Assignment 19: Capstone Updates

What seemed like yesterday, I was typing my first blog post, but here I am today -- a slightly more knowledgable intern -- writing my 19th post for my readers. As May comes around the corner, I am preparing to complete my capstone to present to my audience. To complete my capstone, I have been gathering additional information to answer my essential question and preparing a pamphlet to go along with my presentation. To answer my essential question, I have been reading valid resources, and I have been getting my mentor's thoughts on them. For instance in Assignment 18, I got her input on how she implements the American Physical Therapy Association's research into her practice. Without speaking to her about the resource, I would have been missing a piece of information that has aided me into answering my essential question. In addition to this, I have been getting more involved with my mentor's patients. At first, my internship was a lot of cleaning and putting equipment away, but as I started to learn the exercises and gained patient familiarity, I transitioned from "cleaning girl" to "demonstrator, motivator, and friend girl." Though I have to admit I still clean a lot. From what I have learned, my mentor enjoys challenging me by asking, "Based on their injury, what exercise would you recommend?" This challenge turns on my critical thinking and puts me in her shoes by personalizing her patient's plan of care in the most effective way possible.

To best present my capstone, I have been working on a pamphlet to go along with my presentation. By having a pamphlet, my audience will be able to refer back to information that I may have moved on from or potentially have missed. If I were to not have additional aids, I would be missing a key ingredient to a successful and memorable presentation.