A placement in an acute medical ward as a physiotherapy student can be both exciting and challenging. It provides a unique opportunity to work with patients with acute medical conditions, enhancing your clinical skills and expanding your knowledge base. To make the most of your acute medical ward physiotherapy placement, careful preparation is key. In this blog post, we’ll explore valuable tips and strategies to help you excel and thrive in this dynamic placement setting.
Familiarise Yourself with Common Medical Conditions:
Acute medical wards often handle a wide range of conditions. Take the time to familiarise yourself with common medical conditions you are likely to encounter during your placement. Study relevant pathologies, treatment approaches, and potential physiotherapy interventions. This foundation of knowledge will enable you to contribute effectively to patient care. If you have any uncertainty about the common medical conditions you should be familiar with, you can seek guidance from your clinical educator before the start of your placement.
Review Clinical Assessment Skills:
Developing strong clinical assessment skills is essential for providing optimal care in an acute medical setting. Review and practice key assessment techniques, such as respiratory assessments, cardiovascular assessments, and functional mobility assessments. Refine your ability to interpret vital signs, lung sounds, and other relevant clinical indicators.
Understand the Ward Routine and Workflow:
Each acute medical ward may have its own routines and workflow. Before starting your placement, reach out to your clinical educator to gather information about the ward’s schedule, patient flow, and multi-disciplinary team collaboration. This knowledge will help you integrate seamlessly into the team and make the most of your learning opportunities.
Brush Up on Communication and Interpersonal Skills:
Effective communication and interpersonal skills are vital in an acute medical ward. Practice active listening, empathy, and clear verbal and non-verbal communication. Develop the ability to adapt your communication style to different patients and members of the healthcare team. Building strong rapport and collaborating effectively will enhance your overall experience and patient outcomes.
Stay Updated on Relevant Guidelines and Protocols:
Acute medical wards often follow specific guidelines and protocols for patient management. Stay updated on relevant guidelines related to respiratory care, mobility, infection control, and safety. Familiarise yourself with the hospital’s policies and procedures to ensure you provide evidence-based care that aligns with best practices.
Enhance your Respiratory Therapy Skills:
Respiratory conditions are prevalent in acute medical wards. Take the time to work on your respiratory therapy skills, including techniques such as lung clearance techniques, positioning, and oxygen therapy. Familiarise yourself with respiratory equipment commonly used in this setting, such as nebulisers, incentive spirometers, and chest physiotherapy devices.
Develop Time Management and Prioritisation Skills:
Acute medical wards are often fast-paced and demanding environments. Develop strong time management and prioritisation skills to handle multiple patients and tasks effectively. Learn to triage and prioritize interventions based on patient acuity and individual needs. This skill will help you navigate the workload and provide efficient and timely care. For example, a patient that is acutely desaturating whilst on supplemental oxygen will take priority over another patient with a one-day history of lower back pain.
Comment below if you have more useful tips for an acute medical placement!