I can say that I have been there too. I work in a very rural town with the hospital, nursing home, ALF, and outpatients seen basically in the same clinic area. Needless to say the level of awareness of OT is limited at best. I can't tell you how many people have introduced me to, or explained to another that I am an "OT" that works down in "PT". The concept of anything other than initials is non-existent to most here.
I have been promoting our profession. I scheduled and presented an in-service to many CNA's, attempting to educate them as to the real role delineation. Much to my surprise, it was accepted well. I feel a strong component to enlisting the nursing staff to buy into OT is to sell it as help to CNA's. I put it this way.We help people become more independent in their own self care. This way you can let them do these things for themselves and it will give you more time get someone else ready that needs more help. This logic seems to work. Most CNA's seem to be in favor of "lightening their load". Then, we appear as allies to the "boots on the ground", and that is not a bad place to start. CNA's have approached me afterwards and asked what else they could do to help make people more independent. Sneaky...but it worked. Anyway, hang in there OT's and continue to plunge your sword of determination into the heart of ignorance! Michael A. Holmes MSOTR/L North Valley Health and Rehabilitation 203 S. Western Ave. Tonasket,WA 98855 <mailto:o...@nvhospital.org> o...@nvhospital.org (509) 486-2151 x500 -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/otlist@otnow.com
