just plainly maintain client participation in evaluations. More than a few times, some clients would begin to refuse services or would be extremely unmotivated when I would walk in the room. I have found that If I were able to be extremely congenial and mimic their needs, I would be able to at least complete an evaluation with their various client factors addressed.
I am pleased with my performance in this area due to how timid I felt at the beginning of that rotation due to the highly fragile population I was starting to see. Over time I became much more comfortable and able to decipher for myself based on the early stages of clinical reasoning what I could feasibly ask clients to do without pushing them over the edge in a way that would detract from the rapport I was seeking to cultivate.
With that being said, I believe it is so important for clinicians to take a step back and to realize that most times we are meeting people during some off the most complex, trying, and helpless times of their lives and that their reactions do not paint a true picture of who they are. In my own clinical practice I hope to accommodate clients with a level of understanding which will give both parties peace of mind for the work which is to come.
Many times over the course of my acute/ICU cardiac rotation, I was given many openings with which to use my therapeutic use of self in order to increase or just plainly maintain client participation in evaluations. More than a few times, some clients would begin to refuse services or would be extremely unmotivated when I would walk in the room. I have found that If I were able to be extremely congenial and mimic their needs, I would be able to at least complete an evaluation with their various client factors addressed.
I am pleased with my performance in this area due to how timid I felt at the beginning of that rotation due to the highly fragile population I was starting to see. Over time I became much more comfortable and able to decipher for myself based on the early stages of clinical reasoning what I could feasibly ask clients to do without pushing them over the edge in a way that would detract from the rapport I was seeking to cultivate.
With that being said, I believe it is so important for clinicians to take a step back and to realize that most times we are meeting people during some off the most complex, trying, and helpless times of their lives and that their reactions do not paint a true picture of who they are. In my own clinical practice I hope to accommodate clients with a level of understanding which will give both parties peace of mind for the work which is to come.
4.7 Maintains professional behavior, regardless of problem or situation.
During my second rotation, I was met with many difficulties that I had not previously encountered on other fieldwork experiences. I attribute this mainly to the nature of the setting in which it allows for me to see 40 completely different individuals within a timespan of a week. The odds are not within the clinicians favor when it comes to the amount of probable difficult situations which will arise each day.
There is no one story which comes to mind but in all honesty, even when individuals were difficult, it did not ruin my day by any means or cause me to feel impacted negatively. I believe this is due to an understanding I came to with myself prior to starting this rotation. I made it a focal point of my experience to not allow myself to wear my feelings on my sleeves because I knew this would impact the care I would bring. I did not want to bring in baggage from other areas into the rooms, lives, and treatments of other individuals in the hospital. This, would be unfair to them on their journey of recovery and that is something I would never wish to bring upon them.
I made sure to communicate thoroughly, arrive promptly, present myself cleanly, and accommodate the needs of other clinicians within reason. My experience in this setting will serve me well in my future practice as I continue to develop into a licensed clinician.
During my second rotation, I was met with many difficulties that I had not previously encountered on other fieldwork experiences. I attribute this mainly to the nature of the setting in which it allows for me to see 40 completely different individuals within a timespan of a week. The odds are not within the clinicians favor when it comes to the amount of probable difficult situations which will arise each day.
There is no one story which comes to mind but in all honesty, even when individuals were difficult, it did not ruin my day by any means or cause me to feel impacted negatively. I believe this is due to an understanding I came to with myself prior to starting this rotation. I made it a focal point of my experience to not allow myself to wear my feelings on my sleeves because I knew this would impact the care I would bring. I did not want to bring in baggage from other areas into the rooms, lives, and treatments of other individuals in the hospital. This, would be unfair to them on their journey of recovery and that is something I would never wish to bring upon them.
I made sure to communicate thoroughly, arrive promptly, present myself cleanly, and accommodate the needs of other clinicians within reason. My experience in this setting will serve me well in my future practice as I continue to develop into a licensed clinician.
4.8 Takes risks to maximize outcomes.
In the acute/ICU setting, line management impacts the care we give 95% of the time and it is very important that practitioners understand how precautions surrounding certain lines and drains impact the mobility we seek to give individuals. Furthermore, practitioners must remember negative impact that will ensue if mobilization is not made a priority.
At the beginning of my rotation, The lines, drains, precautions, and contraindications were daunting. Furthermore, it was a learning cure when it came to using my undeveloped clinical reasoning as to why some individuals may not be appropriate even when activity orders stay they are. So much goes into the decision making process within a very small amount of time when deciding if someone is appropriate to mobilize to edge of bed (EOB) or to ambulate. The decision making process can change at any given time within an evaluation or treatment based upon the attentive observations of each clinician in making sure the client is safe at all times.
