I am currently in my third and final clinical externship, and it is proving to be the most difficult of my placements. I am at an inpatient rehab facility that is beautifully kept, and I have a wonderful supervisor. The work is very interesting, and I am finding ways to apply my classroom knowledge more than ever. I have grown fond of my patients and really enjoy the opportunities to educate them and help rehabilitate them to their prior levels of function. The hours are long, and I am always in motion. Lunch usually consists of grabbing a few bites of a granola bar or other portable, snack size food between patients or while writing reports. I honestly don't mind being this busy. It feels very productive and makes the day go by fast. Despite all of the positives, I have found myself very emotional and often on the verge of tears. I have been struggling with insomnia and an elevated level of stress. Why? I think I have finally put my finger on it. As wonderful as the facility is, and as competent as the staff are, there is still something missing that I think is commonly lacking in medical facilities. Empathy.
Empathy, according to Dictionary.com, is a noun meaning "the intellectual identification with or vicarious experiencing of the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another". It is often incorrectly confused as sympathy, which is broadly defined as understanding the feelings of another. Empathy goes beyond understanding. It requires one to imagine themselves in another's predicament, to feel what they feel. I believe that showing empathy requires less talking and more listening, more doing. Empathy does not judge. I don't know if empathy can be taught or if it just is innate in some individuals. Either way, it exists within me. Some might think this is burdensome, but I believe it is a blessing. It will hopefully allow me to connect with my clients in a way that will aid in becoming a competent and effective clinician. What a wonderful characteristic to possess in a medical setting where people are sick and scared and hurting! Well........not exactly.
I am learning that there is little time, in my facility at least, to provide that empathetic touch. Inpatient rehabilitation is a lot of work for the patient as well as the clinician. There is physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, diagnostic tests, nurses, and doctors all vying for time inbetween meals, showers, and family visits. There are barely enough hours in the day to provide the required services, attend meetings and trainings, and complete the required paperwork for all of the assigned patients. I understand that a patient's time in the rehab facility is limited, so medical staff try to get the most out of the time they have to help a patient return as close as possible to their prior level of function. It is wonderful that the staff work so hard to help clients reach their rehabilitation goals, and I have seen some amazing results. I have also seen patients confused about why they are being asked to complete certain tasks, rushed around without explanation of where they are going, and disregarded or brushed off when they expressed pain or fatigue. Yesterday, I had a patient tell me he would rather be dead than be in his current condition. Harsh. I have had to walk out of rooms knowing a patient is confused, upset, or in pain because I have to move on to the next patient or because another clinician is waiting to take them to their next therapy. I certainly don't believe that staff don't care about their patients, but rather they are busy doing their jobs and have been doing this long enough to become desensitized.
The fact remains that the patients are human beings. Most of the patients at my facility are older. Many have lost the ability to walk, swallow safely, and/or communicate effectively as a result of stroke, surgery, TBI, or some other ailment. Many of them have always been healthy and are having difficulty accepting their infirmities. There is not only physical pain but confusion, helplessness, and depression. Can you imagine being an active, healthy individual that suddenly finds yourself unable to walk, bathe yourself, or speak intelligibly enough to express your basic needs? You have to ring for a nurse just to go to the bathroom or get a drink of water. Perhaps, all of your food is pureed, and your liquids (coffee, juice, and even water) is thickened to a nectar or honey consistency. I tried drinking thickened water for a day. Major yuck! You hurt, possibly more than you ever have, and every activity you must perform wears you out. Ugh, depressing. It is something most medical staff and clinicians have never experienced, and it is hard to place oneself in that situation. Don't we owe it to our patients to at least try? I absolutely think we do.
I refuse to get to the point that I am desensitized to the feelings of another, especially when that other is suffering and scared. I will find a way to balance fullfilling the needs of my job and fullfilling the needs of my patients. I will listen and respond with patience and compassion. I will take the time to explain why, and how, and what happens next. I will always remember that this person with whom I am interacting is a living, breathing, feeling human being. If I cannot do these things, I cannot be. Simple as that.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Monday, May 27, 2013
Decisions, decisions
The American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) is the professional organization for SLPs and audiologists. They provide the governing rules and ethics for our profession. Also, they offer memberships to Special Interest Groups (SIGs) that focus on specific areas where professionals can collaborate and address research, education needs, and disseminate information. We were asked to consider all 18 SIGs and choose one we would choose to join if a benevolent soul offered to pay for our membership. I looked online and read the information on the first one and thought, "Yeah, that's it." Then I looked at the next one and had the same thought. Uh oh. After careful consideration that almost ended up in a coin flip, I finally settled on SIG 12, Augmentative and Alternative Communication.
