Sunday, May 12, 2013

Insight into Level II Fieldwork


            While attending the AOTA Conference, I realized that the best part of the weekend (amidst very educational presentations and great lectures) was reuniting with classmates and discussing our Level II Fieldworks. Transplanted into new and distant environments, this was the first time I had seen them in over 4 months! I realized how self-centered I had become, thinking my experiences were the best, worst, most unique, craziest, scariest, and so on. We were used to learning together—if something happened in class we were there together to laugh about it. And if something happened on our Level I Fieldworks, it did not take long for word to spread and support to come pouring forth. For me, the hardest thing about fieldwork is learning without my classmates. But sharing our stories at the AOTA Conference made me realize – when we share our best, worst, most unique, craziest, and scariest, it’s amazing how much our stories have in common.

            So when asked to contribute to the SLU OT blog I decided to take advantage of an opportunity to reach out to classmates and future OT fieldwork students. When Level II Fieldwork feels overwhelming, just remember that we have all been there…
My BEST: Not many people take well to being woken up and (strongly) encouraged to exert significant effort. Unfortunately for my patients in the inpatient rehab center, this was a common occurrence.  Loud knock, lights on, curtains drawn, an eager “good morning” and the work begins! Hands down, my favorite part of being a therapist is when the startled patient smiles when he/she sees your face. If you can harshly interrupt someone’s slumber and he/she wakes with a smile, you are definitely doing something right…
My WORST: So far I have only walked out of a patient’s room in tears once. My patient was having a bad day and before our treatment session even started he sure let me have it. There was nothing I could have done differently, my patient was having a bad day and I was an easy target. As therapists we meet people in vulnerable places and sometimes they just need someone to help them bear the load. Although it is hard not to, you should not take it personally.
My MOST UNIQUE: We make treatment unique by turning hard work into meaningful activities. I had a patient who was extremely weak and did not tolerate strengthening activities well. She used to be an interpreter for individuals with hearing loss. One day I put 1/2 -pound wrist weights on and asked her to teach me sign language. Sure enough she had her arms moving in all sorts of directions for over 20 minutes!!
My CRAZIEST: Each and every individual I have seen with Conversion Disorder.
My SCARIEST: As a student therapist, I error on the side of caution and that serves me well. There has always been at least one experienced therapist in the room for difficult transfers and patients with complex medical conditions. I have heard horror stories though from my clinical instructors and their colleagues. Their advice: “Trust your inner voice and always ask for help.”

            Level II Fieldworks are exhilarating, exhausting, educational, challenging, and extremely rewarding. I felt nervous and unprepared 16 weeks ago, but I have 8 weeks left and I am well on my way to becoming an entry-level therapist. I know I have the SLU OT Department to thank because when I do well, people commend my education rather than my personality or abilities. Just a few weeks ago a therapist in Omaha, NE told me… “I do not know what it is about SLU students, but they come better prepared to interact with patients than any other school. If I could always have SLU students I would.” Happy Fieldworking!! 

written by Morgan Seier, MOT II Student

Monday, May 6, 2013


Master’s Research Insight: Exercise and Dementia

Dr. Perkinson has been working with three students within the MOT class to unveil the effects exercise has on persons with dementia living in assisted living facilities when performed with their family or primary caregivers.  This is a topic that further interested Dr. Perkinson after she conducted a community based exercise project several years ago.  There is a good amount of evidence that discusses the benefits of exercise on overall physical and psychological health. The goal is to investigate what activities interest the participant through an extensive interview. Then from that interview we create a meaningful and individualized exercise program for the participant and their family member that will last for 3 months. We investigate how the social aspect of working with a family member and having an individualized exercise program affects the retention of exercise among this population, as well as analyze the psychological, emotional, and physical effects of the exercise program on both the participant and their family member.
The students get the privilege of carrying out a hands-on experience through this research project. After extensive training, students are able to give interviews with family members, health assessments to both the participant and family member, create individualized exercise programs, follow up through phone checkups, and compile data in a computer system. Though the project has been slow to get going due to changes in proposals and location of research sites, the research will be continued throughout the summer of 2013 in hopes there are significant results to present at future conferences.