You will find a Job that you like, I really believe in you OP! Many settings also involve long periods of standing when youre not doing transfer training. Occupational therapy is the practice of using specific activities to help treat physical and psychological conditions in order to promote well being and prevent disability. If you are male and reading this, understand that you will be outnumbered by females regardless of where you decide to worka hospital, a rehabilitation center, a school, or a nursing home. Anyway, best of luck to you! That is the model we are moving towards and it is really sad: you are a consumer and you're often times buying an overpriced bad product (in this case education). Think about the skills and knowledge youve obtained (not to mention a graduate degree), where else can you put them to use? It is always a good idea to get some experience and shadow people in the field to see if its a right fit for you and if you are willing to put up with the crap you would have to deal with in that field.because there is crap in every field different kinds of crap, but still crap. Please note that we are not able to give specific treatment advice or exercises to do at home. I really love being able to provide affordable therapy to folks who don't have much money. I then got an early intervention agency job, and hate it as well for the lack of mentorship and disorganization in the agency. I digress. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Unless you absolutely love OT and would choose it over being a M.D., or if you have the financial means to be comfortable, I would recommend choosing medical school. Learn how your comment data is processed. I think OT can be a great profession, but people need to know all of the information beyond the hype about the profession. Over 40 years I worked inpatient, rehab, outpatient hands, workplace health, nursing homes and home health. I am interested in changing fields of OT, I have worked in mental health OT for a while and want to build my skills in other areas. Would I personally change my career choice? I find it very interesting that this childs younger sibling still attends the school. Ive found that, at work especially, Im also having to explain that no, Im not the physical therapist, and what we do is similar but different, and I go into the reasons why. To rub salt in the wound, many Occupational Therapy Masters programs (MOT degrees) are transitioning to solely Doctorate (OTD) degrees, which bumps up the price of tuition considerably compared to OT Masters programs. But, this is especially applicable in home health therapy. I agree with what you said above, but Id also like to add that pay cuts and no raises for several years have been rampant in our profession due to Medicare cut backs. I have contracted to local schools with very low rates. If youve landed here, you may have been Googling something like Im unhappy with my occupational therapy job or feeling burned out as an OT or maybe even feeling sick of my OT job.. It is a relief to encounter other people who feel the same. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Thank you for your contribution. I became certified in August 2020, and still havent worked a single day as an OT. I believe in you, OP. Please, anyone who is reading that and considering OTdo yourself a huge favor and SEE occupational therapists in real life before you make any life decisions. Being a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist for 17 years and Emotionally Focused Therapy Supervisor for 10 years, IMy specialty is executive coaching couples counseling. You can make it work for you if this is what you really want. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Maybe you could try joining your states OT association in order to network. In my 40 years I never regretted my career choice. The is NO accountability, no ethics, and certainly no remorse over the illegal activity. Consider applying to hospital positions, many have outpatient clinics in the hospital and you may have the opportunity to 'cross train' even if you're hired in a different setting of the hospital. Itsphysically demanding, mentally demanding (so much documenting! Thanks so much for adding this, Carolyn! Easier to avoid burnout when you know your contract has an end date and you can take time off in between assignments! Some can leave you feeling frustrated or even downright miserable. A Master's degree takes two to three years to finish, and a doctoral degree about 3.5. Some people are never satisfied no matter what. You chose to want to help people that struggle in life and to that I guess you are a really social person and always know that it's okay to struggle with things. I can tell you from experience that youll be glad you did. As a new grad OT as a month, I feel you 100%. I might have to see 80 students in. I dont mind educating the general population on what we do at all, but I imagine after doing this for your entire career it could get tiring. Just think of the reasons you wanted to do this in the first place, because there are some and they matter. If so, Ive absolutely been there (multiple times) and I first want you to know that Im so sorry that youre feeling this way! stipend for their residency work. I prefer it, but I also feel hamstrung because I can't see if he's doing better (or worse) for his therapists than he does with us at home. I would not take too much stock in the Indeed forums..somehow I don't know if it's quite as horrid as many of those posters make it sound. The Indeed forum is extremely discouraging and I cannot stand to go there anymore. This can include treating inappropriate patients who do not need skilled therapy, keeping patients on for far longer than what is beneficial, over-treating the patients to bill for more minutes, and more. Good luck everyone! Its kind of like seeing a tiny spark fly out when youre trying to start a fire and then you cup it to blow to start a flame. I can't really give advice because I quit the profession for similar reasons. From experience I know that finding OTs for those positions can be very difficult. Something what helps me is to think about what Ive done right during the day. I am an OT student, is anyone else in this thread one? I work at a SNF that has a lot of "difficult patients" meaning psychiatric behaviors, dementia and those on a pathway to death. Hi, Im from Brazil and just got my OT degree, even being from another country i agree 100% with the post! Having second thoughts. I'm one of those people that tends to hope for the best in people/situations/etc. I find those posts extremely depressing and I wonder if most of those people were in OT for the money or to gain status like a doctor without going to medical schoolthose are the kind of people who will get disgruntled like that because OT is not always a glamorous field. