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
