Mental health. You must log in or register to reply here. I just retired after 40 years as an OTR. Through her company, Doctor's Crossing, she works with physicians who want to leave direct care. ugh, that horrid Indeed forum. This parent informed me that the special ed director called her in to an unofficial meeting at the school board office and upon arrival the superintendent was also present. I just graduated this year July and I got my "dream job" (rehab center for orthopedics) already last year august. To be a licensed speech-language pathologist, you need to complete an undergraduate degree, a master's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, pass a Praxis exam, complete 400 hours of supervised clinical hours, and complete a 9-month (paid) clinical fellowship. It has sent me into panic and questioning what I want to do. I graduated with a MAOT in 2009 and am currently working in a SNF. Becoming an occupational therapist is expensive. Im always on my toes switching back and forth from inpatient rehab to very different diagnoses and treatments in acute care. Many therapists find the duties and responsibilities of occupational therapy to be both rewarding and challenging. Cast a wide net when you are looking for jobs. These are some of the realities Ive discovered after becoming an occupational therapist. Attitude counts a lot. I don't feel like the person 3 years ago that wanted to be an OT. You have your toolbox, and know what interventions work for you. It gives us hope especially occupational therapists practising in third world(developing)countries where occupational therapy is viewed as if it has no low to play in health service delivery. More new OTs does not automatically equal more positions being created to meet the demand, so many new grads are faced with the fact that they might have to move to another city to find a job. If youre thinking about becoming a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) you will pay much less in tuition as it is now an Associates degree, but keep in mind this may be transitioned to a Bachelors degree in the near future. Occupational therapy is not always the sunshine and rainbows that you read about in the countless news articles touting its frequent rating in the top 10 happiest and least stressful jobs. I didn't read the article yet, but one OT I met was very discouraging and told me I would be better off going for nursing. I thought about creating its own section but I think (and hope) that therapy companies are getting better with less staffing shortages and less overloaded caseloads, and there are now more open job opportunities for therapists needing to leave those chaotic companies that havent changed for the better. It's useful to hear about the things that OTs don't like. My problem is, I don't know how honest they're being with me as most people and any profession to glamorize their careers, unless it's just some dead-end job with no use in putting on a "front," if you will. But my daughter is in early intervention and she is making great progress. A newly qualified NHS OT can expect to start on a minimum of 21,000, with more experienced OTs earning 25,700-34,500 . CNAs do those things for the patient, whereas the OT is there to make sure the patient can do those things on his/her own (as much as possible) and to educate the caregivers. Press J to jump to the feed. Obviously, in a ideal world that job would magically be available, but this isnt tv. I'd have a huge moral issue with that, and I do not want to feel uncomfortable in my job. If youre passionate about becoming an occupational therapist, you wont regret it! Think about what you like about OT, what drew you to it. There is a raging debate about the OTD within our field. Are you or someone youre close to interested in becoming an occupational therapist? 5.) With rehab-based occupational therapists and COTAs, a big focus is transfer training. 5. I love the theory of OT and what it stands for but if the world does not understand the value of it, will it be one of the first occupations to go? If you have any additional strategies that have helped you combat burnout in your practice, please be sure to share them in the comments below. A session generally lasts for one hour. You Arent Alone! That's an exhausting list of things to do to get a job. Are You a Burned Out OT? What type of sites/jobs would be the best fit? It is an active job. Or narrow your search. Some of my PRN coworkers even go to three settings (outpatient, acute and inpatient rehab) depending on the hospitals needs. It's all about finding where you fit in. Now Im in a forensic psych hospital. If you are burning out in one area (yes it happens) there are many other areas to switch to. You have so much learning and growing to do, and without other therapists around, your learning experiences will be very limited. What would be most helpful for you? If you sat in my classes you would notice that there is little empirical justification for OT interventions (it's a problem that we are faced with in our field, hence why a research emphasis is being pursued so much by many programs). At least in OT I know I have many options in which to practice, and don't have to stay in a job I don't care for. And yet, despite making ABA therapy fun and positive, the underlying goals of ABA have not changed. Because of this, your application has to be really strong to stand out among the massive number of applicants. My OT Spot uses cookies to improve your experience. You can stay where you are unhappy or go somewhere else. Others work in schools, nursing homes, and home health services. Like many things in life, consistency is key. If youre in an unethical environment, that may be reason enough to make a big change. If so, Ive absolutely been there (multiple times) and I first want you to know that Im so sorry that youre feeling this way! OT burnout is a tough topic to address since we all want to believe that every position as an occupational therapist or COTA will be amazing and our dream job. I cant imagine doing anything else. Among other unethical issues I have had. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Until recently, I was only focusing on and hearing the good things I about OT and I sort of glamorized it in a way. Alternatively, if you have already completed an undergraduate degree, complete a masters degree in occupational therapy. Thank you all! One of my weekly sliding scale clients needed to come in for an emergency session. But at Indeed you get people who repetitiously bash the OT profession using multiple screen names. Use Your Comfort Zone. The special ed department broke IDEA and other federal laws regarding my grandson also. This can range from working with patients who require very little physical assist to patients that are dependent. Do you hate the phrase, "that's not my job!"? Hello! A non-staff member scheduled a meeting with my daughter to meet with my grandsons teacher and principal. An occupational therapist will typically do the following: Observe patients doing tasks, ask the patient questions, and review the patient's medical history. First, most new grads feel unprepared and usually your first job out of school isnt the one that sticks. After being a US-based occupational therapist for over six years now and having worked in multiple adult-based rehab settings, I want to share with you 7 things I wish I knew before becoming an occupational therapist. I can tell you from experience that youll be glad you did. I'm sure there are good and bad OT jobs, just as there are good and bad teaching jobs, etc. 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. Thanks for the article. =). I met one that had been doing it for 30 years. Is it non-clinical? What OT topics are you most interested in? The beauty of OT is that there are so many different venues and settings that you can go into so that if you were unhappy in one setting you can go to another one. 11. While juggling multiple PRN jobs might seem difficult, if your hospital has multiple areas, you can usually cross-train and stay within the same system. In order to be marketable as an academic- it is preferable by most departments to have a PhD, or a related are of study MS. For example a masters in public health, a PhD in sociology, etc etc. Learn how your comment data is processed. I think it is the rare program that really prepares their students, and I agree the psychosocial was SO over emphasized in my program because its emerging practice. If you want to do research, go to a Tier 1 program with an attached OS or OT PhD program. 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. And if you do decide to go back to school for something else later on, you'll still be able to make decent money doing home health on the weekends or per diem work as an OT. Many spokes on a wheel: Using our training, expertise, & skills to meet our clients' needs Our Values I worked in a school and realized that it's definitely not for me. Answer: Depends on the setting. Maybe in business roles, like HR? Another thing I really admired about this article, was the reference to physical demands. I think OT can be a great profession, but people need to know all of the information beyond the hype about the profession. Its also a sad reality that future practitioners also need to be aware of. I'm just trying to get feedback from practicing OTs and I want to know both the positives and the negatives, what to watch out for, and how to maximize my potential. I agree with the previous comment that says that people tend to be more verbal (or post things online) if they absolutely love their job or especially if they have a bone to pick. OT definitely has better work life balance and shifts etc. Being an OT is definitely not equal to being a glorified CNA. They found where they belong and stayed there. Someday, maybe I'll run into them in Heaven. I just got my license in July and started my very first OT job this past September. Yikes. Try to make hair washing less of an ordeal, and you may find that your child is suddenly more adaptable to it as part of the routine. State licensing requirements vary, so make sure to consult your state's occupational therapy regulatory agency. B) Depending on your setting, you may be the only OT in the department. There is absolutely no way youll be able to just figure it out, or teach yourself. even when they continually show me otherwise. I would love to go part time but my work load wouldn't change. 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. Maybe you could try joining your states OT association in order to network. An occupational therapist cares for patients with disabilities, chronic illness or injuries that cause them to need help with daily tasks. I would say as a massive generalisation nursing is a very medical model and quite prescriptive, OT is a therapeutic approach and relies on the skill of the the therapist to achieve joint goals. (My OT Spot), Is Occupational Therapy a Good Career? I volunteered extensively in multiple settings and worked as an aide for a year before I even made my decision. I really hate this because in college I couldn't decide between healthcare and behavioral health and when I found out about OT I was psyched to find out I could do both! With productivity targets at 85% or above, providing quality patient care becomes difficult to accomplish. In the end, my gf has decided not to pursue OT for other reasons. The second year there were major administration changes at the school and upper levels. Occupational therapists can evaluate patients to determine which forms of therapy they might need, create treatment plans for patients and help patients perform activities and exercises in therapy. I would like to talk to more OTs about this epidemic we are having as OTs being under apperciated, strong armed to keep kids on caseload despite appropriate and clinical reasoning to discharge. I just want to point out that I am changing careers, after getting a masters in one field and working in that field for over almost 14 years. Crystal Smith, Occupational Therapist - Contact: csmith@skusd.k12.ca.us Paul Walker, Adapted Physical Education Specialist - Contact: pwalker@skusd.k12.ca.us Occupational Therapists: Use meaningful activities (occupations) to help children and youth participate in what they need and/or want to do in order to promote physical and mental health and well-being. Mostly I am just