Out of this World OT

I thought virtual mock interview this week went fairly well overall. I prepared by reviewing the articles that had examples of common questions asked in interviews. Then, I practiced my responses to some of those questions. However, during the interview she asked me a few questions I was not expecting such as "Have you ever worked with someone you did not like and if so how did you handle it?" So I had to think on my feet a little but I just answered honestly that yes there are always some coworkers you may not click with but you still have to be professional and civil even if you are not friends.  If I was in a real life interview situation, I would be sure to research the facility and my interviewer before I went. Also, I would be sure to have an idea of what salary I would want to ask for based on the setting and my experience level.  Overall, I learned that in interviews, as well as in the workplace, it's important to expect the unexpected and just be your genuine and

My perspective and approach to leadership has definitely changed some since we last completed this activity at the beginning of OT school (hence the hat), but some items have still remained the same. For instance, in both drawings I drew the hair with a half straight and half curly texture because I think both creativity and organization are important qualities in a leader. However, I drew the hair much longer in my 2020 drawing because I know now, even as an introvert, I can be an effective leader. I also added freckles and a necklace this time because I do see myself as a leader in some situations now and I know that self-awareness vital. Finally, I signed my name in cursive rather than print because, after our first PDE meetings, I made a goal to serve in more leadership roles inside and outside the classroom. 

Today I scored a 7 on Rotter's Locus of Control Scale indicating I have more of a internal locus of control. This result was unsurprising to me because I know I cannot control some events, such as this COVID-19 pandemic, but that I can control how I react to it. However, locus of control is a spectrum so I think most people, myself included, experience swings between internal and external depending on the situation.  After a sudden life change, whether it be a new diagnosis or a pandemic, many people may be left with a feeling of helplessness. As an OT practitioner, it is important to recognize that external locus of control mindset both in ourselves and our clients. It is important in ourselves because whatever attitude you bring into your client interactions will influence their attitude. Also, if as the therapist you believe the situation is out of your control, then your intervention will not be effective either. It is also important to recognize in our clients because if they

I think this simulation went pretty well overall. I tried to make the conversation flow as naturally as I could, despite my initial nervousness, and I covered all the topics we needed to discuss. If I could redo it I would try to be more concise and clear with my explanations of SPD and the results of the sensory profile. When I watched the recording, I realized my talking speed was not as fast as it initially felt when I was in there, but I still stumbled and/or rambled during my explanations. Some ways you can communicate caring to the client, or the parent in this situation, is by body language and checking for their understanding. For instance, positioning yourself beside the client, making eye contact, and nodding, all provide nonverbal cues that you are listening and are here for them. Asking open-ended questions such as "what questions do you have?" instead of "do you have any questions?" shows the client that you genuinely care about their questions/concer

I chose this documentary because it had really good reviews and I wanted an inside look of what it is like to survive a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), or "stroke." This documentary was started by Lotje, a 34-year old woman who experienced a stroke while home alone, as a way to document her recovery journey. Her friends described her as a very social, articulate person who loved to read and write before her stroke. However, post-stroke, Lotje had a lot of speech, reading, and writing difficulties. The documentary shows all of the frustrations and challenges Lotje encounters as she tries to come to terms with who she is now that she cannot do the activities she used to love. I thought this movie was fascinating and very philosophical. They use visual effects throughout the movie to give the audience a sense of what Lotje is seeing. For instance, she describes the vision on her right side like a "heightened sense of reality" with all the colors and sounds intensif

I really enjoyed the creative challenge this project provided. Adaptive technology and out of the box thinking are two of my favorite parts of occupational therapy, which initially made me feel like there was a lot of pressure to produce a great idea. I had a whole list of ideas at first, but ultimately came to the conclusion that perhaps the best idea was the simplest one. By weighting the Parmesan cheese container with rice I already had in my pantry, I was able to create a fun, cheap activity that directly tied to the client's interests and occupational performance goals. My family frequently found ways to re-purpose household items as I was growing up. The resourcefulness they taught me back then was extremely helpful for this assignment. It was exciting to see the pieces fall together and reinforced that a lot can be accomplished with a little creativity, OT knowledge, and duct tape.  Therapeutic activities do not have to be expensive. There is no need to buy new or e

I chose this video because many of the residents I encountered while working at a retirement community/SNF were diagnosed with Alzheimer's/Dementia and they taught me to always expect the unexpected. This video shows how Alzheimer's affects behavior besides just the memory loss that is usually associated with it. The cameraman's father wanders from room to room, performing various odd tasks and never really seems content with any of them. For instance, he remakes the already made bed several times, taking pillows off and on, and straightening sheets. He also walks over to the litter box and picks up a clump with his hands rather than a scoop and then it takes the son several tries to get his father to wash and rinse both hands. At the end, the son attempts to get his dad to come relax and watch TV with him but the father just keeps making his rounds. I observed a lot of similar behaviors in the Alzheimer's/Dementia wing of the retirement community I worked and shado