Developing Clinical Competence: A Workbook for the OTA

Developing Clinical Competence: A Workbook for the OTA helps occupational therapy assistant (OTA) students and novice practitioners develop the “practical” problem-solving and “real-life” skills essential for fieldwork and clinical practice. This user-friendly text helps the reader apply occupational therapy concepts and improve the clinical reasoning skills needed for academic coursework and successful transition to fieldwork and entry-level clinical practice.

The methods, learning activities, and worksheets presented in Developing Clinical Competence stem from Marie J. Morreale’s more than 15 years of experience teaching OTA students. Worksheets and learning activities address areas such as professionalism, ethical behavior, clinical decision making, effective communication, roles and responsibilities, selecting and implementing interventions, safety, assessing client function, documentation, group process, and more. The worksheets, learning activities, and suggested worksheet answers are written in an easy-to-read format and include a variety of methods such as multiple choice, matching, and true/false questions; case studies; vignettes; fill in the blanks; and experiential activities.

Although the chapters and exercises are presented in a logical progression, each chapter is fully independent of the others – readers can skip around and complete individual chapters or particular exercises in the order most conducive to individual learning needs. Appropriate for a variety of practice areas, Developing Clinical Competence can serve as a companion text for multiple classes throughout an OTA curriculum or as a useful study aid when preparing for fieldwork or the national certification exam.

Instructors in educational settings can visit www.efacultylounge.com for additional materials to be used for teaching in the classroom.

Features and benefits:
• Helps develop the practical problem-solving and common-sense skills essential for fieldwork and clinical practice
• Contains user-friendly worksheets, learning activities, and suggested worksheet answers with competencies broken down into smaller units and explained step-by-step to allow for easy independent study
• Provides thoroughly explained “answers” to the worksheet exercises at the end of each chapter with references
• Presents scenarios that represent situations commonly encountered in clinical practice
• Includes many helpful hints and clinical tips to teach readers what to do and how to react appropriately as health professionals

OTA students, faculty, and new practitioners will benefit from the opportunity to take the information presented in Developing Clinical Competence: A Workbook for the OTA and apply important concepts and techniques, problem solve situations step-by-step, prioritize interventions, improve clinical reasoning, demonstrate professional behaviors, and communicate more effectively.

Marie J. Morreale, OTR/L, CHT has more than 15 years of experience teaching occupational therapy assistant (OTA) students at Rockland Community College, State University of New York in Suffern. As an adjunct faculty member in the OTA program, Marie currently teaches Professional Issues and Documentation and Geriatric Principles. Over the years she also taught several other courses in the OTA program, including Occupational Therapy Skills, Advanced Occupational Therapy Skills, Therapeutic Activities, and Advanced Therapeutic Activities. Marie has made significant contributions to curriculum development and also served as interim coordinator of the OTA Program.

Marie graduated Summa Cum Laude from Quinnipiac College (now Quinnipiac University) in Hamden, Connecticut. She has experience working in a variety of occupational therapy practice settings including inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, long-term care, adult day care, home health, cognitive rehabilitation, and hand therapy. Marie has been a Certified Hand Therapist for 20 years and also served several years on a home health professional advisory committee, consulting on quality assurance issues. Marie has co-authored two OTA textbooks: The OTA’s Guide to Documentation: Writing SOAP Notes, Third Edition and The OTA’s Guide to Writing SOAP Notes, Second Edition. In addition, she has written a chapter on documentation for The Occupational Therapy Manager, Fifth Edition; published several occupational therapy articles; and is the author of two online continuing education courses. Marie is active in her church community and enjoys anything travel related.