Third Week of Clinic
10/26/07
P: The first patient I has today was a patient who had MS. I worked on strengthening exercises for the lower extremities and stretching for the lower extremities. I did a Thomas stretch, lunges, side stepping with mini squats, terminal knee extension, straight leg raises, hamstring strengthening, and dorsi flexion strengthening.
My second patient I worked on sitting balance and passive range of motion. I had the patient sitting on the edge of the mat and worked on getting the pelvis to neutral. I also had to do a total assist transfer.
O: I observed and gave feedback to the first years doing range of motion on my second patient who has high tone.
L: Today I learned how to use a mobility belt to use on my patient will having them sit at the edge of the mat. I also learned how to use approximation to help my patient with a neurological injury while sitting in a posture. I was also reminded of other ways to stretch the hip flexors then having the patient lay prone.
K: I already knew how to do the exercises with the patient, the total assist transfer, and range of motion. I had to be reminded on how to perform the Thomas stretch, and an instructor helped me on how to work on sitting balance with my second patient. She also instructed me on how to use the mobility belt and what to expect with the patient.
A: I felt really comfortable with both treatments today. I am also really grateful to have such a wonderful 1st year student who is so willing to help me out during my treatment when I ask him to. I really need to work on my documentation. I feel really rusty in this area. I also need to work on my body mechanics while giving a treatment because they are terrible.
Working with Patients
9/19/07
Today I worked on one patient. The skills I practiced today were ROM, stretching, total assist transfer, draw sheet transfer, positioning, and the tilt table. I have not done all summer, so I felt a little rusty. I felt more comfortable having an instructor watch to make sure I was performing the transfer and tilt table safely.
I didn’t have a patient for the first hour, so I observed another PTA student’s treatment for review. During her treatment I watched goni, strengthening exercises, and massage, and the patient walking on the treadmill which I used to observe his gait. I also helped the PT student do MMT on a patient while I helped stabilize the patient.
In clinic today, I learned that I am capable of doing the past learned skill, but need to gain more confidence. I also learned that it is important to review past learned skills , so I can feel comfortable doing them. I also need to delegate more and not do everything myself.
I pretty much knew all the all the skills I performed today. I just needed to refresh my memory. I felt comfortable doing ROM on someone who has high tone because I have worked on similar patients. Watching the other second year student I felt comfortable with how to perform the goni measurements and even helped to her with how to do some of the measurements.
I was a little nervous working in the clinic today because I haven’t worked with patients all summer. I was also nervous having someone follow me and watching me teach. I feel I need to review past learned skill, so I gain more confidence especially transfers and using the tilt table. I also need to practice my documentation, because I was a little rusty. I just need to get back into the routine of clinic.
The First Day of a New Year
9/12/07
Today was my first day of clinic as a second year student. It is exciting because now I feel I better understand the treatments since now we have learned the information in class. Even though it’s only the first day of clinic, I feel I already have better communication with the PT students. I think I worked more with the PT student today than I have in both previous semesters. It seems easier to talk to them also, but that could be because I have more confidence in treating patients. I found it interesting to see two very different types of PT evales during clinic. I think it was good to see that the PT students do not have all the answers right now either, so I can be hve more patience. Working with them today also allowed me to feel like we are a team and opened up the communication between us. I really appretiated that they let us watch and be apart of their evaluations. My goals for this semester is to review all my past learned skills to become better at using them, concentrate on my patient interaction and communication, and really using all the new information we learn in class each week in clinic right away. I am really looking forward to working with both the 1st year students and new patients in the clinic this semester.
