Snowy days!

Placement - weeks 2 and 3!

Well i've certainly been experiencing and learning about the many aspects and diversity of being an OT in the community as well as the many challenges including very snowy, icy weather conditions! This meant we had to plan client visits well in advance and consider parking facilities regarding the road conditions! A lot of appointments had to be cancelled due to the weather being so severe so unfortunately I have not made it out with the physio's yet, but i'm hoping to this week.

Thinking like an OT

I feel positive this week as i'm beginning to really feel like i'm getting into the mindset of an OT and thinking about every aspect of a person and their engagement in occupation and being able to really relate the theory we've learned regarding this in our life sciences class! Theory really does make more sense in practice! An achievement for me last week was that I completed my first ever initial assessment with a patient (One of many yet to come I hope!) It felt really natural doing it too, just like a natural conversation. I feel it is really important to see a client within their home environment as it feels a lot more informal and you get a true reflection of that person and gain a better understanding of how they function within their home. Then it is easier to highlight problematic areas and as an OT we can implement compensatory strategies and equipment to enable their functioning as independently as possible, specific to their individual needs.

During the past couple of weeks I have been out with my educator on visits, as well as the OTA and the TAP. The therapy assistants are great and have an extensive range of experience! Yesterday I went on a speech and language therapy visit to a client with Parkinson's and it was really interesting to see the different strategies used in this area and how Parkinson's can ultimately affect speech and the impact this can have in engaging in occupations. For the client the most important activity to work on was speaking on the telephone, this was due to the fact she had been a receptionist all of her life and she was understandably, really feeling the frustrations of not being able to function with this task as she used to. Breathing techniques and strategies were put in place for her to practice and since this, she has made a successful phone call to book a hospital appointment and she is feeling a lot more positive. I have seen a lot of the positive side of OT over the last couple of weeks and saw the positive effects of how something as simple as being hoisted out of bed and sat into a chair after being bed bound for some weeks can have on a person's well-being and the well-being of their family - that particular visit had me very emotional, it was so powerful!

I have also been back on a follow up visit to the client i'm supporting with some visual structure strategies. I was able to do a kitchen assessment with the client under the watchful eye of my educator in the background! It was brilliant and I felt really natural doing it. Doing this assessment has highlighted the areas the client needs some support with and I will be working on some strategies that suit their specific needs. I'm really excited about this.

Halfway there!

I'm now halfway through my placement and had my halfway report and meeting with my educator and tutor yesterday and I'm pleased to say that it went really well! It's very apparent that my previous work experience has put me in very good stead for OT and being in a practice environment. During my remaining time here I want to try and get out with physio, complete my case study and visual structure strategies, and link my theory to practice through the use of my case study.

I'm still finding my room in student halls freezing cold! Thank goodness my mum bought me these socks. 

And thank goodness for hot water bottles! I don't know where i'd be without mine.