Neuro prac: Initial entry

After having the last five weeks off to do my Honours project I am anxious but very much looking forward to getting back to the clinical side of things. When I found out that my Neuro placement was going to be on Ward 2 at Shenton Park I was really pleased. I have heard that although this placement is challenging it is also very rewarding.

In what will be the third round of rotations I believe that my clinical supervisors will have higher expectations in terms of professionalism, communication, time management and other transferable clinical skills. I think that these attributes are essential to demonstrate from day 1 to make a good first impression. Having a thorough knowledge of neuroanatomy will be also a key to knowing what type of deficits to expect in a patient before seeing them.
I am aware that I will be expected to be competent with neurological assessments, which is probably the area I feel least confident about. This is mainly due to the fact that I have never worked with stroke patients before and despite the practice I have done on 'normals', I know it's going to be a extremely different on the ward and will require the ability to prioritise assessments and make modifications for each individual.

As well as assessment, another area which I feel that I may lack some practice in is transfers of Neuro patients. Similarly, despite the extensive practice of transfers we have had in various labs over the years, I have found that when I’m put into the situation I am focused on the patient and often forget basic manual handling postures. I think this will be vital to remember in this prac due to the safety aspect involved for not only the patient but also myself.

One area which I think physios working in this field have a key role in is motivating the patient. This will involve me communicating with the patient and their family, as well as other staff members to form goals that are achievable and relevant to the patient. I see goal setting as a key aspect of management in this patient group as the progress is often very slow and treatment sessions long, up to three hours I’m told! As a result of this it’s important to have something the patient can focus on and aim towards plus see the improvements they are making. I think this is especially relevant at Shenton Park as the patients are relatively very young and most often have great rehabilitation potential. I am hoping that my previous experiences in working in multidisciplinary teams and involving families in patient care will assist me in this area.

On the whole, I don’t feel entirely confident with my abilities in a Neuro field but I think my previous clinical experiences will provide a good foundation for me to start from and improve when I am placed into the specific environment and have a better understanding the area. From this prac I hope to develop efficient and thorough assessment skills, improve my skills of patient goal setting and motivation as well as by the end of the placement feel confident in developing comprehensive treatment plans for any individual patient.