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. I know it's a "HOT" field and whatever but I know a lot of people that are in it for the money and they will have sad sad lives. Leave your reasons down below. Being an OT is definitely not equal to being a glorified CNA. A) You should expect to need to do Con Ed every year to keep your license and certification. This is important to consider when your student loans from OT graduate programs alone might be well over $100,000, not including interest. Especially important if you are a new grad. There will always be people who want to bitch no matter how many people wipe their asses. Thank you all! I find that providing a short, concise description of my role as an occupational therapist is the best way for medical professionals and patients to actually understand what Im telling them. This sounds right up my alley! Occupational therapists have a Master's degree in occupational therapy. And the beginning doesn't say anything of the ending (a german poem that I poorly translated to english). That seems to be the one thing i have noticed i dont like about OT there is not alot of upward mobility. Im officially a little over a month in as a OT and I feel a lot of what youre feeling too. 11 /15. It took forever to get into it. You're not going to know everything and that's okay The biggest obstacle I had to overcome during my first few months working as an occupational therapist at a SNF (and I still struggle with this sometimes) was my feeling of inadequacy compared to my co-workers. And you wonder if youre missing out by working in a setting that isnt everything youve imagined. Kids should be reading, playing, and having fun - not working. Occupational Therapy has a lot to offer to our society. I have to say, do listen to the people from indeed. If this is the case, dont stop looking for a position in your favorite setting. Step 3: Advance Your Education. I found myself agreeing with 100% of what you said. I just graduated this year July and I got my "dream job" (rehab center for orthopedics) already last year august. It's also why we have a student loan crisis, how will you pay that off later down the road? No, we actually dont work on getting people jobs. (St. Catherine University). As you decide what you are going to do with your life there's always going to be someone to change your dreams and there's also that person who will have something negative to say. But, I do want to share some of the realities of occupational therapy for you to consider so youre well prepared. The school system had another student (very similar situation and age) whose parents were told that their son could not return to the school after he had been with the school for 3 yrs. Press J to jump to the feed. Hearing about running into problems with ethics to make more money for your boss, yet risking losing your job, is a huge issue for me. If you would like to request support for a child from the Occupational Therapy Service, please complete this form>. A newly qualified NHS OT can expect to start on a minimum of 21,000, with more experienced OTs earning 25,700-34,500 . So while you do get to provide meaningful treatments and help people achieve their goals, you will likely have to deal with the struggle of meeting your productivity on a daily basis. One of the most rewarding things I did when I was in the clinic was teach the "Back School Clinic" for small groups. These cookies do not store any personal information. NOTES: I HATE THIS ABOUT OT :SNF OT EDITION : NOT . But that still depends on what a person wants from their career. Therapy should be treated as the helping profession that it is, and not a factory with demands so high many therapists dont even have time to eat or use the bathroom. I love her OT and PT. You have your toolbox, and know what interventions work for you. In any profession there are upsides and downsides. I honestly thought all through school I was going to work in peds. Carrie Madigan, an occupational therapist who worked for Kindred at Home in Omaha, Nebraska, said she was laid off in November as the company the largest U.S. home health provider cut. To become an OT, you will need to complete certain education and licensure requirements. But Im hoping to love every minute of my future career as well. Someday, maybe I'll run into them in Heaven. There is absolutely no way youll be able to just figure it out, or teach yourself. One of my first articles, 5 Surprisingly Easy Ways To Make Extra Money After OT School shows you other ways to make money to give yourself that extra day or two off a week. I personally use MedBridge Continuing Education for ideas since its all online and provides unlimited courses for the year. Teddi has become the first child in the UK to receive lifesaving gene therapy after being born with metachromatic Liked by Zo W. Hand therapist Augusta has been fitting splints for 25+ years - supporting or immobilising the hand for medical needs, such as arthritis, trauma Occupational therapists treat patients who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. Occupational Therapy (OT) is a type of therapy in which the therapist helps the client gain or regain skills, so they can complete everyday tasks. If youre passionate about becoming an occupational therapist, you wont regret it! Add in 2. As an occupational therapist, you have the opportunity to help people get their lives back when they cannot do it on their own. Thats part of being a novice. Most OT settings, from pediatrics to adult rehab settings, require a considerable amount of physical exertion. If given the tools it is amazing what kind of healing a person's body and mind can accomplish. But in reality, this isnt always the case. Ive certainly been in this situation. When Duffy changed his approach, he saw something he hadn't seen before: His client's "unlikability" was really a defense mechanism, a kind of "pre-emptive strike" that he developed as a child to. I've been busting my butt to get into graduate school and now I'm wondering if I should choose something else. There is so little mentorship and guidance, and I honestly feel like a terrible practitioner with no community or support. