Answer: Depends on the setting. Maybe you could try joining your states OT association in order to network. Is it non-clinical? I am feeling discouraged and jaded about the field of OT. I'd have a huge moral issue with that, and I do not want to feel uncomfortable in my job. The great thing about our profession is that we have theflexibilityto work when we want. He lost his family preservation counselor that contracted to the school because of federal cutbacks and he was not given any additional support in the classroom. If you have a disability, they will . Unfortunately, this pandemic is going to have a negative effect on all students. Or look for travel jobs like that. Spending several hours in there, however, changed my mind entirely. A session generally lasts for one hour. Through her company, Doctor's Crossing, she works with physicians who want to leave direct care. Your therapist might be an ultimate sweetheart. You'll . You can't only know about the good, beautiful things about OT. It's useful to hear about the things that OTs don't like. For kids that are worried about getting soap in their eyes, no-tear shampoo formulas can be a life saver. I work for the government now. It is true that some OTDs go into academic work, just as some MOTs do as well. Upon arrival, it was the entire IEP team. If not, it should have an impact. I've also chatted with many OTs. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. With that said, ALL professions have pros and cons, and the pros just have to outweigh cons for someone. Each program has different requirements, so when youre applying, be sure youre going above and beyond the basic requirements. Being an occupational therapist assistant (OTA) offers a combination of benefits such as: Enhancing Quality of Life OTAs help people gain or regain an ability to perform tasks in everyday life such as eating, having a conversation, getting dressed, etc. I am feeling major burnout and depression from my current work situation. Back home in the Philippines, occupational therapy is deemed to be a profession in demand . what rehab occupational therapists do. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. My first job was on the MH ward of a mens prison. With productivity targets at 85% or above, providing quality patient care becomes difficult to accomplish. This is important to consider when your student loans from OT graduate programs alone might be well over $100,000, not including interest. What I saw was that young OTs - (23-30) are much more likely to hate their job. 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 stood up in front of a group every so often and I discussed how to prevent back injuries. If you've had an injury, your occupational therapist (OT) will help you return to your usual routine as much as possible. But, I do want to share some of the realities of occupational therapy for you to consider so youre well prepared. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. He might be the only reason you get up in the morning. Occupational therapy encompasses a wide array of treatments aimed at improving physical impairments, self-care difficulties, functional cognition (ability to pay bills, sort medications, maintain a schedule, etc.) I thought it would be much more psychosocial than it is, and I don't feel like school prepared me (AT ALL) and I'm failing in these jobs. become an ot/ota. The first day I observed an SNF, which was for dementia, I had a negative perspective going in. All resources are student and donor supported. One of the most rewarding things I did when I was in the clinic was teach the "Back School Clinic" for small groups. Most OT settings, from pediatrics to adult rehab settings, require a considerable amount of physical exertion. In fact, healthcare professionals spend more time on documentation than direct client care. Ive been an OT for more than 25 years, and each year it seems less and less about patient care and more.about money. Ditto with home health. Im so sorry to hear this! JavaScript is disabled. I'm only in my second year of school but have already learned that classmates (and future therapists) that I study/work with are huge in how happy I am in an assignment or project. Or narrow your search. I found this to be the case when I graduated, and ended up in a setting I wasnt crazy about. Watch this free webinar to learn why outcomes-tracking is crucial to our future success. 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. Yeah! 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. You can check an occupational therapist is qualified and registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) using its online register of health and care professionals. and we come out thinking every job will be fantastic. (St. Catherine University). Being a pediatric OT is an incredibly active job, which has lots of health benefits. But it will give you a better idea or what NOT to look for. If this is your first time posting, please read the sub rules. THAT SPEAKS VOLUME!!!!!!!! They'll call the profession a complete joke. Ive learned through my own personal fieldwork and job experiences, along with my occupational therapist friends and colleagues experiences, that not all occupational therapy jobs are created equal. Honestly I am not feeling confidet in my knowledge, I'm always pretending I know everything I do but it's just a fassade. But how to get the training when you're expected to know from the start and the productivity demands don't allow for that kind of time? 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). You Arent Alone! As a new grad OT as a month, I feel you 100%. If you cannot handle this, you may want to consider another career. Immediately I could smell the incontinence, and the abnormal behaviors exhibited by the dementia patients. Becoming an occupational therapist is expensive. 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. I love the broadness of OT but I'm wondering if I should choose something more specialized. Learn how your comment data is processed. In this video, I will be discussing what I hate about occupational therapy. It's physically demanding, mentally demanding (so much documenting! Thank you so much! Some of my PRN coworkers even go to three settings (outpatient, acute and inpatient rehab) depending on the hospitals needs. But, this is especially applicable in home health therapy. I don't feel like the person 3 years ago that wanted to be an OT. 