1. Appreciates the influence of socio-cultural, socioeconomic, political, diversity factors, and lifestyle choices on engagement in occupation throughout the lifespan. I have had the opportunity to engage with various patients from different backgrounds, cultures, and lifestyles throughout my Level II fieldwork experiences. I have taken on the role of the Occupational Therapist through ensuring that I am effectively and accurately showing respect for diversity, cultures, and lifestyle choices throughout all of my encounters with patients and/or caregivers/families and intervention plans.
2. Communicates effectively with a wide range of clients, peers, and professionals both verbally and non-verbally.
I personally believe that having strong communication skills is an important aspect of Occupational Therapy as well as an important life skill. It is also extremely important to know how to communicate appropriately depending on who you are talking to and what the situation may be. I have witnessed my communication skills grow throughout my fieldwork experiences along with my time in OT school. I have made sure to take all opportunities to enhance my communication skills throughout my level II fieldwork placements and plan to continuously improve them throughout my OT career.
3. Collaborates with clients and caregivers in establishing and maintain a balance of pleasurable, productive, and restful occupations to promote health and prevent disease and disability.
Throughout both of my level II fieldwork placements, I have had the opportunity to engage not only with the patients, but also their caregivers. In engaging with patients and/or caregivers, I was able to inquire about possible occupations that would be appropriate and necessary to address throughout the patient's intervention plan. I would also go through the list of goals with the patient and/or caregiver to ensure we are incorporating all desired outcomes into our intervention plan.
4. Inspires confidence in clients and team members.
Throughout my Level II B Fieldwork placement, I have been able to instill confidence within my patients, caregivers and/or families, and coworkers. I make sure to set the client up with activities that are appropriate for their specific needs and occupational performance along with upgrading or downgrading activities to meet their needs. I found that through this strategy, patients tend to gain more confidence with their ability to perform the activities or tasks at hand.
5. Considers client motivation when using occupation-based intervention to maximize functional independence.
Providing client-centered practice is a vital role in occupational therapy that needs to be utilized in order to increase the patient's participation and motivation throughout treatment to reach their goals and optimize their functional independence. I have ensured throughout both of my Level II Fieldwork placements to offer client-centered practice and sculpting my intervention plan around the client. I make sure to set the patient up for success during each treatment session along with evaluations, progress notes, or discharges.
6. Applies theory regarding the therapeutic use of occupation and adaptation to screen and evaluate, plan, and implement intervention, while establishing and maintaining a therapeutic relationship with the client.
I have had the opportunity to utilize the knowledge I gained throughout OT school of the theories and frames of references throughout my Level II Fieldwork placements. I have observed myself growing in this department throughout my experiences. Throughout my first placement, I mainly utilized the Developmental Frame of Reference with my pediatric patients that were experiencing developmental delay. During my second placement, I mainly utilized the Occupational Adaptation Frame of Reference with my adult patients that were experiencing trouble with completing their occupations such as low and high complexity ADLs.