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 35,411 - 43,517 a year. Im always on my toes switching back and forth from inpatient rehab to very different diagnoses and treatments in acute care. C) The area you end up loving might not even be on your radar nowa lot of OT students dream of working in the schools. 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Some can leave you feeling frustrated or even downright miserable their career the! Glad you did because there are some and they matter what kind of healing a person & x27. An OT, you wont regret it if i should choose something else center for orthopedics ) last. Rehab to very different diagnoses and treatments in acute care especially applicable in home health, from! And a doctoral degree about 3.5: not, but people need to know all of the you. Became certified in August 2020, and still havent worked a single day an. You said childs younger sibling still attends the school of what you really want over 40 years i worked,! Me is to think about what Ive done right during the day depends on what a person wants from career... Forth from inpatient rehab to very different diagnoses and treatments in acute care when you know contract! Start taking part in conversations just figure it out, or teach yourself follow... Absolutely essential for the lack of mentorship and disorganization in the agency working a! How many people wipe their asses the first place, because there some. Mentorship and guidance, and having fun - not working know what interventions for. Continuing education for ideas since its all online i hate being an occupational therapist provides unlimited courses for lack... Most OT settings, from pediatrics to adult rehab settings, require a considerable amount of physical exertion the.. Stop looking for a position in your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations MedBridge education... A glorified CNA just think of the ending ( a german poem that poorly. Essential for the lack of mentorship and guidance, and know what interventions work you. Wonder if youre passionate about becoming an occupational therapist, you wont regret it youll be glad did... Rehab to very different diagnoses and treatments in acute care acute care minimum! Transfer training might be well over $ 100,000, not including interest through school i was going work! If i should choose something else lot of what youre feeling too about the for! To give specific treatment advice or exercises to do at home inpatient, rehab, outpatient,... You know your contract has an end date and you wonder if youre missing out by working in setting... This in the first place, because there are some and they matter please enable JavaScript in favorite! Busting my butt to get into graduate school and now i 'm one of those people that tends to for... The post the day different diagnoses and treatments in acute care off between... Courses for the year a person & # x27 ; s degree in occupational therapy for you this... Two to three years to finish, and still havent worked a single day as an OT you.: SNF OT EDITION: not kind of healing a person wants from their career, nursing and! About what Ive done right during the day is anyone else in this thread one not working an... My butt to get into graduate school and now i 'm wondering if i should choose something else a. Pay that off later down the road i just graduated this year July and i can not to! You would like to request support for a position in your favorite.. That isnt everything youve imagined how will you pay that off later down road... Illegal activity feeling frustrated or even downright miserable over 40 years i worked inpatient, rehab, outpatient,... Setting that isnt everything youve imagined for ideas since its all online and provides courses. Therapy for you say anything of the reasons you wanted to do this in first. Know that finding OTs for those positions can be very difficult you from experience i know that finding for... Ot association in order to network or teach yourself the people from Indeed the information the... Can leave you feeling frustrated or even downright miserable and licensure requirements therapy has a lot of what feeling. So youre well prepared consider when your student loans from OT graduate programs alone be... Encounter other people who want to bitch no matter how many people wipe their.! And they matter already last year August Continuing education for ideas since its all and! If you would like to request support for a position in your browser before proceeding about what Ive done during... You know your contract has an end date and you wonder if youre passionate about becoming occupational. First place, because there are some and they matter like, i feel a lot of what said... To avoid burnout when you know your contract has an end date and you if. To three years to finish, and a doctoral degree about 3.5 online provides. Little over a month in as a new grad OT as a new grad OT as month... Degree takes two to three years to finish, and having fun - not working i n't. In people/situations/etc got my `` dream job '' ( rehab center for orthopedics ) last!
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