11/12/16

So just to touch on the differences between being a student and qualified physio...

1. As well as all the new clinical skills and language to learn, there is the paperwork for lots of different things, for example referrals, discharge summarys, and outcome measures that as a student you fill out occasionally but as a qualified they really matter!

2. You don't have to write Student physio or get it countersigned, to start with I wrote student and had to cross it out a few times, you get used to it though!

3. Mandatory training, there is a lot more than you think and it takes time!

4. Well you get paid, big bonus that money, however you never seem to have more money! Ive been paid more in 2 months than last year but I somehow havn't managed to save anything! 

5. You are a professional and your opinion matters, that's real. You can make a difference on your own....it's great!

07/12/16

So December all ready!

Wore a Christmas jumper today and feeling festive! 

Amputee rehab is great! I'm really enjoying it, I'm on top of all my work and discharge reports and am really getting to grips with trans tibial amputee rehab, one of my patients left this week and they were so grateful to be walking out of the doors, they told me I made all the difference to them and I felt proud to be a physio! 

Rotation choices came out this week, I have no clue currently. It I am gonna ask for paediatric respiratory as that was the placement I enjoyed most, fingers crossed! 

More soon!

15/11/16

Today was the first delayed train day, a train broke down outside our station and all trains were cancelled, it happens, I got over it and didn't let it ruin my day, currently on the way to London Bridge little bit late. But hey I've been early everyday for the past month so it's okay. As the incredibles put so well, "We get there when we get there!" 

I have been doing lots of in service training recently, this is where the experienced members off staff pass on their knowledge and teach the new ones. It makes a lot of sense and I'm really lucky that I get so many where I am working!

Today's in service training was on discharge planning at the amputee rehabilitation unit. Planning for discharge is such an important aspect, as they are returning home in such a different state to the one they left in (at least 1 limb less). This can be a stressful time for patients and we need to make it as comfortable and positive as possible because its a really big step in the right direction! We have been working 6 weeks for this moment! Discharge planning should ideally start pre operativly, but we don't get to see our patients until they are referred post operativly so we start it straight away, getting all the little jobs done early, means I don't have to write loads in the last few days!

Really enjoying work, and the commute! 

08/11/16

So end of a Tuesday, let's talk about a brief section of amputee rehabilitation, and that's the exercise group.

 

Nearly everyday an exercise group is run by the rehab assistants , which I sometimes assist with, if one of them is away, this always looks enjoyable for the amputees and in addition to doing strengthening exercises such as squatting and bridging, a wide variety of sports are used such as seated volleyball, wheelchair tennis and even darts! 

I think it really helps patients feel better about their situation and realise they won't be confined to their wheel chair all the time!

Exercise makes everyone feel better about their life and it's no different for amputees, Whenever I'm irritated or annoyed a good hour in the pool just takes it all away and in exam periods allowed me to focus and relax. Exercise is good in every way!

Start of week 4

So it's the 07/11/16

It's the start of week 4! 

I've nearly been here 4 whole weeks and it still feels like I've just started, on student placements I would be nearing the end and thinking wow I've done so much. This time is different I still feel I have loads to learn, and there is a lot more paperwork than normal. 

As a student I didn't write discharge reports or referrals because I was unqualified, I've really been working on my writing for these letters and especially my style, I have a tendency to write like I'm chatting to someone and that's not particularly useful. At my trust all our note writing is on computers which is great for me because I'm a fast ish typer and am happy to not use all those acronyms, in one trust these were 2 confusing acronyms:

SOEOB, it's quite fun to say and stands for Sitting on edge of bed. 

However lots of people use the acronym 

SOBOE, again a good one to say out loud, and stands for Shortbess of Breath on Exertion. 

But these are so similar and can lead to a bit of confusion when used in the same sentence, for example: Pt SOBOE, returned to SOEOB.....luckily typing out in full is quicker than working out the proper order of letters!

I don't mind acronyms and they are useful but they can sure be confusing and often most other disciplines have no idea what we are on about! I'm currently learning a load of new ones from our allowed list and I can see why other staff get confused. 

See you soon.

Day 5

I think every day is a bit much so ill try some regular small updates, 

This is one i forgot to post from Day 5 (25/10)

So I've realised I've got a lot to learn about physics, especially force and angle! All the different prosthetic knees, and there are quite a few, need to be learnt and understood before I can confidently teach patients, I'm still yet to see someone with their prosthetic limb, and am getting to grips with early walking aids, which allow patients to practice walking before they have their own prosthesis and allow us to assess their eligibility for a prosthesis.

Ill keep some updates coming

Liam

Day 3

So its the First friday! 

End of the week, but not for me, im working at the rugby club both weekend days so im currently day 5 of a 12 day work stint! 

Today was good, saw most patients on my own today, and learnt a bit more about the admin things that need doing. I observed my first new patient functional assessment today. On Day 1 we assess the patient on their ability to go from bed to chair and chair to toilet etc, so that patients can be safe on the ward and the nursing staff know which patients need help, we have these wristbands of different colours which help identify a patients needs and it works really well!

1st week as a qualified physio done.

Day 2

20/10/16

So Day 2!

This rotation is going to be a lot of fun, I felt a lot more confident today and took a lead on all the patients I saw today. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to getting to know both the team and the patients. Patients stay at the rehabilitation unit for around 5 weeks and see physiotherapists or occupational therapists everyday. 

Highlight of the day was doing a Wheelchair Skills group around the garden, I was in a wheelchair to experience the difficulties of self propelling a wheelchair. I went up hills and across different surfaces which was hard! Later on in the afternoon a patient was taken out to try riding on a bus and the ticket officer let her on for free as she was an amputee, top man. 

Liam

Day 1

So I have an hour long train Journey that I do twice a day to work and back. Im gonna write down a couple of thoughts for the day and post them here, see what you think.

Liam

19/10/16

So I have just completed two days or corporate induction, which every physio has been to, and no one needs telling what they are about....but if your not a physio and curious and think it's exciting, other than starting work for a new trust its not the easiest to enthusiastically engage with. Health and safety, fire safety and everyone's safety are the general topics but it was informative and it is needed. 

Now it's Wednesday and I am on the 7am train to London to start my first day as a band 5, a little bit nervous, a lot excited.

First Day done. I really enjoyed today, there is a great team there that have made me feel welcomed already. I found the centre easily and am really excited to start working everyday. My First Day really highlighted to me that I have so much to learn in amputee rehabilitation and that this rotation is going to be a lot of fun!