Yes M'am!

Two weeks since I concluded my level 2 fieldwork and today, I wanted to discuss some key things I've experienced about working with the veteran population.

1. Respect

For you, the profession, and the things that you have to tell them. Especially in outpatient settings, patients were well receptive to my suggestions for body mechanics, environment modifications and therapeutic stretches+exercises. In inpatient settings, patients were either very receptive to or increasingly agitated/aggressive about therapy. However, for the most part, patients were fascinated about the small adjustments OTs can provide. I often hear "Wow something so small makes such a big difference in my life!"

2. Compliance

For the most part, patients were compliant to the therapeutic exercises done within the clinic. Sometimes in outpatient, I would be treating 4-5 patients at the same time. In these situations, I'm often making my way around the clinic instructing patients to do the next thing while correcting posture, form, and making sure that they are rehabilitating the proper muscle groups. Within the clinic, patients called the OTs drill sergeants and that sometimes we were worse than drill sergeants because we were so fixated on things like posture, center of gravity, spinal alignment. In that way, their experience from the service has already ingrained in them the natural tendency to be open to receiving orders. I can easily see my behavior being labeled as bossy in any other context. But here in the VA, patients responded well to me barking out the next exercise/stretch.

3. PTSD

Whenever I told my non-OT friends that I was working with veterans, I'm hit with the response of, "OMG, isn't that scary?! They go crazy and have such extreme PTSD." While media/movies have greatly increased the awareness of PTSD, it has also portrayed individuals with PTSD as dysfunctional, dangerous, and un-human. The first thing I learned is that not all service members experience PTSD and those that do vary in the kinds of symptoms that they experience. Therefore, as OTs we must be prepared in the event where a patient wants to discuss their ptsd, depression, insomnia, etc. This is often correlated to pain management as well. Patients can't get a good night sleep, that throws off their circadian rhythm, they are unable to perform their responsibilities/duties the next day, and intrinsically it decreases their confidence, efficacy, and identity. OTs can provide relaxation strategies, reinforcement, encouragement, and direct patients to sources (within and outside the VA) to ensure that he/she is receiving the best care possible.

All in all, this summer was a humbling experience, an opportunity to serve the men and women who served our country? to serve the ones who work to protect our country? WHAT AN HONOR. I have treated patients from World War II, Vietnam War, Korean War, Gulf War, and more recently, Iraq/Afghanistan. My patients were my greatest teachers in my OTS career yet, teaching me through their stories, lessons, and experiences. Through and through, they are the living testimonies of the importance of perseverance, resilience, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, love.