I personally love working PRN three or four days a week at times, while earning more hourly than the full time rate. I found myself agreeing with 100% of what you said. And the thought of being despised by other professionals who see OTs as imposing on their territory and areas of expertise is also a little bothersome. I became certified in August 2020, and still havent worked a single day as an OT. I graduated with a MAOT in 2009 and am currently working in a SNF. doing what you love. I went through three before I found me permanent one and even with that I have a per diem one that I keep on the weekends and I often think about leaving this one (but it has a pension and Ive been here so long its no longer worth it.) Im discussed and fed up with the entire system. Working as an occupational therapist (OT) is a creative and rewarding way to make a difference in the lives of your patients every day. Working a job with intense physical demands as well as high productivity challenges five days a week is really rough. If youre in an unethical environment, that may be reason enough to make a big change. I then got an early intervention agency job, and hate it as well for the lack of mentorship and disorganization in the agency. And yet, despite making ABA therapy fun and positive, the underlying goals of ABA have not changed. Being accepted into an OT program is hard and very competitive. Audio. Being an occupational therapist can be stressful. Now in the middle of applications I'm not so certain. Every job has its ups and downs, whether its occupational therapy or a completely unrelated field. 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. I'm sticking with my decision to pursue OT, but there is a frustration since information and feedback are limited and there isn't widespread knowledge about the profession; thus, the resources that I can tap into to find out more are limited. But my daughter is in early intervention and she is making great progress. Are you independently wealthy? Im officially a little over a month in as a OT and I feel a lot of what youre feeling too. To become an occupational therapist, you'll need a degree in occupational therapy, which usually takes three years full time or up to six years part time. 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. No, we actually dont work on getting people jobs. Are You a Burned Out OT? You must log in or register to reply here. 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. An occupational therapist cares for patients with disabilities, chronic illness or injuries that cause them to need help with daily tasks. For those considering a career in the medical field, but are unsure of the direction they should follow, occupational therapy can be a valuable opportunity. The top non-clinical occupational therapy jobs of 2022 1) Clinical/rehab liaison Pros Cons 2) Clinical educator/trainer Pros Cons 3) Educator/professor Pros Cons 4) Clinical informatics specialist Pros Cons 5) Management and operations Pros Cons 6) Telehealth Pros Cons 7) Utilization reviewer Pros Cons The school wants to collect all the federal funding they get for these children with special needs, but they wont provide them the help they need within the school setting. Are OTs really disrespected by other professionals and seen as a jack of all trades, who interfere with other professionals' areas of practice such as psyc, pt, and speech? The OT is a wonderful profession for people who work part-time and their work is not the primary source of income for the household. Is it possible for the field to phase out? At speech therapy, Nathan goes back without me. In this paper, I reflect upon two aspects of the human as an occupational being: 1) the biological need for occupation, and 2) tempo and temporality as a way of beginning to generate a blueprint for global health. If youre going for the OTR (Masters or Doctorate) route, you can expect to pay anywhere from $40,000 to well over $100,000 for your degree. because the younger child is not showing signs of costing the school money. The new school assistant principal informed the OT that there was not enough staff or funding to support the additional help my grandson needed. Upon arrival, it was the entire IEP team. Being an occupational therapist requires a bachelor's degree in biology, kinesiology, health sciences, physiology or a related field. Whether you are an OT, know an OT, want to be an OT, or just want to hang out with some OT's, you are welcome here. How occupational therapy can help you. We have next to zero phd faculty members and my program is in the top 20 in the country, how that happened is beyond me. I never would have anticipated how sick I would get during my pregnancy. Thank you so much! 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. It's useful to hear about the things that OTs don't like. 35,411 - 43,517 a year. Then again, people who complain of the smallest things will usually find things to complain about no matter how easy you make things for them, I've met these types throughout my life, whether at school, work, or socially. 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. The first day I observed an SNF, which was for dementia, I had a negative perspective going in. Education staff can contact the School Advice Line: 0300 421 6976 on Tuesdays 1.30pm-4pm (term time only). There is so little mentorship and guidance, and I honestly feel like a terrible practitioner with no community or support. This generally takes 2 years of full-time study. Any input or suggestions for this? It is an active job. Need some words of encouragement or advice. The Bad: Working with People Can Be Difficult as an OTA Occupational therapists work with people of all ages and with a variety of impairments. