Reflection on Physiotherapy Practice: Ethics, Standards, and Learning

This essay presents a student's reflection on their experience working with a senior physiotherapist, focusing on a patient who recently underwent a left femur operation. The reflection covers the initial nervousness, the learning process through observation and guidance, and the challenges faced during bed transfer and home environment assessments. It highlights the importance of environmental assessment, communication with patients, and adherence to the HCPC code of conduct. The student identifies developmental needs, particularly in bed transfers and environmental assessments, and proposes an action plan involving professional development programs. The reflection links the experience to HCPC standards of proficiency and the code of ethics, emphasizing effective communication, working within limits, managing risk, and prioritizing lifelong learning. The essay concludes with a commitment to further professional development to enhance skills and knowledge in physiotherapy practice.

Running head: REFLECTION ON PHYSIOTHERAPY
Reflection on physiotherapy
Name of the student:
Name of the University:
Author’s note

1REFLECTION ON PHYSIOTHERAPY
Reflection:
Description:
As a student occupational therapist, I once worked with a senior physiotherapist to take
care of a patient who had left femur operation recently. After visiting the client’s home, I was
supposed to interact with patient and support the physiotherapist during bed transfer assessment
and bed mobility at home environment assessment. Although I had no practical experience in
conducting these kind of assessment, however with the guidance of the physiotherapist, I learnt a
lot about rapport building and ways to gather information
Feelings:
Initially I was very nervous regarding the process. I tried to be friendly with client and
introduced myself to him. However, I slowly understood the process with the instruction and
feedback of the physiotherapist. By closely monitoring the action of the physiotherapist, I
gradually became more relaxed and took notes to ask question and clarify doubts.
Evaluation:
While conducting bed transfer assessment, I asked the patient regarding any difficulty the
client faced during bed transfer. I was focussed more on taking information from client regarding
any safety issues for client during assessment. However, the physiotherapist made me aware
regarding assessment of height of bed, bed lever and other things around the bed too. The
supervision of the physiotherapist played a crucial role in completing the assessment in the right
manner (Pendleton and Schultz-Krohn 2017). I faced challenges in bed mobility at home
environment assessment as I lacked practical knowledge in the same procedure.

2REFLECTION ON PHYSIOTHERAPY
Analysis:
On completion of the task with the support from physiotherapist, I learnt a lot about
environmental assessment. I was instructed regarding monitoring the home environment to
assess the space, size of room, doors, steps and stairs to identify any adaptation or safety concern
needs for the client. Based on this assessment, I could give the suggestion that mobility aids and
bariatric equipment is important for patient.
Conclusion:
I am happy with the way I communicated with the client and I took all the reasonable
steps to cooperate with the client and the cares. In accordance with the HCPC guidance on code
of conduct, I also consulted the physiotherapist whenever I faced issue in completing the
assessment.
Action plan:
I lack the skills to conduct bed transfers and environmental assessment, my action plan is
to take part in professional development programs to learn about vital areas that is necessary
during this kind of assessment.
Developmental needs:
The developmental need identified through the reflection is related to the learning more
about the assessment procedure and to take responsibility for my own learning.
Links to HCPC standards of proficiency:

3REFLECTION ON PHYSIOTHERAPY
My action is linked to the HCPC proficiency standard of communicating effectively,
working within limits of the knowledge and skills and managing risk (Health and Care
Professions Council. 2018). I listened to the client and was accountable for his needs and I also
made sure work within my limits by asking help from the physiotherapist whenever needed. This
was also necessary as I lacked skills and experience required for the process (Ozelie et al. 2015).
Links to Code of Ethics:
The activity and experience is linked to section five of the code of ethics related to
professional competence and lifelong learning as I took supervision and focused on collaborative
work to achieve the goal of the activity (College of Occupational Therapist 2015).

4REFLECTION ON PHYSIOTHERAPY
Reference:
College of Occupational Therapist 2015. Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. Retrieved
from: https://www.rcot.co.uk/sites/default/files/CODE-OF-ETHICS-2015_0.pdf
Health and Care Professions Council. 2018. Guidance on conduct and ethics for students.
Retrieved from:
http://www.hpc-uk.org/assets/documents/10002C16Guidanceonconductandethicsforstudents.pdf
Ozelie, R., Janow, J., Kreutz, C., Mulry, M.K. and Penkala, A., 2015. Supervision of
occupational therapy level II fieldwork students: impact on and predictors of clinician
productivity. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 69(1), pp.6901260010p1-
6901260010p7.
Pendleton, H.M. and Schultz-Krohn, W., 2017. Pedretti's Occupational Therapy-E-Book:
Practice Skills for Physical Dysfunction. Elsevier Health Sciences.