The day that I hope it never comes

Today marks the last day of my enriching clinical xperience.

I dragged my feet to work today... not that I dread about it but I always hate the last day where you had to bid good bye to all....

Furthermore, I do not know whether will I get similar xperience the next time round. So I treassure that very last moment

Well, we took cab down.... cos I was erm... alittle late for train and by taking cab we could also put the gifts into the cupboard and stuff.....

The day turned out to be very fast today and soon it was already time for lunch. LPK turned up for our lunch invitation. He treated us with Rojak, a drink @ coffee shop and a bottle of MUST have herbal tea everyday.

We get to know more about him other than the usual conversations about patients.

The time passed very fast, esp. after MDM. We went to check and ensure all documentations are countersign.... I also went to bid good bye to my patients but missed out my youngest and the most independent patient as I didn't see him today.

The moments that I always hate - saying goodbye to them send a sadness down to my heart. At that moment I thought that perhaps I could do more with my patients if know them better earlier. Or rather, if I were more competent earlier. Maybe if I were, patients could be better but anyway, I bid farewell to this patient of mine who has increaing dependent attitude in his ADLs, esp. feeding. I told him that I am leaving and that ask him to take care of himself and try to feed himself whenever possible. He promised. It is that moment that I felt I was appreciated.

Other patients that I went to bid farewell, all wishes me well in my studies. I wanted to go and see my dementia patient but I wonder will she know what I am saying. In the end, I didn't.

Nevertheless, I wish all of them well.

Now I need to change my habit pattern all over again.... like will I get used not to drink herbal tea every weekdays? Will I get used not to rush for train every morning. Will I get used to ............ student life again?

But for sure I know, I will miss each and every one of them I met there....

(Photos will be uploaded once I got hold of them.)

Last Day tml

Tommorrow is the last day of my clinical. A day that I will always look forward to in the past BUT today, I hope it will never come.......

Little things can brighten my Day

Sometimes, small little things can jsut brighten my day.

One of my patients knowing that Friday is my last day, will ask me to remember to see him the next day after each therapy. So sweet isn't it?

Then one of my patients who sometimes refused therapy, didn't refuse today. Instead, he refused blood test for anaemic. But I managed to convince him. =)
He did 45 mins of therapy today, compared to previous few time which is 15 mins only.

These are the patients that can brighthen my day.....

And of course, I have 1 cute dementia patient who offered to buy me milo and biscuits with her tissue papers..... lol.... =)

How would life be without these patients when I go back to school? i think I will miss them....

2 more days.....

3 more days....

3 more days ... ...

Should I be happy or sad?

5 weeks at placement - thoughts and feelings

It is amazing how our views and feelings have changed due to experiences that we have ... ...

Before this current attachment, I was thinking how am I going to survive this 6 weeks attachment, the longest attachment I ever have. How am I going to survive the long journey to work? I am like the Monkey God - Journey to the west.

How am I going to survive with barely any new knowledge learnt since my last attachment in Feb-Mar.

How am I going to survive in a setting where I have barely any handling skills on patients on transfer, etc before?

Will I have a nuturing supervisor? Much better than the one I have before? I really dread having a non-nuturing supervisor....

Having attachment coming to an end soon, I have alot of feeling and thoughts ... ...

I do not know since when, I no longer dread of going to work, despite the long journey......
Perhaps is because of the nurturing environment that I have. My supervisor is nuturing, trying all means to teach us and giving us lots of hands-on. Even to the extend of "getting" patients from other therapist to let us see.

The therapists here are all very nice. Nice to talk to and even joke to. The TAs are nice too. I think even now as I blog, I can feel that I am going to miss them. How would life be without such people in life for this attachment.

I believe it is also because of this nuturing environment that I have, I decided to make full use of it and create my own learning environment. This is the first attachment that I do alot of read up to enhance my learning. This is the only attachment that I told my supervisor what I want to learn or what I want to see. I wouldn't want to waste such a good opportunity as I know this type of opportunity are hard to come by.

Perhaps, I was also due to the "not so nice" experience in my last attachment that I really treasure this experience and that really spur me on to create my own learning.

The thought of me working in a geritrics setting never comes to my mind, or it had but just passing by. Currently, I feel that I like working in a geri setting too.... perhaps maybe I work better with them than with peds? I dunno.... let me see if the lecturers can put me in a peds setting 1st before I decide where I like most.

I really enjoyed the time with the patients. The time that I can really be with my patients and know more about them and to help them. This is a luxary that I don't have in my previous placement. I think that is the reason why I like this setting alot. Or perhaps is because like what my classmates say, I like to talk. haha.

