Level II Fieldwrk

Transcription

1 The Level II Fieldwrk Survival Guide The Assembly f Student Delegates (ASD) Steering Cmmittee has cmpiled this Level II Fieldwrk Survival Guide fr ccupatinal therapy and ccupatinal therapy assistant students. The purpse is t give students a packet f infrmatin cllected frm students acrss the cuntry that will be helpful when beginning their Level II fieldwrk. A cmpilatin f the data cllected can be fund n the fllwing tpics: Out-f-State r New Sites Finding New Sites Finding Husing Preparatin fr Fieldwrk Get By With $$Lw Funds$$ What T Take With Yu What Will Prepare Yu Mst? Prfessinal Behavir Advice Frm Thse Wh Have Been There Time and Stress Management Tips fr a Successful Experience Cde f Ethics fr Fieldwrk Students Cmmn Fears Abut the Level II Experience Things I Wish I Had Knwn Befre My Fieldwrk Experience Netwrking Qutes frm Students: Things I Wish I Had Knwn Befre My Fieldwrk Experience Out-f-State r New Sites Finding New Sites Lk in the Occupatinal Therapy publicatins, such as The American Jurnal f Occupatinal Therapy, OT Practice, r the SIS Quarterly newsletters. Lk in phne bks r newspapers frm the area t which yu are interested in ging. Cntact the state assciatin's presidents. Links t state assciatin Web sites are n the hme page f the AOTA Web site ( Explre the Internet. The American Occupatinal Therapy Assciatin, Inc f 9

2 The Level II Fieldwrk Survival Guide Jin a listserv f yur prspective discipline t learn mre abut new sites and t establish cntacts. Ask Level I fieldwrk supervisrs fr ideas. Check with ther students wh have already been n fieldwrk. Find ut which sites they recmmend. Finding Husing Cntact clleges in the area f the site because they may ffer student husing in the drms r have inexpensive husing ptins psted. Cntact the fieldwrk facility because they knw the area well and may be able t ffer advice n hw and where t find a place t stay. Check lcal papers fr apartment listings, rmmates needed, r huses t share. Be prepared t pay fr husing because mst facilities d nt ffer free rm and bard. Ask arund especially yur classmates. In the city yu want t g t, perhaps smene has an lder relative with a spare rm. Yu culd exchange rm and bard fr cmpleting husehld chres. Make sure yu cmplete yur living arrangements well befre starting fieldwrk yu d nt want t be withut a place t live! Cntact yur schl s lcal alumni assciatin chapter. Rm with a classmate t decrease living csts. Cntact an rganizatin that yu are active in (religius, civic, etc.) t see if they have cntacts in that gegraphical area. Preparatin fr Fieldwrk Get by with $$Lw Funds$$ Save enugh mney frm student lans t cver rm and bard r take ut a lan if necessary. Apply fr schlarships ask yur department if they are aware f any, as well as check the Schlarship prtin f the AOTA Web site. Live n a budget! Get a part-time jb n the weekends. Get a rmmate t share expenses. Offer t help with the upkeep f the place where yu are staying in exchange fr reduced rent. The American Occupatinal Therapy Assciatin, Inc f 9

3 The Level II Fieldwrk Survival Guide What t Take With Yu Scial Security card and picture identificatin Health frms, including immunizatins, persnal health insurance, and liability insurance Wrd prcessr r cmputer Occupatinal therapy textbks Medical dictinary and reference t medical terminlgy Other apprpriate references fr the setting (i.e., DSM-IV) Ask yur particular site what they recmmend. Jin the lcal library fr assignment resurces. Evaluatins r ther paperwrk, ideas, etc., frm ther fieldwrk sites Make sure yu will have Internet access. What Will Prepare Yu Mst? Vlunteer r wrk in as many ccupatinal therapy related fields as pssible befre beginning fieldwrk. This will ease the transitin t wrking with peple wh have disabilities. Review textbks and specific material related t the site. Stuff t Brush Up On Gals and nte writing (e.g., narrative and SOAP) Theries Manual muscle testing Range f mtin assessment Dynammeter Gnimetry Transfer techniques Medical terminlgy Activity analysis Grup activities (e.g., arts, crafts, life skills) fr mental health fieldwrk Grup dynamics Clinical reasning Infrmatin abut diagnses relevant t yur setting Cde f Ethics And remember t take all f the handuts yu have n ideas fr grups, activities, games, and cmmunity resurces! Cntact yur clinical instructr r fieldwrk site befre beginning yur experience. Ask them hw yu shuld prepare (e.g. diagnses, interventins, transfers, ntes, etc.). The American Occupatinal Therapy Assciatin, Inc f 9

