Week 2 // Day 6

After an extra busy weekend, I was semi-beat this morning during my preparation and arrival to work. Only a few minutes there and I was pepped up and ready to make energetic conversation with the residents. I have come to find they have that effect on me.

This morning, I got to shadow Rebecca for a bit. I talked to her and Gayle, the PTA, about their favorite settings they've had a chance to work in. Both said small outpatient settings and inpatient (brain, spinal cord, and head injuries). But both also discussed how their are so many areas to get involved in. Burns, worker's compensation, aquatics, sports medicine, and the school system are just a few. Another thing that I learned was that PRN means as needed. Prior to today, I thought it was something that required additional certification.

Watching Gayle and Rebecca work with the residents, I have realized that they are more than just a therapist to many they work with. They converse with them and find out how their lives are going. Today, a lady was really struggling with her exercises. Rebecca asked her questions until she figured out what was wrong and the lady ended up missing her second appointment because she finally let Rebecca know that she wasn't really up to doing anything else.

One thing that's great about OT is that creativity comes into play when there are limited resources and a wide range of needs being addressed. Also, I found out that Rebecca normally sees patients because of falls or breaks. They work to increase balance for fall patients and increase the strength while maintaining the flexibility of the patients with wrist and shoulder injuries. Those are my assumptions based on what I have witnessed thus far along with some things that Rebecca has said to me.

I really enjoy that the clinic seems friendly and laid back. Yes patients are encouraged to work hard but therapy is a positive thing in most cases because it is a time for people to work towards improving themselves and their lives. Most are happy about getting to do that.

Aside from the experience at the clinic today, I spent some time with two patients that have pretty severe dementia. I plan to give hand massages to severe dementia residents tomorrow if the nursing director approves it because I have read online in several places that it's relaxing to the residents and provides them with some sensory stimulation which can be beneficial. Either way, I think it would be an enjoyable experience for them and something that I can do one-on-one as a nice beginning to my dementia activity series.

I'm excited to get started in both the dementia series and my career as an OT!

Until next time,

Megan