For those not in the know, AAC is a means of improving a person's ability to communicate when they do not have the ability or have limited ability to speak. There is a spectrum of AAC devices ranging from a low tech picture/symbol board to complex eye gaze systems and many levels in between. Sign language is also considered a form of AAC, and I have worked with a few individuals who augmented their speech with sign due to poor intelligibility. I do not have a lot of experience with AAC yet, but this is something that I hope to develop in my career. I have had the opportunity to make some low tech communication boards and have seen a few high tech systems in use in my last two externships. At the two ASHA conventions I have attended, much of my time has been spent talking to various AAC vendors and learning about new and improved options.
Being able to communicate is so critical to the human experience. Our basic needs are met through communication. Relationships with others are based on communication. Expressing our desires and adapting our environments are contingent on successful communication. There are a variety of reasons why some people may not have the ability to speak and communicate in a typical way: cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, selective mutism, aphasia, apraxia, removal of larynx due to cancer, ALS, and many others. These people still feel and still have needs and desires. Isn't it wonderful that there are options to help them communicate and participate in the world?! It is hard to imagine a world in which you are locked inside yourself with no way to express something as simple as "I am thirsty" or something as complex as "I love you".
Many SLPs do not have much experience with AAC because it really is not that common. We will more than likely have more clients without the need for AAC than those with a need, but for those few that can benefit, I want to be able to provide the absolute best intervention I can to give them a voice. This is where I hope being a member of SIG 12 will play a valuable role by giving me the opportunity to collaborate with fellow clinicians to seek advice and support. I would expect to keep abreast of the latest research and new technologies. Another benefit would be to learn how to establish funding for devices. I currently live in an economically depressed part of the country, and many of my clients would not have the money to invest in a device or know what avenues to pursue to apply for assistance. It would be my hope that membership to SIG 12 would help me assist my clients in securing funding.
Okay, so I have pretty much talked myself into joining SIG 12 whether or not I encounter a kind soul who is willing to pay my membership dues!
For those not in the know, AAC is a means of improving a person's ability to communicate when they do not have the ability or have limited ability to speak. There is a spectrum of AAC devices ranging from a low tech picture/symbol board to complex eye gaze systems and many levels in between. Sign language is also considered a form of AAC, and I have worked with a few individuals who augmented their speech with sign due to poor intelligibility. I do not have a lot of experience with AAC yet, but this is something that I hope to develop in my career. I have had the opportunity to make some low tech communication boards and have seen a few high tech systems in use in my last two externships. At the two ASHA conventions I have attended, much of my time has been spent talking to various AAC vendors and learning about new and improved options.
Being able to communicate is so critical to the human experience. Our basic needs are met through communication. Relationships with others are based on communication. Expressing our desires and adapting our environments are contingent on successful communication. There are a variety of reasons why some people may not have the ability to speak and communicate in a typical way: cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, selective mutism, aphasia, apraxia, removal of larynx due to cancer, ALS, and many others. These people still feel and still have needs and desires. Isn't it wonderful that there are options to help them communicate and participate in the world?! It is hard to imagine a world in which you are locked inside yourself with no way to express something as simple as "I am thirsty" or something as complex as "I love you".
Many SLPs do not have much experience with AAC because it really is not that common. We will more than likely have more clients without the need for AAC than those with a need, but for those few that can benefit, I want to be able to provide the absolute best intervention I can to give them a voice. This is where I hope being a member of SIG 12 will play a valuable role by giving me the opportunity to collaborate with fellow clinicians to seek advice and support. I would expect to keep abreast of the latest research and new technologies. Another benefit would be to learn how to establish funding for devices. I currently live in an economically depressed part of the country, and many of my clients would not have the money to invest in a device or know what avenues to pursue to apply for assistance. It would be my hope that membership to SIG 12 would help me assist my clients in securing funding.
Okay, so I have pretty much talked myself into joining SIG 12 whether or not I encounter a kind soul who is willing to pay my membership dues!