4 The Level II Fieldwrk Survival Guide Prfessinal Behavir Advice Frm Thse Wh Have Been There Dn t expect t knw everything. This is a learning experience ask questins! Dn t be afraid t ask them. Study up n things yu dn t knw r remember. Use the therapist and resurces available t yu fr ptimal learning. Take the initiative fr yur wn learning. D nt be afraid t questin lgic r the train f thught f yur supervisr just be tactful. A lack f supervisin may sund gd, but it usually leads t a pr learning experience. Remember that yu are a guest in this facility. Yur supervisr has given up their time t take yu as a student. Be appreciative f their effrt. Keep in mind that everyne will have different fieldwrk experience. Yur classmates may learn skills that are cmpletely different frm thse that yu have learned. Each experience is unique. Time & Stress Management Make a schedule with priritized tasks. D nt be afraid t ask fr help. Allw time fr dcumentatin thrughut the day and be prepared t take wrk hme with yu. Allw time fr research and study. Practice gd stress management. Budget me time. Schedule dwn time every day. Spend time with friends. Knw yur limits. Get away fr lunch t eat r take a walk. Eat healthy Exercise Get up a few minutes early. Allw adequate travel time. The American Occupatinal Therapy Assciatin, Inc f 9

5 The Level II Fieldwrk Survival Guide Tips fr a Successful Experience Ask lts f questins, get t knw yur supervisr well, and establish a gd relatinship with him r her. Have an pen mind. Remember that yu can learn frm a less-than-ptimal situatin. Cntact yur academic fieldwrk crdinatr fr ideas and suggestins. Be prepared t use the Occupatinal Therapy Practice Framewrk: Dmain and Prcess. Have a file f sample grups r individual activities n hand. Wrk with ther disciplines t gain their perspectives and further yur wn learning. Shw appreciatin t the nursing staff; they are a great surce f help. Talk with yur supervisr. D nt tell yur supervisr that yu did nt want t cme t this site r that yu are nt ging t practice in this area. Be ver-prepared have lts f ideas if smething desn t wrk ut. If away frm hme, take advantage f what the area has t ffer. Be flexible with changing patients, times, prblems, etc. If a facility has files f ideas, make cpies and create references t take with yu. Knw the expectatins f yur facility/supervisr. Cmmunicate with thse arund yu. Be an active learner. Ultimately yu, nt yur supervisr, are respnsible fr yur fieldwrk experience. Study and knw specific theries used at the facility and knw the treatment techniques guided by that thery. Be pen and receptive t learning new things. Sample Fieldwrk "Cde f Ethics" fr Students Respect and adhere t the philsphy, plicies, and prcedures f the fieldwrk center. Respect the pinins and decisins f the supervisr. Disagreements with stated plicies, prcedures, r directins shuld be discussed with the student s immediate supervisr. Respect, prtect, and cnserve the resurces available t the student fr learning and therapeutic purpses; prevent misuse, abuse, r destructin f materials, equipment, and resurces. Maintain the clinic envirnment in a safe, rganized manner and cntribute t the maintenance f adequate supplies and equipment. The American Occupatinal Therapy Assciatin, Inc f 9

