The following are 10 tips that you can learn and apply in the clinical setting as a Physical Therapist Assistant. Having the responsibility of improving someones life not only physically but mentally has a big price tag on it. To be more then just your average clinician you should find a place in your career for them.
1. Be Passionate: Having a passion for the field of physical therapy is a must. Without passion you are just plodding along. The lack of passion will show not only in areas like your tone of voice and body language but, in your work as a whole. Your patient has been through enough down time already they are looking for someone that has skip in their walk and enjoys their work. Having passion will show in everything you do and it will show to everyone. be glad your there.
2. Be a Motivator: Motivation I have found plays a big part in the game of rehabilitation. Most patients will not be someone that is internally motivated, many are externally motivated. Keeping your patient interested in their rehabilitation can be tough but with some encouragement and skill you can usually get the patient to participate in the program. Of course there will always be those that nothing will get them to follow along. Some will be lost and you will not get them back.
3. Have a Get it Done Attitude: you will find days that you will feel you are being stretched beyond your means and capabilities. Having an attitude of defeat will not suffice here. In time you will learn how to exceed your limits. Your co-workers and patients will be counting on you and no one will be coming to the rescue. Insist upon yourself that you can accomplish whatever is laid before you when it comes to having to multi-task and you will succeed.
4. Be Competent: This go without saying that being a competent clinician helps. Being competent means not only in your profession but, but having the knowledge and skillset to be able to think out problems and how to solve them. Most of the encounters that you will come up against out in the field will be situations that necessarily were not in your textbooks. Becoming fully competent will only come with real world work experience and in time you will learn how to handle these unforseen situations.
5. Have A Friendly Personality: Getting along not only with your patients but with your co-workers will be essential. Having all the knowledge in the world but not being able to share it with people or have the people skills on how to present it is a lost cause. As the old saying goes "you get more with honey then you do with vinegar" is true. Present yourself with a smile an expression that says I'am here to help.
6. Be A Good Listener: knowing how to listen has become a lost art. You will be surprised what you can learn from your patient if you will give them a few minutes of your time and hear them out. I have been enlightend many times with information that proved valuable after listening to the patient before I began to dictate what I was going to do. Not only will you learn something that will save you some time but it helps build that mutual respect with your patient.
7. Be Empathic: This might be the most important trait of all. Someone once said " No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care." This very true. Again all the book knowledge in the world will not help you with the respect and cooperation from the patient if you do not show and demonstrate that you care about their well-being. If you show and tour actions are perceived that you care about what they may be going through, you will find the patient willing to work with you in difficult situations and you build a better bond between you both.
8. Never Stop Learning: Always be willing to continue reading in your area that you specialize in. Once you stop reading and learning you begin to regress. This is the reason behind some of the continuing education requirements in most states. You will never learn it all however. By reading you stay ahead of the average Therapist that is not reading and you continue to hone your skill. By continuing to read you are giving your patients the best possible care you can by staying up on new trends and rehabilitation tools that can be utilized in their recovery.
9. Be Dependable: Many people will be counting on you to come through for them. This includes not only fellow workers but, your patients. When you say you are going to do something then do it. If you are going to try reaserch a new treatment protocol and the patient is expecting some feedback then deliver it . Nothing will hurt your reputation more in the clinic then not being able to be counted on. In the world of Physical Therapy word gets around fast. It is a small world and if you are nothing more then show then that will be the reputation you will get. You do not want to go that route. Say it and then do it!
10. Be Good at Time Management: Keeping track of your time and being efficient is vital in any clinical setting. Everyone will be busy, you will learn how to manage time or you will get buried and become ineffective. Poor time management skills will reflect in other parts of your life as well. Your patients though they will not say it will expect you to be precise in your time. If you are not advise them beforehand that is the way to properly handle your patient. Most people will understand that there are emergencies in life but a simple phone call or stopping by their room to let them know will let the patient know you respect them enough to keep them abreast of your schedule. Your co-workers will appreciate it also.
There you have it. 10 of the most important skills to take with you once you leave school and enter the workforce. This list is not the holy grail there are many other traits and skills that are important and that could be added as well. Take them read them over and modify them if you wish then, make it a point to practice them each and every day and you will then be a success in your career.
Richard Haynes PTA/CPT Punta Gorda, Florida.
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