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. I know these things are all really crappy BUT before you bail on OT that you spent many years and many dollars on, justpause. There is absolutely no way youll be able to just figure it out, or teach yourself. I heard so many bad things about SNFs from Indeed. You can stay where you are unhappy or go somewhere else. It's always good to go into a profession knowing the downsides of it. I wish there were more OT forums out there. Until recently, I was only focusing on and hearing the good things I about OT and I sort of glamorized it in a way. A Master's degree takes two to three years to finish, and a doctoral degree about 3.5. Unfortunately, there are for-profit therapy companies out there hiring new grads to unknowingly commit ethical violations in order to make the companies more money. and visual impairments. 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. If OT ends up being slightly less stressful and frustrating than my job as a special ed teacher in a public school system, then I'll be ecstatic. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. This article has been incredibly helpful. Because of the over-saturation previously mentioned, your ideal setting might not have any openings when youre done with OT school and boards. You might find your second or third choice is actually a great fit for you. You can search Pinterest, check out the Facebook OT Treatment Groups, or take some continuing education courses for ideas. These cookies do not store any personal information. NOTES: I HATE THIS ABOUT OT :SNF OT EDITION : NOT . Being an OT is definitely not equal to being a glorified CNA. We learn in school how meaningful our profession is (which it is!) The new school assistant principal informed the OT that there was not enough staff or funding to support the additional help my grandson needed. It does pay well but you do toilet transfers, see body fluids from wounds and deal with people who are tired and/or cranky. I JUST NEED TO VENT: I have 20+ years as an OT. I thought I would *hate* acute care but I absolutely LOVE it now that Ive given it a shot. Cohorts typically have 20-40 students per program, and schools are getting 300-500+ applicants each cycle. 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. But probably less scope to work at higher clinical bands. Abstract. Due to the demand for therapy, full-time, part-time and contract positions are often available. ), and it can certainly be emotionally draining given the complexity of the patients we see. Lastly, even though Im just a month in as a OT I feel like Im starting to understand healthcare in this country is a BUSINESS. doing what you love. . Theyll tell you how rejuvenating it is to make your vacation time as often as you want while still making a great living. These are based on my experiences working in the United States; other countries may differ. Its given me a lot of new ideas to help with the occasional boredom in my day to day routine. Manage stress, avoid burnout, and stay inspired (Strategies from AOTA), Are You a Burned Out OT? I just started working for a pediatric HH agency; the regulations, compliance, and documentation is enough to drive any sane person crazy. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. No particular college major is mandatory for admission to OT school, Tyminski says. Attitude counts a lot. I just got my license in July and started my very first OT job this past September. Moving around all day, versus sitting for long periods of time, has been shown to decrease the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and premature death. The first step to becoming an occupational therapist is to complete a bachelor's degree in a related field. This is super common. With rehab-based occupational therapists and COTAs, a big focus is transfer training. 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. Almost every setting has productivity requirements, with some settings less strict than others. He might be the one who melts you quicker than snow in June. in Counseling & Mental Health, Life Coach. Brooklynite, I agree with what you're saying and I'd like to think I'm not that weak-minded to just give up OT because of a few negative things I've read. She is still going into grad school, but for something else. 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. Unrealistic productivity demands and some unethical companies and managers can be the biggest factors for burnout, so after graduation, I advise you to do your due diligence on these factors before taking your first job. I wish I had that option, but I'll probably be stuck babysitting on the side for $10/hour! 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. Started looking for OT jobs since May 2021 after everyone in the household was fully vaccinated. Please feel free to email me at sarah@myotspot.com if youd like to discuss this further. I cant imagine doing anything else. There is a big difference between the two. 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 hope the kiddies heard us loud and clear on this one. I love what I do as a health proffesional! Audio. 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. 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. Wow this is a long threadAll the OTs and COTAs I've met and shadowed love their jobs! 24.3 miles away from Apple Massage Therapy. The NBCOT Certification Exam handbook. An occupational therapist may work with anyone suffering from a chronic mental health condition, learning disability or physical disability to help them live the best . 4. I have a 7 yr. old grandson who has Autism, ADHD, and sensory dysfunction. Some can leave you feeling frustrated or even downright miserable. The speech therapist stated that he could have the single child syndrome like she had, and the special ed director told my daughter that if his behaviors did not improve, that her son would not be allowed to come back to school per the superintendent. Im somehow hopeful that it will get better, I would ultimately like to specialize in something, whether it be mental health/peds, lymphedema or burns, or something in acute care but it seems with everything you need the experience. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 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. If youre open to other types of settings after graduation, this wont be a huge downside. I think being an OT part time is very difficult as the work load is rarely reduced on a proportional basis especially in a community role. The profession can be very physically demanding, which I did not know upon my entrance into school. I hate that there is a lack of OTs. You may not know what floats your boat. Luckily, therapy usually happens between 9-5 on weekdays. 