Powerful Lessons From a First Acute Care Rotation

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Acute Conversations

APTA Acute Care

53 episodes

2 weeks ago

Acute Conversations is the official podcast of APTA Acute Care — where bedside practice meets big-picture perspective. Hosted by Dr. Leo Arguelles, Dr. Daniel Young, and Dr. Nicole Neveau, the show brings you stories and insights from the frontlines of hospital-based physical therapy.

Danny brings the researcher’s eye — a pioneer in ICU mobility and a national voice on acute care evidence. Nicole brings the clinician’s heart — a neurologic specialist and mentor who helps therapists stay grounded in their “why.” Alongside Leo’s educator’s lens, they explore what it means to practice at the top of your license, deliver patient-centered care in high-stakes settings, and shape the future of acute care PT.

We share engaging conversations about acute care physical therapy so you can connect to your profession. From ICU breakthroughs to mentorship pearls, every episode blends scholarly depth with bedside relevance — helping you stay informed and inspired, ready to bring fresh insights back to your patients and teams.

🎧 Connect with Our Hosts
Leo Arguelles — Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/LeoArguellesPT • Email: largue2@uic.edu
Nicole Neveau, PT, DPT, NCS — LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-neveau/ • Email: ngunder1@gmail.com
Danny Young, PT, DPT, PhD — Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/DLYoungDPTPhD • Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/dlyoungdptphd.bsky.social • Email: daniel.young@unlv.edu

APTA Acute Care Resources
APTA Adult Vital Signs Guide: https://www.aptaacutecare.org/store/viewproduct.aspx?id=18270240
APTA Lab Values Document: https://www.aptaacutecare.org/store/viewproduct.aspx?id=10758036
APTA Acute Care: https://www.aptaacutecare.org/
Journal of Acute Care Physical Therapy (JACPT): https://journals.lww.com/jacpt/pages/default.aspx

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Medicine

Health & Fitness

Powerful Lessons From a First Acute Care Rotation

Acute Conversations

38 minutes 49 seconds

5 months ago

Powerful Lessons From a First Acute Care Rotation

Show Notes 2025
What do you really learn in acute care—and what does it feel like to use what you’ve learned in the classroom?
In this episode, we speak with Mika Mendoza, a recent UIC DPT graduate, who reflects on the clinical rotation that changed her perspective on physical therapy. From managing a complex discharge for a newly blind patient to navigating transplant floors and collaborating with interprofessional teams, Mika shares powerful insights on growth, uncertainty, and finding purpose in acute care.
This episode also marks the debut of our new co-host, Dr. Nicole Neveau, PT, DPT, who brings her experience as a CI and clinical leader into the conversation. Together, she and Leo explore mentorship, first-hand learning, and why exposure to acute care should be standard in DPT education.
Whether you’re a student, educator, or practicing clinician—this conversation will resonate.
Today’s Guests:
Mika Mendoza, SPT
mmendo47@uic.edu
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mika-mendoza-dpt2025/
Guest Quotes:
8:21 “ Interdisciplinary collaboration is, is key to acute care. It's not just walking and it's not just standing.”
19:33 “ …not all things were as straightforward as we had learned it in didactic.”
28:45 “ I feel like having students go into an acute care clinical rotation I think it's just so important because you will never know. If you don't try it, right? …Uou miss a hundred percent of the shots that you don't take.
And I think it's the same with acute care, especially because there are so many things that get debunked when you're in an acute care clinical rotation.”

Rapid Responses:
What kind of shoes do you wear in acute care?
“Not White Ones”
You know you work in acute care when…
“ When you try to swipe your badge to get into your house”
Links:
https://www.aptaacutecare.org/page/2026Elections

Connect with our host and the podcast!
Leo Arguelles (LEE-O R-GWELL-IS)
largue2@uic.edu
Twitter @LeoArguellesPT
Nicole Neveau
ngunder1@gmail.com
LinkedIn
Danny Young
daniel.young@unlv.edu
X - @DLYoungDPTPhD
Bluesky - @dlyoungdptphd.bsky.social
Interested in being a future guest?

APTA Acute Care:
Website
Awards
Journal Access
https://www.aptaacutecare.org/page/AspireandAchieveMentorshipProgram
Twitter @AcuteCareAPTA
Facebook APTA Acute Care
Instagram @AcademyAcutePT
YouTube APTA Acute Care Podcast

APTA Acute Care Resources
APTA Adult Vital Signs
APTA Lab Values Document
Webinar Recordings