PT Clinic Reflection Journal

11/14/07

P: Today I worked with two patients, one I have worked with once previously and the other was my first pediatric patient ever. With my first patient I worked on stretching, balance exercises, and massage. I performed a hip flexion, hamstring contract relax, and pec stretch. For balance exercises we worked in the parallel bars on single leg stance and tandem standing. We only got through these balance exercises because the patient became fatigued. I also gave a 10 minute massage to the upper trapes.

For my second patient another second year and I worked together. We worked on sit to stands, getting the patient on all fours with approximation, taking steps with approximation, sitting balance, and reaching for toys. We basically focused on getting the patient into different functional positions and approximating to get the patient to be comfortable in these positions.

O: With my second patient I did a lot of observation with the other second year taking the lead. I watched her do a lot of the treatment and helped out when I was needed. I also watched the first year student do stretches on my first patient. I had her watch while I stretched one side and then talked her through how to stretch the other side.

L: Today I learned a lot about working with pediatric patients. We have learned a lot about working with pediatrics with brain damage this year in class, but I got the chance today to actually use these skills. The other second year has worked with this patient before and really helped me out a lot. She came up with the majority of the treatment and I learned a lot from watching her.

K: I already knew how to do the balance exercises and stretches I did with my first patient. I have not only worked with this patient before, but have done these exercises with other patients in the clinic. I was comfortable with this treatment plan.

A: I was really nervous about working with the pediatric patient. Luckily, someone who has worked with this patient before was able to help me out. The second year I work on with the pediatric patient was phenomenal. She taught me so much. Now I feel comfortable working with this patient and am looking forward to coming up with my own treatment plan next week.

I am also finally becoming more comfortable giving massage. During today’s treatment was the first time that I felt like I was actually accomplishing something with massage. I think my problem was I focusing on what I couldn’t see instead of what I felt. I still want to work on massage, but I am becoming more comfortable with it.

I also wrote a soap note for the first time in awhile. I though I would be really rusty since I haven’t written one in awhile, but has actually really helped me reading over the first years note. Since the beginning of the semester I think I have really improved in my documentation by decreasing the amount of time it takes me to write the notes and I was able to write a lot of my note during the treatment. Over all, today was a great day in the clinic.