As I continued to increase my skills, clinical reasoning, and knowledge in the acute setting, I began to take more chances to mobilize clients and ambulate them when I determined it was beneficial and safe to do so. I determined all of this by assessing different factors such as cognition, dynamic core stability, functional reach, global strength/range of motion (ROM), pain tolerance, signs/ symptoms of distress and more. Cognition was assessed via attention to items such as command following, sustained attention, lack of impulsivity, sequencing ability (etc.). Dynamic core stability/strength was assessed via ability of the individual to complete transfers to EOB within certain assistance levels as well as ability to maintain appropriate posture when completing certain activities sitting EOB. Strength and ROM were assessed informally at times while observing the client complete mobility or activities of daily living (ADLs) sometimes even prior to me asking if they would like me to attain the items required for grooming or dressing. Pain tolerance was assessed by more than just verbalizations but by also observing heart rate (HR). Signs and symptoms of distress were assessed between each transfer by paying attention to dizziness, heart rate, shortness of breath (SOB), oxygen perfusion, sweating, change in cognition and more.
As I took more chances and became more comfortable with the processes and clinical judgement required for success, I always made sure safety was number one priority during all contact time with each client. This, will serve me well as I grow and develop my judgement in the future since safety is required prior to functional activity. Without clinical judgement that enables practitioners to safely maximize outcomes in a safe way, we cannot truly give the optimal services that is required of us.
In the acute/ICU setting, line management impacts the care we give 95% of the time and it is very important that practitioners understand how precautions surrounding certain lines and drains impact the mobility we seek to give individuals. Furthermore, practitioners must remember negative impact that will ensue if mobilization is not made a priority.
At the beginning of my rotation, The lines, drains, precautions, and contraindications were daunting. Furthermore, it was a learning cure when it came to using my undeveloped clinical reasoning as to why some individuals may not be appropriate even when activity orders stay they are. So much goes into the decision making process within a very small amount of time when deciding if someone is appropriate to mobilize to edge of bed (EOB) or to ambulate. The decision making process can change at any given time within an evaluation or treatment based upon the attentive observations of each clinician in making sure the client is safe at all times.
As I continued to increase my skills, clinical reasoning, and knowledge in the acute setting, I began to take more chances to mobilize clients and ambulate them when I determined it was beneficial and safe to do so. I determined all of this by assessing different factors such as cognition, dynamic core stability, functional reach, global strength/range of motion (ROM), pain tolerance, signs/ symptoms of distress and more. Cognition was assessed via attention to items such as command following, sustained attention, lack of impulsivity, sequencing ability (etc.). Dynamic core stability/strength was assessed via ability of the individual to complete transfers to EOB within certain assistance levels as well as ability to maintain appropriate posture when completing certain activities sitting EOB. Strength and ROM were assessed informally at times while observing the client complete mobility or activities of daily living (ADLs) sometimes even prior to me asking if they would like me to attain the items required for grooming or dressing. Pain tolerance was assessed by more than just verbalizations but by also observing heart rate (HR). Signs and symptoms of distress were assessed between each transfer by paying attention to dizziness, heart rate, shortness of breath (SOB), oxygen perfusion, sweating, change in cognition and more.
As I took more chances and became more comfortable with the processes and clinical judgement required for success, I always made sure safety was number one priority during all contact time with each client. This, will serve me well as I grow and develop my judgement in the future since safety is required prior to functional activity. Without clinical judgement that enables practitioners to safely maximize outcomes in a safe way, we cannot truly give the optimal services that is required of us.
4.9 Uses knowledge and information in an innovative way.
To maximize client outcomes, I created an item that can be used in the clinic. Although simple and cost-efficient, the device will improve client shoulder health via dynamic stabilization of the rotator cuff muscles deep in the shoulder. Before power output in the muscles can be used efficiently, stabilization between muscles at a joint must be present. This device will aid clients in improving shoulder strength and endurance to enhance occupational outcomes in work-related activities by creating dynamic stabilization of shoulder muscles. The hook is placed through on end of the bungee cord, then, a hand weight can be placed in the other end. The bungee cord serves to make the weight constantly unstable which in turn, maximizes the dynamic relationship between the rotor cuff muscles and scapulo-humeral rhythm.
4.10 Empowers clients and team members.
During my time at Ortho South Occupational Rehab, I empowered a client by consulting her on her work-related injury. This client had recently shown increased volition after working through work-related trauma due to a surgery relocating the long head of the bicep more distal. This had made her arm not feel like it was her own and scared her due to the difference in pull.
In the last session, I worked with her on boxes and was able to educate on using explosive movement to make functional activity easier for her. Due to her caution in using her left extremity, she was exerting more force than was needed by not pushing past a certain point in her lifting. Due to this hesitation, she was tiring herself out and was bordering not meeting her goals of 50 lbs for box lifting. After explaining how pushing past a certain point would make the lift easier, she was able to complete her box lifts more efficiently and confidently.