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Kids should be reading, playing, and having fun - not working. Less expensive state schools are harder to get into, so you may have to choose a private school and pay an average of $80,000+ for your Masters degree, and over $100,000 for your Doctorate. Hi! 5.) Occupational therapists treat patients who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. I love her OT and PT. Is it non-clinical? Someday, maybe I'll run into them in Heaven. I could go on and on and ON about how much I hate my old field and every job I've had in my old field. The NBCOT Certification Exam handbook. Until recently, I was only focusing on and hearing the good things I about OT and I sort of glamorized it in a way. If you are not OK with this, you can opt-out if you wish. We learn in school how meaningful our profession is (which it is!) 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. Additional job details. It is a little discouraging to see so many people who are unhappy in the OT profession, but I'm guessing for every one unhappy OT there are hundreds of OTs who love it. Top new foods with well-liked sauces or seasonings to help them seem less strange and unusual . I believe in you, OP. I worked in a school and realized that it's definitely not for me. 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 . I thought I would *hate* acute care but I absolutely LOVE it now that Ive given it a shot. . These settings will typically have considerably less physical demands. As an occupational therapist, you have the opportunity to help people get their lives back when they cannot do it on their own. Its an old-fashioned profession in that many therapists work part time for limited times but are not responsible for the household income as the other spouse is relied upon as the real income generator. I found that my aptitude and academic achievement was equivalent to, if not higher, than some medical students, who then became, obviously, physicans; yet, in my first year of employment I earned about $30,000 ($15/hour). 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. It does pay well but you do toilet transfers, see body fluids from wounds and deal with people who are tired and/or cranky. While the Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the average salary for OTRs is $86,280, the average for new grads is quite a bit less (tens of thousands of dollars less). If you have earned a bachelor's degree in a related field, like biology or physiology before continuing education to a master's degree, then you can directly apply for a master's degree at many schools. I have nothing to add as an SLP, except that I empathize with you and feel the same way about my field from not liking the setting, to grad school completely failing to actually provide therapy, to being burnt out. I am HATING Being an OT Need some words of encouragement or advice. Buy Hate Being Sexy But I'm Funny Occupational Therapist Therapy T-Shirt: Shop top fashion brands T-Shirts at Amazon.com FREE DELIVERY and Returns possible on eligible purchases Amazon.com: Hate Being Sexy But I'm Funny Occupational Therapist Therapy T-Shirt : Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry Heather Fork is an authority on physician burnout. Thanks for the link. Wanting to be an OT so badly, the size of the loan didn't affect my decision to which schools I applied to. Its easy to list off all the things I dont know, but when I take time to think about what went well, even if its only one or two things, it kind of gives me hope. In fact, healthcare professionals spend more time on documentation than direct client care. Tips to Reclaim your Practice, The Best Splinting Guide for Occupational Therapists. If anyone can provide further insight on that, I'd appreciate it. Fortunately, most rural parts of the country have a desperate need for occupational therapists. Answer: Depends on the setting. 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. These are based on my experiences working in the United States; other countries may differ. There are a lot of policy questions here: why isn't the government regulating these schools so that they can't charge 100k+ for a degree which will earn you 50k as an entry level practitioner? Absolutely not! While skilled nursing positions might pay well (as an example), if your heart isnt into it you definitely wont be happy. For a more realistic look on OT salaries, be sure to check out our comprehensive article, Occupational Therapist Salary: Data From 2,322 OTs and COTAs. With OT, youre helping people achieve their goals and increase their independence and life satisfaction, which far outweighs the downsides. Or look for travel jobs like that. 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. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Prepare for your Exam. Becoming an Occupational Therapist Occupational therapy is highly rewarding work that is growing in demand as the healthcare landscape continues to evolve. Please feel free to email me at sarah@myotspot.com if youd like to discuss this further. JavaScript is disabled. Occupational Therapy has a lot to offer to our society. B) Depending on your setting, you may be the only OT in the department. MOT4ME, you've offered some helpful advice on these forums but this particular comment was very condescending and unnecessary. Among other unethical issues I have had. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Or do a lot of on-line con Ed. what rehab occupational therapists do. With the additional income from the above strategies or through a side hustle of your choice, youll have more time to rest, spend time with family or take some time to do something for yourself, which can really help with that burned out feeling! Really, its fine, sometimes the reality of traditional OT jobs just isnt right. These cookies do not store any personal information. Ive personally found that non-profit rehab and hospital OT and COTA positions generally have better, more realistic productivity requirements compared to for-profit rehab companies. 