This placement has also increase my confidence in handling patients in transfers and implementing treatments. This is the time where I really sure of what I am doing and why I am doing.

This also makes me like what I am doing now. It also makes me a step closer to help me deicide what will I be after I graduate.

I will treassure my last week here at the placement. Will update again on the last day.

Heave a sign of relief

Finally, presentation @ clinical down.

Not too bad I suppose. But of course some of the credits go to Mr DANIEL .....
Must really thanks him for going through with us last week. If not, I wonder how many bullet proof jackets we must wear.....


Hmmm.... after this will have to formulate interview questions to ask the head of rehab for my mgt report.... then soon after, got to go back sch for presentation @ NYP on fri. Then it will mark last day of 5th week....


I think I will start to miss the place when I leave. Just as I got used to the pace, environment and people ........ it is the end of 6th week.....

haiz.... see how things go ba.... =)

4 weeks over, 2 more weeks to go

Yes, 4 weeks are over and 2 more weeks to go.

So far so good..... but guess have to think of more activities for my patients so as to not to do the same every day.....
And to think of ways to help my pt max potential in ADLs before d/c cos doc think that he has little rehab potential (as he was alrdy like that 2 yrs back).... perhaps some adaptations to devices will help.

Things to be done:
1) Edit my CRD with references and more references.... and Equip myself with a bullet proof shirt.
2) Read up MORE on NDT approach (therapist at my attachment setting and CSM are all NDT trained!!!! no room for me to smoke around..... )
3) YEC minutes
4) Mgt report

haiz.....

On the other hand, I took a little time off just now to watch SYF opening ceremony at kallang stadium..... = )

Mid-way eval and busy weekends.....

Friday, 23 June 2006.

Mid-way evaluation completed and thus it marks the end of the 3rd week. Fast indeed. 2 of my patients are also discharging during the weekends. I wish them well.

My mid-way evaluation was cool. From there I know which area I should improve on. The most important one - to speak slowly. Haha.... Ya.... I know that. That has always been my "weakness" in life.... haha.....

But well, eval always marks the increase of stress level. The thought of improving and even to maintain the level of performance can be stressful. But well, I think the best treatment is also to be myself.

3rd week also reminds me that i had to do my case presentation in the organization, CRD in school, as well as my mgt assignment. All not really done yet. I have not really decided on which patient I want to present yet. Guess have to decide fast.


Friday night and Weekends

Met up with Hui2 after clinicals. Just to catch up and share our experiences, good and bad.

I went into ubin at 11+pm. Reached ubin after 12am. Yes. I was in ubin. There was a lack of 1st aiders. Last min activiation.

Was in 1st aid post the whole camp.

I was really upset regarding doing of "personal work". Just imagine that there are no casulties. Do you expect me to stare into space and do nothing? And wait for casulties to come in? Furthermore, let me remind you that I wasn't to be there in the 1st place.

Secondly, I am not obliged to go at the last minute notice.

Thirdly, I was suppose to go and "do my own work" aka research in the library if I wasn't to be ubin.

Lastly, I came right after my attachments. I was having attachments, mind you.

Thus, it doesn't harm for me to do my work. 'cos I wasn't disturbing anyone.

And well, if you are unhappy about anything, you SHOULD bring it up when you are in the room and not compliments and praises about the 1st aid stuff and yet at the end of the day stabbing ppl at the back.

I do not know if the comments were targetted at anyone. Neither do I know that the comments were to me or not. Nevertheless, the 1st aiders should be appreciated for our work for at least both of us who are not obliged to be there are there.

There can be rules BUT it can be flexible at times. It can be compromised at times.

Thus, if given a choice for you to choose,

1. 2- 3 first aiders for the whole camp, with 24 hrs duty, AND
2. 5 first aiders for the whole camp with 1st aiders being able to do their own stuff when there is no casulty, and able to be on shifts, etc.

which one will you choose?

Personally, "doing of personal stuff" is okay so long the duty of care is not compromised. It is simple as that.

Perhaps, we should let them stay in the 1st aid post for 1 day without doing anything. See what will happen. Furthermore, if duty of care is there for the more superiors, then does marking of exams papers and homework during camp a neglience as they are suppose to ensure the safety and welfare of the kids?

Not too late to compensate

Wonder why I never work hard in YR 1.... Or maybe I did... but results never proven so.....

Things changed for better when I am in YR 2.... better GPA for each SEM....

But because of YR 1 results... have to work extremely hard in YR3, hopefully to score a better GPA....

Thus, CE3 with 33 credits!!!! Is a must score!!!! Let's us all work hard together and do well!!!!

