Fieldwork IIA/IIB Questions

[frootloops]

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Hey,

I know a lot of people are applying, but for those already enrolled. I am going to be going to a peds hospital for my IIB, and was unsure if I should go acute or SNF for IIA. One of the acute sites is a level I trauma hospital at a university, but I am unsure if I could handle the patients that come in. In my curriculum, we have just begun to discuss burns and those photos are really hard to stomach on their own. I mean, I know I can push through it, but I was hoping that someone with experience to offer may have suggestions... or did you ever get used to it after awhile?

Any opinions/advice?

 

[speedyy12]

Hi! So last semester I just completed my first Level 2 Fieldwork at an SNF. I felt like this was the best place to build my foundation for my next FW 2 placements because you see EVERYTHING at a SNF. Depending on your place it may be fast paced, but in the place I did mine at was great. I learned a lot and I saw a lot as well. I literally saw everything you can think of - ortho, neuro, phys dys, etc. Then maybe for another FW I would do acute if that is what your interested in.

 

[frootloops]

Thanks for the reply! Were you mostly doing assessments or intervention? Was intervention focused on ADLs, IADLs, etc...?

 

[speedyy12]

Many of the times it was very hard to do an assessment just because of the limited about of time you have with a patient. Many basic assessments I did were like the Barthel and the Tinetti balance test. I did a lot of evaluations (at least 2 a day) and during the evaluation I was able to assess their abilities to do things. Most of the things I focused on were ADLs just because they were in sub-acute and a lot of theory applied was biomechanical and rehabilitative. It was hard because I couldn't be as occupation based, but it was because our main goals were to get them stronger to go home. Where do you currently attend?

 

[frootloops]

Thanks for the reply. I attend Univ. of St. Augustine in California. Is there anything specific I should look at when looking for a site for fieldwork? I mean, someone once said to make sure that there are multiple OTRs, so if you are working poorly with a CI, you can be transferred. Any advice?

 

[frootloops]

bump - still looking for advice re: SNF vs Acute for 1 rotation. 2nd rotation will be Peds.

 

[speedyy12]

It honestly depends what you are interested in. Acute you know you will just be seeing the patient for the first time and you will see them only for a day or so, then they are discharged to sub-acute or a nursing home or wherever they go. If you want to see them directly in acute it will be more fast paced and its in and out. If you want to see them in a SNF like in a sub-acute or long-term in which you will be treating for 3 weeks to a month and a half or so you should do that. It depends honestly what you would prefer to do. I liked my SNF and I got to see a long and work with the patients more before being discharged to home.

 

[frootloops]

Thanks...I am actually interested in pediatrics, which will be my 2A affiliation. I figure I am leaning towards SNF, just because I could potentially work part-time at a SNF while I work in Peds in the future. You brought up a good point: acute rotations are quickly discharging and don't quite involve a lot of occupational focus. I am definitely looking to develop more with my clients.