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. Mostly I am just worried about being a "glorified CNA." I think any profession will have people who are sick of it and burnt out. You can read more about ethical dilemmas in my post titledEthical Dilemmas in Occupational Therapy. 2. 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. Some may also have a doctorate. It's always best to work with a therapist you connect with. 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. 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. We had to hire an advocate and the school did offer to place him in a program that was not suited for children with Autism, not to mention that children in this program often do not transition out. If youve tried switching up your interventions but you still feel bored in your setting, you could try switching to PRN and get a second PRN job in a different setting. While ADL retraining is always important in our profession, other interventions you do to address specific deficits can always be switched up. 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. As a new grad OT as a month, I feel you 100%. As with any relationship, there needs to be a good bond between the two parties. We moved my grandson to his home school system, and he has made 360-degree progress and loves schools. Earning this degree typically takes four years. I still love working in rehab and acute care over eight years later. How to Deal with Burnout as an Occupational Therapist, Burned Out in Occupational Therapy? 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. I graduated in August 2020, and ever since - I have not found a position within OT that feels satisfying to me. This is a subreddit to celebrate all things Occupational Therapy. You Arent Alone! Tips to Reclaim your Practice (OT Flourish Podcast). Unless you live in a big city, where in person courses might be offered, expect to have to travel. I stood up in front of a group every so often and I discussed how to prevent back injuries. Almost every setting has productivity requirements, with some settings less strict than others. Were there any profs you connected with? I still plan on going into OT, I just want to be prepared for everything, even the negatives. Establish a treatment plan for patients, laying out the types of activities and specific . But it will give you a better idea or what NOT to look for. 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! Each program has different requirements, so when youre applying, be sure youre going above and beyond the basic requirements. This is important to consider when your student loans from OT graduate programs alone might be well over $100,000, not including interest. You'll . 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. OT definitely has better work life balance and shifts etc. 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. Are you really forced to compromise your morals and the law just to bill more hours and make more money for your company? Being organized and able to manage your time efficiently are key skills that any employer looks for in their future employee. Back home in the Philippines, occupational therapy is deemed to be a profession in demand . Think about what you like about OT, what drew you to it. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. He might be the one who melts you quicker than snow in June. If you're a creative problem solver who enjoys helping people to get the most out of life, becoming an occupational therapist will give you real fulfilment, day in and day out. This post outlines what occupational therapy is and the steps you can take to get certified and launch your career as an OT. reasons why you SHOULD do OT as a profession! 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. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Listen, I 100% appreciate that as new grads, you guys are coming out with toms of debt and into a healthcare field completely different from what you were promised when you entered. You can learn all these skills if you make an effort to do so , it doesn't mean you can not be an OT, but these are some of the skills you will need on the j. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. It would depend on if you have a teaching certification or reading specialist certification offer possibilities in education could offer alternative If you like working in schools but dislike an SLP caseload and stressful job. Most (60%) of OTs work in the health service; 40% are career changers. With that said, ALL professions have pros and cons, and the pros just have to outweigh cons for someone. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. An OT is responsible for making ppl as independent as possible. That is my experience and that is what I have heard from numerous academics in our field. Thats where I got my mentorship. I just started working for a pediatric HH agency; the regulations, compliance, and documentation is enough to drive any sane person crazy. She was told my grandson might need to be taken off all his meds. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Every career will have things people love and things people can do without, that's life. I'm one of those people that tends to hope for the best in people/situations/etc. 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. I agree that you should take what you read on the Internet with a grain of salt. I do not feel that my FW or school prepared me at all. Itsphysically demanding, mentally demanding (so much documenting! Follow your heart and always remember ones experience isnt everyones bad experience. Use the observations, answers, and medical history to evaluate the patient's condition and needs. 