Life of a PTA : Patient Care

State Board Anxiety -- Revisited

Allison Young — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 19:20:00 GMT

I recently received quite a few heartfelt responses to a blog I wrote last year on the subject of the dreaded PTA "state board licensure exam." I feel your pain, people. I vividly remember the pre/post anxiety and panic of preparing and actually taking...(read more)

What Matters Most

Allison Young — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 17:04:00 GMT

I was reminded recently of how to recognize a truly good therapist. The observation came up when a PT was describing the individual therapists on our rehab team to a PT student. Generally, the obvious was mentioned, such as experience and specific knowledge...(read more)

The "No-Therapist-Left-Behind" Policy

Allison Young — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 15:45:00 GMT

On any given day in the SNF, I might have six to 10 patients on my schedule. The rest of my colleagues have close to the same amount, depending on how many new evaluations the PTs have that same day. Having reduced my work schedule to four days a week...(read more)

The New Team Player

Allison Young — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 20:11:00 GMT

For more than a year now, the physical therapy department at the skilled nursing facility where I work has had no staff turnover. This has enabled my colleagues and I to develop an efficient therapy team with excellent communication and interpersonal...(read more)

Sensitivity Training

Allison Young — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 16:48:00 GMT

One day last week as I was preparing to spend my coveted "lunch break" outdoors under the elusive Northwest sun, I came across one of my regular patients sitting alone in the hallway. I have grown to really enjoy working with this particular person because...(read more)

Animal Instincts

Allison Young — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 19:43:00 GMT

My fellow therapists at the SNF where I work all provide a vast amount of talent to our therapy team. Whether specializing in hand therapy, lymphedema management or simply approaching therapy with years of experience, there is a clinician on staff who...(read more)

The Happiest Place on Earth

Allison Young — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 20:44:00 GMT

More than four years ago, I sat my then 8- and 4-year-olds down to explain that their "Mommy" would be very busy most nights and weekends for quite a while. I explained that I would have to spend most of my "free time" studying and reading and reading......(read more)

Creating a Fall Risk?

Allison Young — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 11:51:00 GMT

Working in a skilled nursing setting definitely has its benefits and drawbacks, as I am constantly discovering. There is a huge advantage to working with the same patient every day of the week. Watching him make gains and meet goals, sometimes daily,...(read more)

No Energy? Just Add Water

Allison Young — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 20:04:00 GMT

Last week I finally went for my annual physical with my doctor. I was a twinge nervous, as I've been exhausted recently and well, I haven't had a doctor's appointment in more than three years. Luckily, all was fine -- and I was given some valid (if not...(read more)

A Difficult Encounter

Allison Young — Fri, 25 May 2012 17:49:00 GMT

As a relatively new physical therapist assistant, I accept that I have a monumental amount of knowledge to learn. Trust me; I'm humbled every day by the vast amount of experience I'm gaining and the gap in what I have yet to master. This week alone, I've...(read more)

Sitting on My Hands

Allison Young — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:37:00 GMT

As I recently blogged , I've been clinical instructor to a first-rotation PTA student. I share the duty with my colleague, who happened to graduate with me from the same PTA program our student is now attending. To say she is in sympathetic company is...(read more)

The Favorite Patient

Allison Young — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:40:00 GMT

Often I find that I'll have a "favorite" patient on my schedule and will seek out that person's name on my list every morning as I begin my day. It can be something about their hard-working ethic -- knowing they'll always give me their best in therapy,...(read more)

PTA: A Year in Review

Allison Young — Fri, 04 May 2012 19:57:00 GMT

My "official" one-year anniversary of being a working PTA came and went very quietly a few weeks ago. I was under the impression I would feel suddenly "experienced" and maybe given an "‘Atta girl!" from the rehab director. No on both counts. Yet, I forgot...(read more)

A Working Schedule

Allison Young — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:56:00 GMT

As of the beginning of April, I reduced my work week from ﬁve to four days a week. Initially, I felt guilty that I couldn't "hack" a full-time schedule and then I realized I was being far too hard on myself. My usual work day starts around 8:30 in the...(read more)

Team Player

Allison Young — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 19:36:00 GMT

I vividly remember writing a blog nearly a year ago about the importance of being a member of the "Skilled Nursing Team" when it comes to patient care in a large facility. If I remember correctly, I was in awe of the seamless interdisciplinary networks,...(read more)