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
1. Words, words, words
So, our class was supplied with 6 pages (yes, 6 pages) of quotes about education and learning. We were asked to choose a couple of them and discuss how they related to our experience as we pursued our desire to become speech-language pathologists. I am an avid collector of quotes, so this assignment was a welcome breath of fresh air. Words are very powerful. If I may, they are one of the most amazing human creations (besides the dog!). They can inspire us, move us to action, and reduce us to tears of happiness or grief. Another interesting thing about words is their ability to affect each of us differently depending on our own life experiences, temperaments, and stage of life. Words that have a profound impact on me may have little meaning to you, but that in no way negates their power.
"A mind is a fire to be kindled, not a vessel to be filled."
~ Plutarch, unknown, unknown
This is a quote with which I was familiar, and I have repeated it often. I first encountered it during a time in my life when I worked as a wildland firefighter. I pondered it often, especially while watching a wildfire burn. As long as there is fuel, oxygen, and a source of heat, the fire will continue indefinitely. Take one of those away, any one, and the fire goes out. The mind is limitless in its capacity to learn. As long as there is something to learn (fuel), an opportunity to learn (oxygen), and the desire to learn (heat), learning can continue indefinitely. Take one away, and learning ceases. Saying the mind is a vessel to be filled suggests that the mind's capacity is finite, like a pitcher whose overflow spills uselessly on the ground. The field of speech-language pathology is also a fire to be kindled, and there are so many things yet to be learned, opportunities to learn them, and many dedicated students and professionals with the desire to learn them. As I write this, I realize how much this quote relates to my own pursuit of this profession. My mind is a fire, and this field definitely provides the necessary elements to keep it burning.
"Each path is only one of a million paths. Therefore, you must always keep in mind that a path is only a path. If you feel that you must not follow it, you need not stay with it under any circumstances. Any path is only a path. There is no affront to yourself or others in dropping it if that is what your heart tells you to do. But your decision to keep on the path or to leave it must be free of fear and ambition. I warn you: look at every path closely and deliberately. Try it as many times as you think necessary. Then ask yourself and yourself alone one question. It is this: does this path have a heart? All paths are the same. They lead nowhere. They are paths going through the brush or into the brush or under the brush. Does this path have a heart is the only question. If it does, then the path is good. If it doesn't, then it is of no use."
~ Carlos Castaneda, unknown, unknown
This quote was new to me and gave me much to ponder. There was one word that drew me to this quote and caused me to consider it. That word was "path". See what I mean about the power of words? That word may be completely innocuous to many, but it struck a chord with me. I have always been easily distracted and have often told people that I can be perfectly happy with the path I am traveling until something shiny catches my eye. Then, I abrubtly switch paths and continue my meanderings through life. In this quote, the author has affirmed that this is perfectly okay. Whew! I have traveled these paths as a happy explorer and not lingered on one any longer than necessary. The problem with this approach to life is that I found myself constantly starting over with no solid foundation of knowledge or skills. The field of speech-language pathology is riddled with paths that diverge, converge, overlap, and cross. By traveling these paths, I am satisfying my curiosity and thirst for knowledge while remaining in the confines of one discipline that allows me to build and grow. I never have to be "stuck" working in the same environment completing the same tasks day after day. There are a variety of settings in which to work, and every client presents a unique opportunity to learn something new. And the really great and amazing thing? None of these paths necessarily has an end! New discoveries are being made every day in the field as we learn more about how our minds and bodies work. New technologies are being developed to assist in evaluation and treatment. Wonderful minds are creating insightful new assessments and creative therapies.
In exploring this quote on "paths", I am led right back to my first quote. The multitude of paths that make up the field of speech-language pathology provide all of the necessary ingredients to kindle the fire of my mind, and as long as the paths keep expanding, the fire will never go out.
Happy Trails!
"A mind is a fire to be kindled, not a vessel to be filled."
~ Plutarch, unknown, unknown
This is a quote with which I was familiar, and I have repeated it often. I first encountered it during a time in my life when I worked as a wildland firefighter. I pondered it often, especially while watching a wildfire burn. As long as there is fuel, oxygen, and a source of heat, the fire will continue indefinitely. Take one of those away, any one, and the fire goes out. The mind is limitless in its capacity to learn. As long as there is something to learn (fuel), an opportunity to learn (oxygen), and the desire to learn (heat), learning can continue indefinitely. Take one away, and learning ceases. Saying the mind is a vessel to be filled suggests that the mind's capacity is finite, like a pitcher whose overflow spills uselessly on the ground. The field of speech-language pathology is also a fire to be kindled, and there are so many things yet to be learned, opportunities to learn them, and many dedicated students and professionals with the desire to learn them. As I write this, I realize how much this quote relates to my own pursuit of this profession. My mind is a fire, and this field definitely provides the necessary elements to keep it burning.