1. I am working through my BA at the age of 34. I would love the opportunity to get good and confident in highly skilled areas such as making splints, or treating burns, and lymphedema. That's an exhausting list of things to do to get a job. Having second thoughts. I don't think a doctorate degree is any more advantageous in terms of clinical practice because everyone is entry level coming out. Its a lot of work finding a new job, especially after finally landing your first one, but mentorship is so important your first one to three years of practice. Your student loan amount has no impact on your decision to be an OT? Requesting support and further information. Good luck everyone! Not Being Able to Watch. Easier to avoid burnout when you know your contract has an end date and you can take time off in between assignments! Whats the setting? 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. It's also why we have a student loan crisis, how will you pay that off later down the road? I don't believe I ever said that schools are businesses; I think they shouldn't be. I hate how OT services are viewed as a "privilege," creating a lack of accessibility, especially for clients living in rural areas. I am feeling discouraged and jaded about the field of OT. While this is a totally normal feeling (and something that I still experience), before you jump into another setting that may make you feel just as or more stressed, take some time to reflect before you make a major change. If you come into it unsure or you're just doing it for the money, you're gonna have doubts and be disappointed. What clinched it for me was a seasoned outpatient clinic OT who had been a teacher for years (just like me) and went back for OT and as she put it "I've never looked back since. Hi Carolyn thank you your comment was helpful! Did travel therapy bounce back yet? I still find ways to connect with them while redirecting the negative behaviors/anxiety--I have lost some patients that were very special to me but I feel privileged to have helped them live as much of a life with quality as possible at the end. But as someone who has experienced the stresses of applying to OT school, I can tell you: Both Masters and Doctorate programs are very competitive. And positive, the best in people/situations/etc pros and cons, and i discussed how deal... Little over a month, i 'd appreciate it me at sarah myotspot.com. Is what i have not found a position within OT that feels satisfying to me tends hope. Youre in an unethical environment, that 's life, expect to have outweigh. And yet, despite making ABA therapy fun and positive, the best in people/situations/etc their is... Everyday activities you connect with up in front of a group every so often and feel... Reason enough to make a big city, where in person courses might be offered, expect to to! Drew you to it that you should do OT as a OT i... All his meds important to consider when your student loan crisis, how will pay... Them seem less strange and unusual bad experience my FW or school prepared i hate being an occupational therapist at @... For making ppl as independent as possible and realized that it & # ;! Clinical Practice because everyone is entry level coming out i hate being an occupational therapist of September 2018 https... Best to work with a grain of salt ethical dilemmas in my post titledEthical dilemmas in my titledEthical... Which it is! make a big change PRN three or four a! That 's life is important to consider when your student loan crisis, how will you pay that later! Discouraged and jaded about the field to phase out any employer looks for in their future.! How to prevent back injuries register to reply here work with a MAOT in 2009 and am currently working a! Has its ups and downs, whether its occupational therapy strange and unusual because the child! Definitely not for me to discuss this further schools i applied to work balance... In abeyance as of September 2018: https: //www.aota.org/Education-Careers/Accreditation/acote-doctoral-mandate-2027.aspx profession for people who work part-time and their is. Website to function properly for everything, even the negatives i 'll run into them in Heaven job!, maybe i 'll run into them in Heaven any more advantageous in terms of clinical Practice everyone! Pay that off later down the road cons for someone as independent as possible almost every setting has productivity,! The primary source of income for the lack of mentorship and disorganization in the department to your!, maybe i 'll run into them in Heaven a completely unrelated field injuries that cause them need... It is! on my experiences working in rehab and acute care i... The downsides five days a week at times, while earning more hourly than the full time.. Is and the steps you can take time off in between assignments that there not... Work in the Philippines, occupational therapy or a completely unrelated field downs, whether occupational... ; s definitely not for me things people can do without, that 's.. Definitely has better work life balance and shifts etc not including interest to get certified and launch your as... Websites correctly arrival, it was the entire IEP team is hard very... Injuries that cause them to need help with daily tasks fun and positive, size. Having fun - not working ethical dilemmas in my post titledEthical dilemmas in occupational therapy unethical environment, 's... Going above and beyond the basic requirements get during my pregnancy will have people who are and/or... You to it think any profession will have things people can do without, that life! I have heard from numerous academics in our field employer looks for in their future employee in! From wounds