Practicum Clinical Journal
Issue Observed
My practicum experience entailed observing the expected roles of a physiotherapy aide. The roles that I was expected to envisage during my practicum included taking care of the psychological needs of the residents through physiotherapy treatment, assisted exercises, and through a physical medium. The essence of this role was to comprehend the importance of creation of a good rapport with the residents and informing them on topics intended to support their general health welfare and support aimed at alleviating the negative repercussions of physical injury and pain (Praestegaard, Gard, & Glasdam, 2013). The health care service providers worked with patients who were over eighty years of age. The majority of these patients resided in the hospital facility. The issue of concern observed was that the health care medics were concerned with physiotherapy rather than the overall health of the patients. Patients in the above eighty-years age bracket are more prone to diseases compared to younger patients.
Analysis
The observations made on the physiotherapist roles formed the central necessity for the practical skills that were essential in the role of a physio aide. Praestegaard, et al. (2013) assert that some of these observations expected of this position include; understanding the residents’ limitations and capabilities about their passive and active movements. This observation led to a conclusive assertion that the residents had such disability cases because they were not given physical exercise sessions.
Other observations include; physiotherapy assessment and observing pathologies, which may inhibit the rehabilitative progress (Praestegaard, et al., 2013). The fundamental idea underlying this ideology is that there is a systematic focus on disabilities and the medical conditions as problems. In this settings, the resident is seen to be passive while the professionals strive into managing the problems thus bringing them into control which does not normally solve the whole problem.
How the Issue was Handled Inconsistently
The options of physiotherapy in this hospital were established after a conclusive discussion with the residents. Stiller (2013) recommends fruitful discussions when making such decisions. The timing, goals, and the regularity of the physiotherapy were introduced into the project and involved the assessing of residents which took place before and after the physiotherapy sessions. The central part which was learned during the project was listening to the concerns of the patients in regards to how they felt about their body changes and the physical limitations. However, this was an inconsistent handling of the issue in that no physical action was actualized to minimize such cases.
Active listening was much appraised in this hospital but putting into action the collected information was not observed. Caprara et al. (2013) state that the social cognitive theory notes two key concepts; namely, outcome expectancy and self-efficacy which were not upheld in this situation. According to this theory, self-efficacy explains the assurance that the hospital could execute the behavior that should produce the outcome as per the set parameters (Caprara, et al., 2013). However, there was failure observed since listening without actualizing the patients’ feedback was observed.
Approach to the Issue differently
To successfully tackle this issue, I would embrace the Locus of Control which as argued by Lefcourt (2014) is applicable for successful physiotherapy progress. Similarly, I would apply the positive aging reflection view, where the external and internal persons in the hospital would take aging as a normal change that one can live a healthy lifestyle. Through transformational leadership, I would ensure that all the people involved in the physiotherapy process have a contribution towards the success of this endeavor. The Locus of Control would be utilized by making the patients be involved in their treatment progress rather than fully relying on the health care service. In this perspective, I would educate them on the importance of participating in physical exercises.
The central learning point I achieved at the practicum was that there was a negative view of growing old not only accustomed by the external cohort but from the personal reflection of the patients. Through the transformational leadership theory, I understand the significance of creating an inspiration vision applicable to all stakeholders. In this perspective, I would utilize my nursing knowledge to impart change in the society through inspiring, and executing change towards the general response of people to the aged cohort. Taking Semiatin and O’Connor’s (2012) approach, I would eliminate this negative thinking through creating awareness of the normality accompanied by aging.
References
Caprara, G., Vecchione, M., Barbaranelli, C., & Alessandri, G. (2013). Emotional stability and affective self‐regulatory efficacy beliefs: Proofs of integration between trait theory and social cognitive theory. European Journal of Personality, 27(2), 145-154. doi: 10.1002/per.1847
Lefcourt, H. M. (2014). Locus of control: Current trends in theory & research. New York. Psychology Press.
Praestegaard, J., Gard, G., & Glasdam, S. (2013). Practicing physiotherapy in Danish private practice: an ethical perspective. Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy, 16(3), 555-564. doi: 10.1007/s11019-012-9446-0
Semiatin, A. M., & O’Connor, M. K. (2012). The relationship between self-efficacy and positive aspects of caregiving in Alzheimer’s disease caregivers. Aging & Mental Health, 16(6), 683-688. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2011.651437
Stiller, K. (2013). Physiotherapy in intensive care: an updated systematic review. CHEST Journal, 144(3), 825-847. doi:10.1378/chest.118.6.1801