"Each path is only one of a million paths. Therefore, you must always keep in mind that a path is only a path. If you feel that you must not follow it, you need not stay with it under any circumstances. Any path is only a path. There is no affront to yourself or others in dropping it if that is what your heart tells you to do. But your decision to keep on the path or to leave it must be free of fear and ambition. I warn you: look at every path closely and deliberately. Try it as many times as you think necessary. Then ask yourself and yourself alone one question. It is this: does this path have a heart? All paths are the same. They lead nowhere. They are paths going through the brush or into the brush or under the brush. Does this path have a heart is the only question. If it does, then the path is good. If it doesn't, then it is of no use."
~ Carlos Castaneda, unknown, unknown
This quote was new to me and gave me much to ponder. There was one word that drew me to this quote and caused me to consider it. That word was "path". See what I mean about the power of words? That word may be completely innocuous to many, but it struck a chord with me. I have always been easily distracted and have often told people that I can be perfectly happy with the path I am traveling until something shiny catches my eye. Then, I abrubtly switch paths and continue my meanderings through life. In this quote, the author has affirmed that this is perfectly okay. Whew! I have traveled these paths as a happy explorer and not lingered on one any longer than necessary. The problem with this approach to life is that I found myself constantly starting over with no solid foundation of knowledge or skills. The field of speech-language pathology is riddled with paths that diverge, converge, overlap, and cross. By traveling these paths, I am satisfying my curiosity and thirst for knowledge while remaining in the confines of one discipline that allows me to build and grow. I never have to be "stuck" working in the same environment completing the same tasks day after day. There are a variety of settings in which to work, and every client presents a unique opportunity to learn something new. And the really great and amazing thing? None of these paths necessarily has an end! New discoveries are being made every day in the field as we learn more about how our minds and bodies work. New technologies are being developed to assist in evaluation and treatment. Wonderful minds are creating insightful new assessments and creative therapies.
In exploring this quote on "paths", I am led right back to my first quote. The multitude of paths that make up the field of speech-language pathology provide all of the necessary ingredients to kindle the fire of my mind, and as long as the paths keep expanding, the fire will never go out.
Happy Trails!
Friday, May 17, 2013
Hello and welcome!
Thank you for visiting my blog site! My name is Tracy, and I am in my final semester of graduate school studying communication disorders at Western Kentucky University. This creation is a result of a requirement for Professional Issues class. Blogging has intrigued me since its inception, and we shall see where this goes.
Since I am just starting out in my career as a speech-language pathologist, it feels like I have a lot more to learn than what I have to offer; however, isn’t that the beauty and nature of this profession? A large reason I entered this field is that it is dynamic and encourages me to keep growing and learning! I envision this site becoming a place to share therapy ideas, thoughtful prose on professional challenges, and comments on the latest research. Don’t be surprised if I occasionally include recipes, craft ideas, and random pics of my family, pet,s and garden! Most of all, I hope to provide support and encouragement to other professionals as well as caregivers, parents, and individuals living with a communication disorder.
So, if you have topic ideas for what you would like to see in this blog, please share them with me. I look forward to taking this journey with all who choose to join me!
Let’s give them something to talk about!!!
Since I am just starting out in my career as a speech-language pathologist, it feels like I have a lot more to learn than what I have to offer; however, isn’t that the beauty and nature of this profession? A large reason I entered this field is that it is dynamic and encourages me to keep growing and learning! I envision this site becoming a place to share therapy ideas, thoughtful prose on professional challenges, and comments on the latest research. Don’t be surprised if I occasionally include recipes, craft ideas, and random pics of my family, pet,s and garden! Most of all, I hope to provide support and encouragement to other professionals as well as caregivers, parents, and individuals living with a communication disorder.
So, if you have topic ideas for what you would like to see in this blog, please share them with me. I look forward to taking this journey with all who choose to join me!
Let’s give them something to talk about!!!
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