16 Dec 2008

Days with my father

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous, website, of a man's journey with his elderly father…mostly pictures, a little text….stunning

http://www.dayswithmyfather.com/

Category: Occupational Therapy | Comments: 2

14 Dec 2008

Hedgehog – owner sounds like me

Aww! I’m not the only one who sounds utterly psycho when talking to my pet!!!!!!!!!! This is so cute I could just fall over!!!

Category: Occupational Therapy | Comments: none

14 Dec 2008

12 Dec 2008

I should sooo work in psych.

My psych professors are rolling in their graves…not that they're dead, but yo, it's an expression

In a session with a woman who is herself emotionally volatile and bizarre and has apparently raised her children to be likewise:

Me: ::moving shoulders of woman while in bed, my face bent over hers::
Female Patient: You're a very pretty woman
Me: Thank you! That's very sweet of you to say.
Adult daughter standing by bedside: I'm sorry. Those pain medications make her say inappropriate things.
Me: I think it's only inappropriate if she says I'm ugly! 🙂

=====

In a session with a woman on disability for mental illness, who has had a stroke:

Me: ::moves around room gathering supplies to do some bathing, talking out loud to self about towels etc::

Me: Gosh, I'm talking to myself here!

Her: That's okay, I do that sometimes too. Is that bad?

Me: I guess it depends on what you say.

Category: Occupational Therapy | Comments: none

11 Dec 2008

Using the OTPF for an evaluation

Any therapists out there have a good idea/example of this (see below)? This is a question asked to my blog by an OT named Kathryn, and I just haven't gotten around to handling it because it would take me a while! I know the OT PRactice magazine often has OTPF documentation questions and I might research that later. But thought I'd throw the request out there for now.
I'll post any responses I get. THANKS!
Karen

Thank for the simple outline! I'm a seasoned O.T. (7 years), trying to understand and use the OTPF. Would you post an example of what you would write in an OTPF evaluation of an adult patient on one of your Level II fieldworks to demonstrate how we seasoned therapist can change our documentation to reflect all of the wonderful information attained from the patient using OTPF? This would help me understand how to apply it during my everyday practice. I've asked Level II students to do this for me in the past and they get scared thinking they need to following the way that I am used to documenting (which would be the old UT way). Help teach us seasoned therapists use the new organized way of OTPF. Thanks

Category: Occupational Therapy | Comments: none

11 Dec 2008

AOTA Conference coming up in April…

http://www.aota.org/ConfandEvents/Conf.aspx?emc=lm&m=349261&l=26&v=2057284

Time to start thinking about AOTA conference in April…in Houston TX this year. Trying to decide if it is financially and chronologically feasible…I think from a career/networking standpoint it's an awesome opportunity and if Merrolee, famed OT of New Zealand comes, I would do my best to go…hint hint. Ooh and I bet Sam Gonzalez will be there….We'll see. Plus I have two weddings of OTS classmates in April!! Yay!!!

Category: Occupational Therapy | Comments: none

11 Dec 2008

Body-swap illusions….

Body-swap illusion tricks mind in new study

“”The principle finding was that under certain conditions a person can perceive another body as his or her own, even if it is of an opposite gender or an artificial body.

“These findings are of fundamental importance because they identify the perceptual processes that make us feel that we own our entire body,” the study said.””

My friend Arnie sent me this article! Thought it was pretty neat, especially after working with stroke patients who have a hard time finding their own bodies in space!! Studies this like one provide information to us that can one day be applied to thrapy!

Category: Occupational Therapy | Comments: 1

11 Dec 2008

Wear two gowns or show your butt

The other day I was in the central nurse/charting area, and I looked up and saw a man walking down the hall away from me. He was wearing a hospital gown. He was wearing his IV pole with one hand and using his other hand to clutch the gown behind him, covering his bottom. (Hospital gowns are open in the back). I quickly went to the supply closet and grabbed another gown, then walked down to him and offered to him, draping it around his back and tying it in front like a superman cape. He was embarrassed (since obviously it meant his clutching his gown over his butt was noticed and he had been approached) but also grateful for the extra coverage. I was really glad to help him because A) it gave him more modesty and B) it was better for the hospital if people aren't walking around the halls half-naked!  The whole incident made me laugh – I love the healthcare field, lol.

Category: Occupational Therapy | Comments: 1

11 Dec 2008

This nurse didn't have any drops in the bucket

Nurse, talking to another nurse about patching up some emotional crisis:

“It's like using a band-aid to patch an arterial bleed”

Category: Occupational Therapy | Comments: none

9 Dec 2008

aughh I still am a horrible horrible OT student blogger, hi google

So I keep lying about updating, this is my driest blogging spell EVER x five million, but I got more done tonight than I have in months, so I AM GETTING THERE!!! I am so close to having major things off my to do list (well besides like, christmas presents), and then I can focus on all my backed up stories!!! I have blogger constipation! My patients could identify, heavy painkillers apparently cause that complication. Wow. I am gross. I've become immune to nastiness and modesty after so much time in an acute care hospital.

I swear swear swear swear that soon my dry spell will end and I'll be in a crazy blogging blizzard catching up with all the stories!! I'm feeling relieved I got so much done today, one more night of hard work and I will be READY.

Category: Occupational Therapy | Comments: none