TBI unit is awesome!! Week 4

Week 4

Finally, my brain decided to kick in because it only took me till week 4 to realize that I should be writing down all the different interventions we are using and their purposes! I now have a hand-written list of the different games and all the different outcomes that can possible result from that game. My current list includes interventions and games like:

• Finger Labyrinth—guided imagery, relaxation, pain diversion, fine motor control.
• Rummikub—ordering numbers, remembering and creating patterns, color recognition, remembering rules, fine motor control
• Balloon Volleyball—stretching, reaching, paying attention, hand-eye coordination, arm/muscle endurance
• Picture bingo—shape and word recognition, matching, spatial awareness
• Blockus—fine motor control, spatial awareness, problem solving
• Simple woodwork—following directions, gross and fine motor skills with hand and arm, muscle endurance.

I cannot wait to see how long this list gets by the end of the semester! I realize that I will need to make this list more organized. Maybe in an excel sheet? Then I can search for activities that will work on specific areas.

At the end of my practicum hours on Thursday, Alex said how sorry she was for not really giving me the opportunity to jump in and lead some of the activities. I already had a good idea as to why I have not been given the opportunity. We discussed about how low most of the patients have been these past few weeks and how knowledge of how to handle each patient is key. I completely understood why and was never offended by staying in the shadowing position. One of the patients would walk all over me and find ways to direct me instead of me guiding her in an intervention. I was perfectly fine with that as of now. I cannot wait, however, till I do have the knowledge and competence to handle a wide variety of patients’ attitudes and reactions to treatment.

This week I also helped in the STAR superbowl party. Mr. Barret asked patients in the TBI unit to join. I was, at first, a little nervous because the patients were low and in a good bit of pain. Three came down. One knew very little English but had his wife with him. He was very quiet and did not stay for too long. One patient amazed me. I have seen him progress so much in the past 3 weeks. When I first met him, he was not very focused and had his hands wrapped in gloves and tied to his chair to prevent him from pulling the tube from his nose. At the party however, he was polite social, and assertive and accurate with his needs (example: stating how small to cut his food and that he was ready to return to his room). He was so pleasant compared to when he was constantly trying to get “money” and “crack” out of his empty pockets and shoes. Seeing that transformation and progress he has made ensured that I am passionate about this field.

Everyone on the treatment has the same goal of increasing the amount of healing a patient receives and to see that patient leave with as much ability as before the accident. The treatment team works together by being different and working on different goals. I see the treatment team as one body, the eye is just as important as the foot, which is just as important and the stomach and so on. We are different to bring unity. Did that make sense?

Any game or treatment ideas?! I have so much to learn and I cannot wait to try out new ideas! oh any religious practices you think can be turned into a therapeutic intervention will be cool too!