wk4 reflection number 2

today I was asked to assess a patient day 4 post TKR on how they are managing with their exercises, ROM, amb with elbow crutches and stairs and general mobility and decide whether they would be ready for D/C on the weekend or if they needed to stay longer in hospital.
as I knew that in general terms for D/C a patient must have close to 90 degrees knee flexion, a quads lag less then 20 degrees, be confident, safe and independent in their mobility and amb with elbow crutches, I had an idea of what I was looking for in terms of this patient's chance of D/C. my supervisor suggested to look at these general aims for D/C as well as the individual patient and that depending on the patient and their circumstances these general aims maybe altered. I wasn't too nervous about doing this as I had helped stand this patient day 1 post surgery and I had been apart of the D/C assessment of other patient's in previous weeks.

I think I educated the patient well on the reasons behind the need to do her exercises, why her knee was hurting so much due to the surgery and general deconditioning of her leg. I also think I assessed her AROM well with a gonimometer and quads lag. I probably could have explained my reasoning behind my decision for when the patient should be D/C more clearly as I think I should have clearly thought out in my head what I was going to tell my supervisor before I said it.

I think I need to keep on improving my verbal handover, but I think with practice I am getting better at this, my main aim is to try making my verbal handover very organised and ordered.

I am still really enjoying placement and really enjoying all the opportunities I am given to learn new things.