I believe every single PT student should do their first clinical rotation in an acute care setting. Here’s why: You see most everything a physical therapist does all in one setting:

• Orthopedics- if you work in a major hospital chances are you will work with a s/p joint replacement of some sort. Hips, knees, shoulders…you name it. It’s all there.
• Cardiopulmonary- CABG, Cath, AV valves, Respirators OH MY! You better know your sternal precautions.
• Geriatrics- Not everyone in the hospital is old, but the majority certainly are.
• Neuro- CVA, spinal cord stroke, GBS, SCI… It’s all here folks.
• Multidisciplinary learning- you are surrounded by Nurses, OT’s, Speech Pathologists, Respiratory Therapists, Dieticians, MD’s, any many other disciplines. Wonder what they all do? I’m sure your CI would love to let you spend half a day shadowing one of them.

I believe it is the perfect place to start on your first clinical because it will provide you with a nice foundation for the rest of school. You will learn patient care skills, bedside manor, and you will be able to understand where your patients are coming from. Unfortunately, this acute rotation is my last. It has been a nice summary of everything I have learned, but if I could do it all again I would most definitely choose acute care first. So, if you are wondering where you should go, find a hospital that will take you and make the most of it. I promise you will not regret it!

I have been sitting here going through my review for the NPTE. I know that many of us would rather live in the world of muscle and bones, however without the neurological anatomy providing the hard wiring for all those muscle and bones we wouldn’t function at all.

This is why I have decided to include a little neurological anatomy review to refresh those of us who tend to dwell in the realm of Orthopedics.

I heard that groan !…. Trust me its not as bad as it sounds. Read the full story

For neuro class last year I made printable spinal tract templates to trace out the different tracts to help me study.

I have an anterior view and a posterior view to help you study both angles and views.

Download and enjoy! Hope they help.

Link: Printable Spinal Tracts
Version: 1.0
Downloaded: 556 times
Description: printable spinal tract templates to trace out the different tracts to help me study. I have an anterior view and a posterior view to help you study both angles and views.

On a regular basis I check out Medical Powerpoint Presentations blog to see what new things I can learn about. Tonight as I perused the front page their presentation on spinal cord compression caught my eye. Here is a little excerpt of their post and if it catches your attention you can find the link at the bottom of this post to the full article as well as the amazing powerpoint they created.

Spinal cord compression develops when the spinal cord is compressed by bone fragments from a vertebral fracture, a tumor, abscess, ruptured intervertebral disc or other lesion.

Symptoms suggestive of cord compression are back pain, a dermatome of increased sensation, paralysis of limbs below the level of compression, decreased sensation below the level of compression, urinary and fecal incontinence and/or urinary retention. Lhermitte’s sign (intermittent shooting electrical sensation) and hyperreflexia may be present.

For the full article and powerpoint click here

I don’t normally post youtube videos but I guess I am just on a roll! Also these videos are flipping sweet! As a matter of fact their entire website/videos are flipping sweet! Anywho here are two videos regarding the MCA. Enjoy!

Middle Cerebral Artery Stroke – USML Entertainment

Left Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA) Stroke – USMLE Study Songs

to see more of USMLE’s amazing videos click here

Following up to the prior mnemonic of the week we have, drum roll please…….. ok I am sure you already know based on the title of the post. Cranial Nerves!!!

Before I begin allow me to give those not familiar with the nerves a little background and maybe something educational all at the same time.

The cranial nerves are 12 pairs of nerves that can be seen on the ventral (bottom) surface of the brain. Some of these nerves bring information from the sense organs to the brain; other cranial nerves control muscles; other cranial nerves are connected to glands or internal organs such as the heart and lungs.

G: On Old Olympus Towering Top A Famous Vocal German Viewed Some Hops

R: Oh Oh Oh To Touch And Feel Virgn Girls Vagina So Happy

olfactory, optic, oculomotor, trochlear, trigeminal, abducens, facial, vestibulocochlear, glossopharyngeal, vagus, spinal accessory, hypoglossal.

Now there are a million different ones to choose from so don’t think that these are it. Google it and I am sure you will find another that will work better for you.

Below is a chart of the cranial nerves and their corresponding function.

Sources:

1. the nifty chart
2. oh good ol wikipedia
3. allnurses forum
4. washington.edu