Fieldwork – The Journey to Clinical Excellence, USAHS Occupational Therapy Programs
Occupational Therapy students at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) take what they learn in the classroom and put it into practice through fieldwork experiences in a variety of clinical settings.
Students have the opportunity to work with diverse populations and explore areas that align with their interests. Experiences include outpatient pediatrics with a focus on sensory integration, the Center for Neuro Skills, which supports individuals recovering from traumatic brain injuries and strokes, and Joshua Stage, a theater-based program for adults with disabilities. One student describes her experience at Joshua Stage as an opportunity to stretch her creativity, adaptability and flexibility as a future clinician.
Students credit their coursework and simulation training with helping them feel prepared for the realities of fieldwork. They also highlight the support of USAHS’s Academic Fieldwork Coordination (AFWC) team, which connects students with placements that align with their interests and remains available to help along the way.
For students, fieldwork is more than a required step toward graduation. It’s an opportunity to grow their clinical skills, gain confidence and experience what it’s like to make a difference in the lives of real clients.
Transcript
Fieldwork – The Journey to Clinical Excellence, USAHS Occupational Therapy Programs
[00:00:00] USAHS OT Student 1: Everybody always asks me, “What’s field work really like?” This past six months has been such a self growth experience. [00:00:10] USAHS OT Student 3: You’re learning how to learn in a lot of ways. [00:00:13] USAHS OT Student 2: I’m spending 12 weeks in outpatient pediatrics, um, with a focus in sensory integration therapy. [00:00:19] USAHS OT Student 3: The Center for Neuro Skills is for people who’ve experienced traumatic brain injuries or strokes, and there’s all kinds of different disciplines, including speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, counseling, and education. And it provides that holistic approach to the patient. [00:00:33] Miranda B. (OT Student): I was placed at Joshua Stage this term. [00:00:35] Annabeth D. (OT Student): So it’s a theater-based program, and so we’re working with adults with disabilities. It’s been amazing. It’s really flexed a different muscle for me and really, you know, testing that adaptability and flexibility that you need to be a, a really great OT. [00:00:49] Miranda B. (OT Student): It’s been really sweet getting to see all the participants grow. It really shows that they’re learning, and learning through the fun that we’re having, into more functionality and independence, which is super awesome as an OT student. [00:01:02] Annabeth D. (OT Student): Our AFWC team worked really, really hard to try and place everybody where they had a preference, and the AFWC team has been fantastic for me, contacted them, asking them questions and, you know, what to do and what’s the next step. [00:01:16] Annabeth D. (OT Student): And I mean, they were on the phone with me immediately, so they’ve been incredibly helpful with everything. [00:01:21] USAHS OT Student 2: I feel like my school did a really, really good job preparing me for field work. We had so much practice, um, in simulation for the inpatient settings. I’m prepared for this pediatric setting too, because children actually come into our school before we left on field work. [00:01:34] Miranda B. (OT Student): It’s really cool to be able to kind of use your own creative thinking. [00:01:38] Annabeth D. (OT Student): Taking the things we’ve learned in didactics and really applying them. [00:01:42] Miranda B. (OT Student): Feel like I’ve learned so much the past few weeks of my field work. Having that OT background in school really has helped me to be able to implement things in the real world. [00:01:53] USAHS OT Student 1: I have to say that it’s been a huge change in my confidence level
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