Reflections

I suddenly remembered something that Johnny said few months ago:

Johnny: "Are you enjoying your course now?"
Me (looking puzzled): " Erm... why did you ask?"
J: " 'cos when I 1st know you, you seems to be always busy with NPCC and neglected your studies (in JC). And now, I always see you busy with school work, which is good."
Me: *smiles



I have never really reflected on that. But now I guess I have to say I am really enjoying this course alot, thou at times the stress level can go up to 8/10 (rushing for assignments, photocopying articles, meeting deadlines, CE, etc ) BUT when we see the progress that patients are doing.... it is all worth it.

Of course, during the process of acquiring our knowledge, we had alot of fun during lessons which may seems to be "playing", "having fun" or "hobbies", etc to others . But it is throu this experience that we learnt and know the rationales.

And of course, I beginning to let go something slowly that I had hang on for so many years. To me, it is not just a CCA. It is part of my life. A part that see me grow as a person and gone through storms and sunshines with me. Though I am not so active now, but there is something for sure, I will always be there for anyone of you...... as my heart and spirit will always be with you guys......

*TO Juilet Batch, I know you all have alot of ups and downs in the corps BUT now is the time to study le.... really go and study and DO us PROUD. =) Maybe one of you can org an outing or sth as I didn't really have time to catch up with you guys that day after campfire....
Till then, take care and STUDY HARD but of course take some time out to relax*

Documentation for sunday

S:
- student appeared tired
- student had no mood to go downstairs to buy lunch
- student mentioned that she dreamt of implementing treatments with her patients.
- student mentioned that she noticed that she dropped alot of hair during showering.
- student is not motivated in performing her IADLs



O:
- Student heated up yesterday's Hokkien Mee and cooked a small pot of sour and spicy soup.
- Student tried to read up to improve her knowledge but seems abit lost



A:
- Student is having increasing amount of stress.
- Student needs more rest and healtier food



P:
- Practice Stress mgt and relaxation techniques
- To cont cooking and eating as therapy

SOAP

Since LWCoffee wrote documentation of herself, I thought it would be interesting to do mine too...

S:
- Student forget what she told her sup regarding the pace for this week.
- Student mentioned an increase in stress level this week but dropped to 4/10 by the end of the week.
- Student forget her herbal tea this morning.
- Student feels that she has to find out more about helping a pt. in his functioning b4 he d/c next week.
- Student realised that there is alot of communications to be done between other TEAM members in the care of pt.
- Student mentioned that she is beginning to like geriatrics and that she has learnt alot (6-7/10).


O:
- Student did cooking Ax with her pt.
- Weekly Eval done with Sup.
- Student seen few pts. with another coursemate of hers.
- Student presented in MDM for the 1st time.
- Student is seen interacting with other TAs and OTs as well as PTs.
- Student is always keeping a look out for cheap adapative aids when she walked past shops that sells almost anything and everything.



A:
- More discussions needed between students before implementing Rx if the pts. are not mgt by anyone of us.
- Student enjoy cooking Ax more than other Ax she ever conducted (maybe because she herself enjoys cooking.)
- Student enjoy eating the food after the Ax. (It is pt's and my sense of achievements because there is any increase in confidence and competency for both of us)
- Student needs to fine tune her documentation with better clinical reasoning.
- Student needs to increase initiative in letting the supervisor knows what time she wants to see her pt the next day (before he asks her), so that he can do the scheduling for her.
- Student feels that she can interact more comforatbly with other TAs. They are not as unfriendly as it seems to be.
- Student could have gotten the "zhi ye bing" syndrome.
- Student has decreased memory


P:
- To cont cooking Ax and Cooking and eating as therapy
- To cont doing her best
- To cont to get feedbacks when necessary
- To cont interating with other TEAM members
- To cont to research and look up for info in helping pt. to increase their functions in ADLs
- To cont to learn as much as possible

End of 2nd week

Jo came yesterday..... and thus it marks the end of 2nd week.....

Time to do MORE REFLECTION on what was done and what needs to be improved.

I think I shouldn't be satisfied with myself. I should aim higher. 'Cos if I am satisfied with myself, there will be no more room for improvements.

I think I should improve on my time mgt.... do more variety of activities..... better communications .... increase in competency, etc.....

End of week 2 marks the beginning of week 3.... Soon.. it will be mid-way eval..... a time to see how I have performed (thou there are always eval at the end of week. As the word suggest, it is mid-way. )

Next week, case load will increase to 3 ( we will be case therapist for 3 pt. but will still be seeing few more who are not fully in charge)..... Hope that my clinical reasonings will improve.....

This placement is definately a very good place to improve my clinical reasonings.