In the last session, I worked with her on boxes and was able to educate on using explosive movement to make functional activity easier for her. Due to her caution in using her left extremity, she was exerting more force than was needed by not pushing past a certain point in her lifting. Due to this hesitation, she was tiring herself out and was bordering not meeting her goals of 50 lbs for box lifting. After explaining how pushing past a certain point would make the lift easier, she was able to complete her box lifts more efficiently and confidently.
4.11 Actively participates in leadership or supportive roles in local, state, and/or national associations.
I was able to help program an event for the Kennedy Park Center (KPC) where I advocated as well as educated on dementia and the work that KPC provides at its day care center for clients and caregivers enduring this cognitive disability together. The entire process from idea formation to execution took 4 months of collaboration between me, my classmate, and the coordinators at the Kennedy Park Center. At the Bartlett farmer's market, I and another advocate for the center were able to sell $285 of material to consumers in order to fundraise for the facility.
The Kennedy Park Center is very close to my heart and was one of my favorite experiences during my time in OT school. I am thankful that I was able to complete my psychosocial level 1 rotation at this facility. During my time at KPC, I learned more than I expected to while also learning to be creative in the treatments I wanted to give. A high level of understanding was nurtured in me when seeing the ways in which dementia impacted the lives of the "friends" at KPC. Within the first week my rotation, the "friends" attending the center had made such an impact on me that I emailed one of my teachers whose father had been diagnosed with the same neurological disease, with a request for her help and guidance on how to create a fundraiser in conjunction with KPC.
The Kennedy Park Center is very close to my heart and was one of my favorite experiences during my time in OT school. I am thankful that I was able to complete my psychosocial level 1 rotation at this facility. During my time at KPC, I learned more than I expected to while also learning to be creative in the treatments I wanted to give. A high level of understanding was nurtured in me when seeing the ways in which dementia impacted the lives of the "friends" at KPC. Within the first week my rotation, the "friends" attending the center had made such an impact on me that I emailed one of my teachers whose father had been diagnosed with the same neurological disease, with a request for her help and guidance on how to create a fundraiser in conjunction with KPC.
4.12 Maintains values over self-promotion or profit.
In an extreme fast paced setting such the acute setting, it is way for practitioners to not follow through with requests made by clients or not take the time to engage clients the way they need to in order to meet productivity standards set by the facility. While completing this rotation, I made it a priority of mine to acquire all the materials that were asked of me when a client requested it. If I was not able to, I made sure to find the client's nurse in order to communicate the need of the individual.
One time in particular, there was a client who was very verbose and was moderately cognitively confused. He followed directions well enough to complete therapeutic exercise while in bed but was not appropriate to mobilize to the edge of the bed by any means. His treatment session took 3 units of time which for an evaluating therapist is a no small thing when there are evaluations with extensive chart reviews to be completed. Even though he was difficult to work with and required maximal attention cueing to task, he communicated to me some distress related to a car payment he needed to make but could not due to his circumstances in the hospital. He also verbalized a desire for pen and paper so he could write thoughts down while he was on bedrest orders.
As soon as I was done, I communicated to nursing how the treatment session had gone as well as the client's desires. Attention to client factors goes beyond that of only body functions and body structures in the acute setting. Occupational Therapy has roots in the realm of mental health and it would be a disservice to our profession if we did not address the concerns of clients when presented to us.
In an extreme fast paced setting such the acute setting, it is way for practitioners to not follow through with requests made by clients or not take the time to engage clients the way they need to in order to meet productivity standards set by the facility. While completing this rotation, I made it a priority of mine to acquire all the materials that were asked of me when a client requested it. If I was not able to, I made sure to find the client's nurse in order to communicate the need of the individual.
One time in particular, there was a client who was very verbose and was moderately cognitively confused. He followed directions well enough to complete therapeutic exercise while in bed but was not appropriate to mobilize to the edge of the bed by any means. His treatment session took 3 units of time which for an evaluating therapist is a no small thing when there are evaluations with extensive chart reviews to be completed. Even though he was difficult to work with and required maximal attention cueing to task, he communicated to me some distress related to a car payment he needed to make but could not due to his circumstances in the hospital. He also verbalized a desire for pen and paper so he could write thoughts down while he was on bedrest orders.
As soon as I was done, I communicated to nursing how the treatment session had gone as well as the client's desires. Attention to client factors goes beyond that of only body functions and body structures in the acute setting. Occupational Therapy has roots in the realm of mental health and it would be a disservice to our profession if we did not address the concerns of clients when presented to us.