Introduction to RT and Inpatient Groups

What is Recreational Therapy (Rec Therapy/ RT) ?

• Evidence-based

  treatment service designed to restore, remediate

  and rehabilitate a person’s level of functioning and

  independence in life activities, to promote health

  and wellness as well as reduce or eliminate barriers

  to participation in daily activities caused by an illness

  or disabling condition.

• Playing Sports and doing crafts

• Providing Entertainment for patients

• Just something we made up

Answer explanation

Evidence-based

treatment service designed to restore, remediate

and rehabilitate a person’s level of functioning and

independence in life activities, to promote health

and wellness as well as reduce or eliminate barriers

to participation in daily activities caused by an illness

or disabling condition.

"A Physical Therapist will give you the strength to get out of bed, an Occupational Therapist will teach you how to get out of bed, but a Recreational Therapist will give you a reason to get out of bed." 

What types of groups does a Recreational Therapist facilitate?

• Coping and Communication Skills

• Expressive Media

• Leisure Skills and Leisure Education

• Wellness

• Pet Therapy

Answer explanation

Coping Skills

Communication Skills

Wellness

Leisure Skills

Leisure Education

Expressive Media

Pet Therapy

True or False
The Recreational Therapists (RTs) facilitate all groups on the units.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

-Social Workers

-Psychology Department

-Recovery Support Specialists

-Pharmacist

-Volunteers (AA, Sound Healing, Peer Support, Pet Therapy and Yoga)

-Nursing staff

-APRNs and Psychiatrist

-Yoga Instructor (Andrew)

What is the same-day group cancellation policy?

• Group leaders should tell the patients

• Group leaders should call the unit and ask staff to remove group from schedule board

• Group leader should email the RT

• There is none. Patients will realize there is no group when no one shows up.

Answer explanation

If groups are being cancelled the RT should be notified and group rescheduled. However same day cancellations require someone taking the posted group off of the schedule board. Patients in the day area should also be told, and given an apology. Group leaders are told to call the nurses station if they are not in the building/out sick.

True or False: We are allowed to take patients to other units for groups.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

AA Meetings- Volunteer led- staff always need to be present. Wednesdays on 3S, Fridays on 2S.

Psychosis Group-psychology led. Mondays on 2S, Wednesdays on 3N

Yoga

True or False: TVs and phones are turned off during group times.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Unit TV and phones should be turned off BEFORE group starts. All staff are responsible.

This encourages patients to go to group/be on time for group.

Exceptions are made for patients on important phone calls (phone screenings/discharge planning)

A patient is asking to be let into the group room. You check the schedule and see that group started 20 minutes ago. What do you do?

• Open the door to the group and let the patient in.

• Kindly let the patient know that group started 20 minutes ago and you are not allowed to let patients in at this time.

• Tell the patient "they snooze, they lose"

Answer explanation

While going though a patient's belongings you notice paint brushes, paint, a composition notebook, books and fidget toys. What do you do?

• Give them their belongings, it's great they have hobbies!

• Lock the belongings up and let them know they can have their supplies when they are discharged.

• None of the above

Answer explanation

Supplies not allowed:

•       Strings/Ribbon

•       Composition Notebooks

•       Spiral Notebooks and three ring binders

•       Erasers

•       Scissors

•       Plastic Bags

•       Staples

•       Paper Clips

•       Rubber bands

•       Wooden or metal/tin foil crafts

•       Paint brushes that have ANY metal on them

•       Sharpies/permanent markers

•       Pencil sharpeners

Which of the following items are available in the RT office for any staff member to give out to patients?

• Stress Balls and other Fidget toys

• Sound Machines

• Scented Lotions

• Extra recreational supplies such as glue sticks, decks of cards, origami paper and more

• All of the Above

Answer explanation

Other items that can be found in the RT office:

-Yard games

-Diversional books and activities

-Candy/Chocolate

-Bubbles

-Audio books

-Dictionaries and Bibles

-Reading glasses

What groups are acceptable for any staff member to facilitate? (click all that apply)

• Art Therapy

• Board Game or Trivia Group

• Ted Talks and other inspirational videos

• Relaxation

• Music Group