What Skills Do Our Students Have?

Skills of MSOT Level I Rotation 1 Students

The focus of OT628, which is the first of their 4 fieldwork experiences, is on strengthening foundational skills they have already learned such as:

· Demonstrating professional behaviors

· Performing observation skills

· Performing activity & environmental analysis

· Using the terms and concepts in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework and OT Process

· The following clinical skills:

1. Building therapeutic rapport with clients

2. Interviewing clients

3. Measuring active and passive range of motion

4. Conducting manual muscle testing of the upper extremity

5. Taking dynametric measurements of grip and pinch strength

6. Measuring vital signs (e.g. Blood pressure, HR, RR, and oxygen saturation measurements)

7. Incorporating evidence in practice

Level I Rotation I is meant to provide the student with opportunities to practice the skills mentioned above to the extent that is reasonable for their assigned setting. During Level I Fieldwork experiences, students are not expected to perform independently.

Skills of MSOT Level I Rotation 2 Students

The focus of OT638, which is the second of their 4 fieldwork experiences, is on strengthening basic evaluation and intervention skills they have already learned such as:

· Using standardized and non-standardized evaluations

· Conducting intervention planning, and implementation

· Documentation

· Goal writing

· Client transfers and use of gait belts

· Positioning clients

· Using ADL equipment

· Using ambulation devices

· Promoting adaptive feeding

· Incorporating evidence into practice

Level I Rotation II is meant to provide students with opportunities to practice the skills mentioned above to the extent that is reasonable for their assigned setting. During Level I Fieldwork experiences, students are not expected to perform independently.

Skills of MSOT Level II Students

The focus of OT640 and OT641 is to hone all skills needed for entry-level practice. Students have practiced evaluations, intervention planning, and intervention implementation. They have done all types of documentation and goal writing. This means they are prepared to begin to take on a case load of their own and should be able to carry a full case load appropriate to their assigned setting by the end of their 12 week experience. Additionally, they are skilled at providing in-services, sharing research evidence, and participating in advocacy activities.