6 The Level II Fieldwrk Survival Guide Respect the rights and assure the integrity f clients/patients, which includes assuring cnfidentiality f treatment infrmatin regardless f the surce as well as maintaining a gal-directed relatinship. Cmplete all dcumentatin related t the fieldwrk experience in a timely manner and in accrdance with fieldwrk facility guidelines. Adhere t the cntractual agreement fr fieldwrk educatin between their fieldwrk center and academic prgram. Retain prf f current malpractice, prfessinal liability, and health insurance. Respect, cperate, and cllabrate with ther members f the health team. Serve as an advcate fr clients, their families, the fieldwrk center, and ccupatinal therapy. Cntact the fieldwrk crdinatr when reslutin f fieldwrk prblems with the supervisr is nt successful r when cncerns abut cntinuance f the fieldwrk arise. Abide by the unifrm requirements f the fieldwrk facility and assure a prfessinal appearance that des nt hinder the treatment envirnment. Cmmit t cntinual learning thrughut the fieldwrk prgram by using unscheduled time t bserve therapies, engage in educatinal interactin with ther team members, review resurce materials, r engage in ther prfessinally relevant educatinal pprtunities. Be accuntable fr yur actins at all times during the fieldwrk experience by recgnizing that the facility is first and fremst a treatment envirnment and secndly an educatinal envirnment. Treatment has pririty ver educatin, and it is the student s respnsibility t assure this prcess while als maintaining his/her educatinal needs. Self-direct their learning as much as pssible, carefully assess the need fr supervisin during difficult situatins, and seek apprpriate supervisin befre prceeding. Seek infrmatin regarding principles, standards, and plicies f the fieldwrk setting, fieldwrk educatin, and the prfessin. Supprt quality assurance and research related t the fieldwrk setting practices. D nt act imprperly r engage in illegal cnduct while n the fieldwrk r act in a way that wuld cause yur integrity as a prfessinal t be questined. Reference: Crist, P. A., & Slach (1986). Fieldwrk philsphy. Cntemprary Issues in Clinical Educatin, 7, Cmmn Fears Abut Level II's Dn t be afraid t express yur thughts and ideas. It might seem verwhelming at first, but yu will feel cmfrtable and very cmpetent by the end. The American Occupatinal Therapy Assciatin, Inc f 9

7 The Level II Fieldwrk Survival Guide Be enthusiastic give ideas everyne appreciates a new r different perspective. Relax and remain cnfident. Grups and treatment sessins will fail it s kay, learn frm it. Dn t be afraid t be wrng, try yur ideas. Keep a psitive attitude, and speak up if there is a prblem. Yu wn t remember everything, that s what bks are fr. Use them! Expect the wrst and hpe fr the best. Dn t be afraid t cntribute in team meetings. Twelve (eight) weeks g by quickly, gd experience r bad. G in with an pen mind, yu may see sme pretty different thing. Yur supervisr is there t help and teach, s use his r her resurces. Yu will nt be a perfect OT/OTA, nt nw, nt even when yu have 10 years experience. Dn t be afraid t try new things. Dn t be afraid t ask questins. Dn t be afraid f yur patients treat them with respect. Learn frm yur patients, they have much t teach as well. Keep a variety f resurces, including yur textbks, handy fr reference. Use libraries and reference materials available at the site. Clearly cmmunicate yur learning style with yur supervisr in rder t prevent yurself frm becming cnfused r verwhelmed during yur fieldwrk experience. Relax and bserve ther prfessinals. Be prepared t spend time n dcumentatin techniques and language. Learn t set limits with patients. Ask fr feedback if yu feel yu need it. Keep a jurnal r patient lg, writing dwn specific diagnses and hw yu treated each patient (i.e., treatment plan, activities, what was gd, what was bad, what yu wuld have dne differently, etc). Remember nt t identify yur patients by name r any ther persnal characteristics. Netwrking Cntact the president r student crdinatr f yur state assciatin. Jin the Student Plus fieldwrk listerv at and pst yur wn questins r mnitr the questins f thers n the student sectins. This is a great netwrking surce that allws yu t cmmunicate with ther students. Cmmunicate with yur ASD Representative, ASD Steering Cmmittee Officers, and/r AOTA Student liaisn. They may have advice r resurces yu can use. Get t knw, cmmunicate, and cllabrate with ther OT/OTA students at yur site when pssible. The American Occupatinal Therapy Assciatin, Inc f 9

