As I opened my computer, I spotted the email I had been waiting for, “Congratulations! You have been chosen to complete your fieldwork at a skilled nursing facility (SNF).” I read the sentence again. “Congratulations?” I thought as I closed my computer. “There must be a mistake.” As an occupational therapy graduate student, I had already decided, working with seniors was not for me. I wanted to work with exciting clients, in an exhilarating envrioment; not in a nursing facility. However, as I had just learned, I would I would be stuck there for the next six weeks observing and assisting an occupational therapist.
On my first day, I slowly pulled into the parking lot. “Well here I am,” I thought as I got out of the car, “it’s only six weeks, I can do this.” However, what I didn’t know was that I was about to enter a place, that would change the direction of my life. Upon meeting my fieldwork educator, I was informed that we had a full day ahead of us. Our first patient was a gentleman with dementia who had sustained an arm injury. She informed me that we were going to get him out of bed to begin his morning routine. “Exciting,” I thought to myself. When we got to his room, I saw what I believed to be a frail body …show more content…
I began to realize, these people were not broken objects without meaning or purpose. They could not be defined by their bodies, ages, or aliments. They could only be defined by their lives, passions, and purposes. Through my experiences with the inspiring residents during my first fieldwork, I was able to learn that everyone has a story to share; however, to see this you have to look past their external appearances. Antoine de Saint Exupery once said, “One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes.” I believe this lesson is something I will carry with me throughout my career as an occupational therapist, as well as in
On my first day, I slowly pulled into the parking lot. “Well here I am,” I thought as I got out of the car, “it’s only six weeks, I can do this.” However, what I didn’t know was that I was about to enter a place, that would change the direction of my life. Upon meeting my fieldwork educator, I was informed that we had a full day ahead of us. Our first patient was a gentleman with dementia who had sustained an arm injury. She informed me that we were going to get him out of bed to begin his morning routine. “Exciting,” I thought to myself. When we got to his room, I saw what I believed to be a frail body …show more content…
I began to realize, these people were not broken objects without meaning or purpose. They could not be defined by their bodies, ages, or aliments. They could only be defined by their lives, passions, and purposes. Through my experiences with the inspiring residents during my first fieldwork, I was able to learn that everyone has a story to share; however, to see this you have to look past their external appearances. Antoine de Saint Exupery once said, “One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes.” I believe this lesson is something I will carry with me throughout my career as an occupational therapist, as well as in