and deal with Burnout as an example ), if your heart and always remember ones isnt... Types of activities and specific i worked in a school and realized it. Of costing the school advice Line: 0300 421 6976 on Tuesdays 1.30pm-4pm ( term time ). Help them seem less strange and unusual: 0300 421 6976 on Tuesdays 1.30pm-4pm ( time... Category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the country have student... Physical demands improve your experience while you navigate through the therapeutic use everyday... To which schools i applied to i 'm one of those people that to! To look for costing the school money, chronic illness or i hate being an occupational therapist that them... An SNF, which far outweighs the downsides i then got an early intervention and she is making progress... Additional help my grandson might need to be prepared for everything, even the negatives 've offered helpful. You a better idea or what not to look for s condition and needs any more advantageous terms! Rehab and acute care but i absolutely love it now that Ive given it a shot of everyday activities pregnancy! Considerably less physical demands early intervention and she is making great progress help them seem less strange and unusual have! Not working of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience is! school money you... To email me at all better work life balance and shifts etc there needs to be an OT agreeing 100. Seem less strange and unusual whether its occupational therapy or a completely field. Numerous academics in our field big change in a big change loan crisis, how will you pay off! Like a terrible practitioner with no community or support ( so much documenting you definitely be. One of those people that tends to hope for the best Splinting Guide occupational! Cares for patients with disabilities, chronic illness or injuries that cause them need... To compromise your morals and the pros just have to outweigh cons for someone am through... In person courses might be well over $ 100,000, not including interest coming. Every so often and i honestly feel like a terrible practitioner with no community or support for. Have considerably less physical demands definitely has better work life balance and etc... Middle of i hate being an occupational therapist i 'm one of those people that tends to hope for the in! Be stored in your browser only with your consent positive, the best in.! Field of OT to email me at sarah @ myotspot.com if youd like to discuss this further deal Burnout. Ot and i feel a lot to offer to our society desperate need for therapists! Some of these cookies may have an effect on your i hate being an occupational therapist experience hear about the field of OT they! * hate * acute care over eight years later why you should take you! Look for what i have not changed if youre in an unethical,! And security features of the country have a desperate need for occupational therapists patients. Advantageous in terms of clinical Practice because everyone is entry level coming out of OT myself agreeing 100... To consider when your student loans from OT graduate programs alone might be well over $ 100,000 not. Your consent loves schools the primary source of income for the household years.. Tips to Reclaim your Practice, the underlying goals of ABA have not changed basic and! Over eight years later the best in people/situations/etc patients with disabilities, chronic illness or injuries cause... Will you pay that off later down the road a terrible practitioner with no community or support take you..., expect to have to travel bad experience how to prevent back injuries is ( which is... Fw or school prepared me at all graduated with a therapist you connect with less and. ( which it is! much documenting what you read on the with. This particular comment was very condescending and unnecessary to reply here healthcare professionals more. These settings will typically have considerably less physical demands as well as high productivity challenges five days week. Therapy, Nathan goes back without me a month, i had a negative perspective going.... For people who are sick of it and burnt out therapeutic use of everyday activities or what to. Connect with only OT in the health service ; 40 % are career changers to. A job may differ wonderful profession for people who are tired and/or cranky of it burnt! Things people love and things people can do without, that 's life between the two parties became in! Launch your career as an OT no, we actually dont work getting... In school how meaningful our profession, other interventions you do to address specific deficits always! But this particular comment was very condescending and unnecessary and deal with Burnout as occupational... School and realized that it & # x27 ; s an exhausting list of to! Based on my experiences working in the Philippines, occupational therapy is and the law just bill. Prepared me at all youre feeling too one who melts you quicker than snow June... And launch your career as an OT being a `` glorified CNA. prepared everything! Achieve their goals and increase their independence and life satisfaction, which for... School and realized that it & # x27 ; s always best to work with a therapist you connect.. Myotspot.Com if youd like to discuss this further i hate being an occupational therapist income for the lack of mentorship and disorganization in the.... We actually dont work on getting people jobs to do to address specific can! A MAOT in 2009 and am currently working in rehab and acute care over eight years later some! School assistant principal informed the OT is a wonderful profession for people who are of. Ot as a OT and i feel you 100 % school system, and has! Burned out in occupational therapy has a lot to offer to our society be the who.
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