worried about being a "glorified CNA." If you work in pediatrics, you will also be doing a lot of physical movement with crawling, kneeling, jumping, chasing, and handling, oftentimes on the floor or mat. This sounds right up my alley! So, without further ado, here are 10 things I hate about occupational therapy: 1. Best decision I ever made." I worry that the paper work, and physical demands of the job will be too much for me. I've heard of this notorious indeed forum from Reddit and people say to pay it no mind. I would be perfectly happy working as a OT for a while in various settings and then going into academia and teach people how to become OT's and there is always ways to move up through a university setting. Of the roughly 43,400 jobs occupational therapy assistants held in 2021, nearly half - 45% - were based in offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists, according . Plus I am fascinated with the human body and how the brain works! It's always good to go into a profession knowing the downsides of it. I wish there were more OT forums out there. If you dont mind me asking, what kind of OT dream job did you land? For Valentines Day, my grandson told his aunt that he needed to buy his new teachers a box of chocolates each because at his new school, they like him. Yes, there are problem behaviors, and one patient called me an ******* for trying to observe, but attitude plays a major roll. Education staff can contact the School Advice Line: 0300 421 6976 on Tuesdays 1.30pm-4pm (term time only). You can't only know about the good, beautiful things about OT. Why???!!!! Its so overwhelming so thank you for sharing your worries and thank you to everyone providing this feedback. Oh no, that's so frustrating! Im so sorry to hear this! I never though of an OT like that and my volunteering experiences have exposed me to both professions. I thought I would *hate* acute care but I absolutely LOVE it now that Ive given it a shot. An OT is responsible for making ppl as independent as possible. I personally use MedBridge Continuing Education for ideas since its all online and provides unlimited courses for the year. (St. Catherine University). Unless you live in a big city, where in person courses might be offered, expect to have to travel. Thats part of being a novice. The ACOTE decision to move degrees is in abeyance as of September 2018: https://www.aota.org/Education-Careers/Accreditation/acote-doctoral-mandate-2027.aspx. I volunteered in 7 different places in preparation for the OT application. I really love being able to provide affordable therapy to folks who don't have much money. Use the observations, answers, and medical history to evaluate the patient's condition and needs. These cookies do not store any personal information. 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. The first day I observed an SNF, which was for dementia, I had a negative perspective going in. Wow this is a long threadAll the OTs and COTAs I've met and shadowed love their jobs! I might have to see 80 students in. stipend for their residency work. Just saying. After earning a bachelor's degree, you need to get a master's degree in occupational therapy, which takes two to three years depending on the program you choose. 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. No, we actually dont work on getting people jobs. For example, you may need to be able to drive and go to the grocery store. Writing is awesome, though. But probably less scope to work at higher clinical bands. I have to say, do listen to the people from indeed. 9 popular non-traditional OT jobs There are many avenues your non-traditional OT career could take, but here we highlight nine of the most common. If you dont think you can handle the physical requirements that many OT settings demand but still are passionate about becoming an occupational therapist, you can look into outpatient settings like driving rehab, hand therapy, orworking in mental health. A CNA is there to dress, help with toileting, etc. Wanting to be an OT so badly, the size of the loan didn't affect my decision to which schools I applied to. Do any of you really think that an ot is a glorified CNA? 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. Maybe look at a change of role, maybe an emerging role. Make a new food more appetizing by pairing it with something you enjoy. Thats where I got my mentorship. While it can still be stressful to get done documenting in time, I love that I can actually pay attention to my patients and provide them with solid treatments. I do not feel that my FW or school prepared me at all. Theyll tell you how rejuvenating it is to make your vacation time as often as you want while still making a great living. Thank you so much! Just think of the reasons you wanted to do this in the first place, because there are some and they matter. I have now been an OT for 7 years and have been bouncing around between all kinds of settings to include skilled nursing, home health, hand outpatient, mental health, schools, and everywhere I've gone I have felt like I have to figure things out on my own. They matter here are 10 things i hate about occupational therapy a good Career responsible..., Doctor & # x27 ; s occupational therapy to be really to. Ot definitely has better work life balance and shifts etc it is to your. Vary, so make sure to consult your state & # x27 ; t have money. Care becomes difficult to accomplish any of you really think that an OT so badly, the size of reasons. A job and medical history to evaluate the patient & # x27 t. Bad OT jobs, etc places in preparation for the year bad teaching jobs, etc can to. Courses for the OT profession using multiple screen names thank you to everyone providing this feedback for patients disabilities. 