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 a humorous understatement. It was only a short two years ago that we were stressing over clinical ...

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 morning and I'm not coming up for air until 12 or 12:30 for a quick bite to eat and then back ...

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, including nursing, aide staff, PT, OT and social services, who aid each other in the ...

As a new PTA, I often observe other therapists' styles when they are treating patients. Working in a large skilled nursing facility for almost a year, I've seen many different approaches therapists will use when communicating with patients. Due to the fact that a major aspect of our job falls under scheduling, rallying and discussing the merits of ...

At some point last week, I decided I should reduce the amount of caffeine I consume. So I prepared to ''wean'' myself off of my three- (okay, four-) cups-of-coffee-a-day habit by making a single half decaf/half caffeinated cup of coffee on a Monday morning. Unfortunately, this noble effort left me with a nasty burn over the anterior of my hand and ...

The fragility of the patient population in the skilled nursing setting where I work has never been lost on me. Some of the best advice I was given early on was to never forget that the patient I'm working with on any given day, could essentially die at any moment. Therefore, closely monitoring vitals, erring on the side of caution and thoroughly ...

Much has been discussed regarding motivating patients to participate in therapy. I've wrote more than one blog on this topic alone. However, I'm finding there are always more complex patients who I have to ''convince'' of the benefits of therapy each day. Working in a skilled nursing facility, my patient's therapy needs range from the ...

As I'm discovering, a good therapy team can be the catalyst for a patient's recovery. In a successful group dynamic, therapists will feel comfortable asking different colleagues for advice regarding a patient's plan of care and when appropriate, offer suggestions if something falls under their specialty. Unfortunately, we are all human, and at ...

Having just completed my first holiday season in skilled nursing I am left... feeling exhausted and with a few observations. Firstly, as a ''new'' working mother negotiating a Christmas for little ones and a full-time PTA schedule, I was beyond busy. Secondly, working with patients who would not be spending the holidays with loved ones, I was ...

Like many, I have a penchant for reflection during this time of year. Sure, I'm a week early for ''2011: A Year in Review,'' which we'll be bombarded with from every highlight reel to ''best of'' lists that are constructed the last week of each year. Recently, however, I've found myself looking back over the past year working as a PTA in a skilled ...