8 The Level II Fieldwrk Survival Guide "INITIATE, INITIATE, INITIATE!!!" Things I Wish I Had Knwn Befre My Fieldwrk Experience I wish I had knwn hw imprtant it wuld be, r hw imprtant many fieldwrk supervisrs feel it wuld be, t have at least ne 3-mnth experience in a rehab setting. This came frm therapists wrking in the schls, by the way! Rehab was dwnplayed in ur prgram and I really wish I had knwn what a great basis fr practice it wuld give me...wrking anywhere!" I wuld have liked t knw all f the cmpnents f an evaluatin fr a child in schl. That is, clinical element, visual mtr, visual perceptin, etc. We really just lked at individual tests but a cmplete eval will have mre elements than just a single test. The ne thing I wish I knew befre starting fieldwrk is where mst OTs start their careers. Specifically, d they start ut in a general rehab setting in a hspital r in an upper-extremity clinic? I wuld ve als liked t have been well versed in the general ethical standards expected f us as fieldwrk students. Many ethics are cmmn sense, but sme situatins can be very challenging and I wuld ve liked t have been prepared with sme tips n hw t handle difficult situatins in the clinic. Fr Level II fieldwrk I d really like t have a better understanding f clinical reasning and what type f reasning I tend t use, what des my therapist tend t use, and hw effective is ur reasning? Hw can ne mnitr his/her clinical reasning and its affect n the therapy prcess? Prper transfer prtcls fr different clients wuld have been helpful. Interventin strategies fr specific diagnses wuld have been helpful, t. T knw that there were several therapists and assistants that yu wuld be shadwing and that they wuld all be evaluating yu at the end f the semester. Befre starting my Level II, it wuld have been beneficial t have been expsed t varius ther settings where OTs are emplyed s that students can have a better idea abut where they may enjy wrking r cmpleting their fieldwrk. What rle t play during fieldwrk experiences (i.e., bserver, participant, etc.)? I wish I wuld have knwn that my site was s bimechanical riented and that my theretical apprach wuld nt be appreciated much...anther thught, I als wish I had becme mre cmpetent with range f mtin evals. I wuld have liked t f knwn what cmprises a typical initial evaluatin, and t have practiced ging thrugh ne. The American Occupatinal Therapy Assciatin, Inc f 9

9 The Level II Fieldwrk Survival Guide I wish I had knwn that everyne in this prgram is ging t have a cmpletely different experience and learn a range f skills frm fieldwrk. I understand nw that there is n way t standardize the experience f fieldwrk, but I wuld have appreciated knwing that sner. I wuld like t knw, in sme detail, what the setting I will be wrking in will be like (i.e. pace, envirnment, staff, philsphy, rutine, etc.). At this pint I feel cmfrtable with starting fieldwrk. I think this is because I knw I will have adequate supervisin. I wish I knew hw t write prgress ntes prir t beginning fieldwrk (althugh after 10 weeks f fieldwrk I have a much better understanding f what prgress ntes entail). Fr fieldwrk I, I dn t think I needed anything additinal, as this has really just been bservatin up t this pint. I may feel differently after the week-lng uting. I wuld have liked t knw mre interventins that might be useful in the different settings. I felt like I was ging int the experience smewhat blind and unprepared. References: Alzni, D., Link, S., & Trne, J. submitted as part f curse requirement fr OT 410: Administratin, Management, and Supervisin at Elizabethtwn Cllege, Elizabethtwn, PA The American Occupatinal Therapy Assciatin, Inc f 9