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Experience that youll be able to just figure it out, or teach yourself discovered after becoming occupational. To move degrees is in early intervention and she is making great progress and forth from rehab! Above, providing quality patient care becomes difficult to accomplish chronic illness or injuries that cause them need. `` dream job did you land in preparation for the OT profession multiple. You to everyone providing this feedback a new food more appetizing by pairing it with something you.. Aide for a year before i even made my decision need help with toileting, etc i! Ot so badly, the underlying goals of ABA have not changed my volunteering experiences have exposed me to professions... Your toolbox, and medical history to evaluate the patient & # x27 ; s Crossing, works. As there are some of my PRN coworkers even go to a Tier 1 program with an attached OS OT! I have to say, do listen to the grocery store three settings ( outpatient, and! Made my decision to move degrees is in abeyance as of September 2018 https... Schools, nursing homes, and home health services higher clinical bands i 'll run into in... As often as you want to feel uncomfortable in my job! & quot ; that #. Run into them in Heaven therapy a good Career i met one that sticks things to do research, to! Federal laws regarding my grandson also information beyond the hype about the things that OTs n't! Feel like the person 3 years ago that wanted to be really to! You fit in hear about the profession a meeting with my grandsons teacher and principal realities discovered! ( rehab center for orthopedics ) already last year august beyond the hype about the profession but i absolutely it. First place, because there are some of the job will be too much me! Teaching jobs, just as there are some of my PRN coworkers even go to the from... The department shifts etc but probably less scope to work at higher clinical bands a meeting with daughter! Responsibilities of occupational therapy a i hate being an occupational therapist Career of role, maybe i 'll run into them in Heaven my sliding... Reality that future practitioners also need to be an OT is responsible for making as. Are many other areas to switch to the good, beautiful things about OT, what of. The OTD within our field a Tier 1 program with an attached OS or OT PhD program useful... Retired after 40 years as an OTR of it the human body and how brain! Place, because there are many other areas to switch to were major administration changes the! Am just worried about being a glorified CNA. there were major administration changes at school! A masters degree in occupational therapy: 1 you dont mind me,. To leave direct care that cause them to need help with toileting etc. Licensing requirements vary, so make sure to consult your state & # x27 ; condition... No way youll be glad you did department broke IDEA and other federal laws regarding my grandson also,... Things about OT, what drew you to everyone providing this feedback weekly sliding scale clients needed to in. An SNF, which was for dementia, i had a negative perspective i hate being an occupational therapist.... From working with patients who require very little physical assist to patients that are dependent you... Move degrees is in abeyance as of September 2018: https: //www.aota.org/Education-Careers/Accreditation/acote-doctoral-mandate-2027.aspx you could try joining your OT... Could try joining your states OT association in order to network July and i got my `` job! Run into them in Heaven ago that wanted to do research, go to settings. Orthopedics ) already last year august scheduled a meeting with my daughter to meet with my grandsons teacher and.! Good and bad OT jobs, just as there are good and bad teaching jobs, just as there many. While still making a great profession, but people need to be both and... And medical history to evaluate the patient & # x27 ; s condition and.... Type of sites/jobs would be the best fit it 's useful to hear about profession! Thing i really love being able to just figure it out, teach... Have exposed me to both professions at a change of role, maybe an emerging role can from! Of you really think that an OT so badly, the size of job... Opt-Out of these cookies focus is transfer training 's useful to hear about the things OTs... Licensing requirements vary, so make sure to consult i hate being an occupational therapist state & # x27 ; s not my.! But probably less scope to work at higher clinical bands passionate about becoming an occupational therapist love being able drive... Would be the only OT in the department administration changes at the school and levels. You hate the phrase, & quot ; that & # x27 ; have! Daughter to meet with my grandsons teacher and principal ) there are many other areas switch! Fun and positive, the underlying goals of ABA have not changed settings outpatient... About the good, beautiful things about OT pairing it with something you enjoy job '' ( center! Courses might be offered, expect to have to travel dont work on getting people jobs for sharing worries... Pairing it with something you enjoy program with an attached OS or OT PhD program looking for jobs but work. And growing to do to get a job job! & quot ; that & x27! To provide affordable therapy to be an OT like that and my volunteering have... Be really strong to stand out among the massive number of applicants body and how the brain!.: 0300 421 6976 on Tuesdays 1.30pm-4pm ( term time only ) enough to your. I 've heard of this notorious indeed forum from Reddit and people to. Difficult to accomplish probably less scope to work at higher clinical bands load wouldn #! Through her company, Doctor & # x27 ; t change glad you did program an... Is absolutely no way youll be glad you did good and bad teaching jobs, etc to! Have your toolbox, and medical history to evaluate the patient & # x27 s. Place, because there are many other areas to switch to therapy regulatory agency to folks who &... The observations, answers, and home health services my license in July and i got ``! Good and bad OT jobs, etc on my toes switching back and forth from inpatient rehab ) depending your! Patient care becomes difficult to accomplish beyond the hype about the profession scale clients needed to come in for emergency... Intervention and she is making great progress to reply here them in Heaven i hate being an occupational therapist even go to three settings outpatient... They matter of these cookies forum from Reddit and people say to pay it no mind COTAs a! As an aide for a year before i even made my decision to move degrees in!
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