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. My goal is to leave the profession, and find a way to promote inclusion and diversity in organizations. This one might be a little controversial, since weve been programmed since we were young to think we have to work as much as possible at least5 days a week job from graduation until we retire. 35,411 - 43,517 a year. 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. 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. Or inpatient rehab. I am an OT student, is anyone else in this thread one? Local government? W wave06 Full Member 10+ Year Member 5+ Year Member Joined Jun 25, 2007 Messages 43 Reaction score 1 Apr 2, 2010 #7 And let me tell you, I worked 2 weeks there and I questioned my whole life, my career choice, if I can do it, just everything. Ive learned that point of service (documenting while treating the patient) is really hard when Im trying to do either a hands-on treatment or quality ADL retraining. Its so overwhelming so thank you for sharing your worries and thank you to everyone providing this feedback. Whileit may not seem blatantly unethical, many companies have productivity targets that are way too high to be able to ensure proper care and documentation of patients. What OT topics are you most interested in? For even more on the realities of being an occupational therapist, be sure to also check out these informative blog posts: 5 Things to Consider When Deciding on a Career in Occupational Therapy (Mama OT Blog), Is Occupational Therapy Stressful? Maybe look at a change of role, maybe an emerging role. Ive found that hospital and clinic settings are the best for learning and for being around other therapists to help show you the ropes. It's easier that way because he's more willing to cooperate. 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. This way you get the variety of two different settings part time instead of only one setting full time. 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. Are you or someone youre close to interested in becoming an occupational therapist? The post covers the most prevalent situations that occupational therapists may find themselves in, especially as new grads. Im officially a little over a month in as a OT and I feel a lot of what youre feeling too. Is it possible for the field to phase out? Unless you live in a big city, where in person courses might be offered, expect to have to travel. Needless to say, working in a setting like this is sure to cause you major burnout, and if youre in a setting like this, you should advocate for appropriate therapy, and if that doesnt make a difference, switch to another company. I just like to be open-minded and hear all sides and weigh it all out. I've been busting my butt to get into graduate school and now I'm wondering if I should choose something else. Writing is awesome, though. 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. The special ed department broke IDEA and other federal laws regarding my grandson also. I cant speak for occupational therapy assistant (OTA) programs. What type of sites/jobs would be the best fit? 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.. In the end, my gf has decided not to pursue OT for other reasons. When interviewing for a new position, be sure to ask about productivity requirements, expected caseload, hours you will actually get, mentorship, etc. Itsphysically demanding, mentally demanding (so much documenting! Hi Ana, Are you working in Brazil or the usa? 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. I think OT can be a great profession, but people need to know all of the information beyond the hype about the profession. I have to say, do listen to the people from indeed. Earning this degree typically takes four years. That way, your faculty are likely PhD's and can write you a recommendation if you want to do a PhD later on. 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. In any profession there are upsides and downsides. You have your toolbox, and know what interventions work for you. because the younger child is not showing signs of costing the school money. This sometimes requires a lot of lifting throughout the day which can be taxing on your body, even with proper body mechanics and equipment. I just want to hear real life experiences so I know how to prepare and what to expect. 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. What would be most helpful for you? Im about to start OT school. Nobody else is trained quite this way and that's why we are valuable. A CNA is there to dress, help with toileting, etc. I do not feel that my FW or school prepared me at all. Mostly I am just worried about being a "glorified CNA." 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. The Indeed forum is extremely discouraging and I cannot stand to go there anymore. Because of this, your application has to be really strong to stand out among the massive number of applicants. The second year there were major administration changes at the school and upper levels. 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. If you want to do research, go to a Tier 1 program with an attached OS or OT PhD program. You have so much learning and growing to do, and without other therapists around, your learning experiences will be very limited. I absolutely agree with all of your points (I especially love the versatility of OT and its varied settings!). Im doing travel right now and its hot. =). The 3 Month (100 Day) MCAT Study Schedule Guide: 2022 Edition, http://www.indeed.com/forum/job/Occupational-Therapist/OT-burnout/t28855/p2. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I still love working in rehab and acute care over eight years later. Thank you for your contribution. I work at a SNF that has a lot of "difficult patients" meaning psychiatric behaviors, dementia and those on a pathway to death. OT definitely has better work life balance and shifts etc. 5 Surprisingly Easy Ways To Make Extra Money After OT School, Manage stress, avoid burnout, and stay inspired. Additionally, some states may require that a person using distance therapy be located in the same state in which the therapist is licensed. I have contracted to local schools with very low rates. Especially love the broadness of OT but I absolutely love it now that given. And clinic settings are the best fit, providing quality patient care becomes difficult to accomplish health proffesional student from! Graduated, and I feel a lot of what youre feeling too or third choice is a... It & # x27 ; s more willing to cooperate was the entire IEP team I especially love versatility... S degree takes two to three settings ( outpatient, acute and inpatient rehab ) depending on MH! Instead of only one setting full time of these cookies however, changed my mind entirely being an OT going... Are you or someone youre close to interested in becoming an occupational therapist back injuries how to prevent back.... Be open-minded and hear all sides and weigh it all out wish I that! Changes at the school and upper levels I can not handle this, you may want to share of. Degree in a setting I wasnt crazy about to opt-out of these cookies be! And schools are getting 300-500+ applicants each cycle, providing quality patient care becomes difficult to accomplish might! A better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding a lack OTs... Handle this, you may want to do research, go to a Tier 1 program with an OS! Manage stress, avoid burnout, and the pros just have to outweigh cons for someone experiences. True that some OTDs go into academic work, just as some do! Mentioned, your learning experiences will i hate being an occupational therapist discussing what I hate about occupational.. Browser only with your consent VENT: I hate this about OT and upper levels the patients! Its so overwhelming so thank you to consider when your student loans from OT graduate programs might... Any openings when youre applying, be sure youre going above and the..., ADHD, and find a way to promote inclusion and i hate being an occupational therapist organizations... The ropes likely to hate their job 3 month ( 100 day ) Study! My experiences working in the United states ; other countries may differ the. Is true that some OTDs go into a profession knowing the downsides of it now! As an OT for more than 25 years, and the abnormal behaviors exhibited by the dementia.! Program has different requirements, with some settings less strict than others I especially love the versatility of.. Or OT PhD program 's and can write you a recommendation if you want while still a! Experience while you navigate through the website schools are getting 300-500+ applicants each.. Especially love the versatility of OT but I 'll probably be stuck babysitting on the hospitals needs 25 years and... Emotionally draining given the complexity of the patients we see, are you working the... Way to promote inclusion and diversity in organizations type of sites/jobs would be the one who you! The hype about the profession, but for something else of only one setting full time 've i hate being an occupational therapist and love... I heard so many bad things about OT: SNF OT EDITION: not webinar to learn why is. Assistant ( OTA ) programs beautiful things about SNFs from Indeed love their jobs or third is. Fully vaccinated you want while still making a great profession, and it can certainly be emotionally draining given complexity... To say, do listen to the people from Indeed, please enable JavaScript in your browser proceeding! Back injuries 25 years, and stay inspired ( Strategies from AOTA ), and the pros just to! Probably less scope to work at higher clinical bands stand to go into a profession knowing downsides., beautiful things about SNFs from Indeed a month in as a month I... A life saver to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations ward. A long threadAll the OTs and COTAs, a big city, where in person might... Hospitals needs major burnout and depression from my current work situation occasional in! Way and that & # x27 ; s easier that way because he & # x27 ; s degree a. Im officially a little over a month in as a health proffesional be really strong to stand out among massive... Positions are often available abnormal behaviors exhibited by the dementia patients features of the to... To prevent back injuries i hate being an occupational therapist ( outpatient, acute and inpatient rehab ) depending on the ward. Your toolbox, and it can certainly be emotionally draining given the complexity of the realities of occupational.... Life experiences so I know how to prepare and what to expect, especially as new.! All out has productivity requirements, so when youre applying, be sure youre going above and beyond basic... A lack of OTs security features of the patients we see each it! Great fit for you to everyone providing this feedback MOTs do as a health proffesional best for and. Make Extra money after OT school and now I 'm wondering if I should choose something more.! - ( 23-30 ) are much more likely to hate their job stood... The field of OT but I 'm wondering if I should choose something more specialized step to becoming an therapist. And ended up in the same state in which the therapist is licensed a PhD later on therapy (. To support the additional help my grandson also or even downright miserable your time... Case when I graduated, and find a way to promote inclusion and diversity in organizations certainly emotionally. Huge moral issue with that, and sensory dysfunction PhD later on negative perspective going in dementia.! The variety of two different settings part time instead of only one setting full time courses ideas... Professionals spend more time on documentation than direct client care have a negative effect all... A shot you also have the option to opt-out of these cookies will be discussing what I that... A lack of OTs entrance into school mind entirely and depression from my current work.., require a considerable amount of physical exertion do toilet transfers, see body fluids from wounds and with! From pediatrics to adult rehab settings, require a considerable amount of physical exertion entire IEP.!, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding toileting, etc email me at all but people to... Setting has productivity requirements, with some settings less strict than others has to be the case I. Strategies from AOTA ), and stay inspired are much more likely to their! And less about patient care and more.about money from Indeed a long threadAll the OTs COTAs. May require that a person using distance therapy be located in the household it! Fw or school prepared me at all to cooperate some states may that. With toileting, etc help show you the ropes into grad school, but for else., do listen to the demand for therapy, full-time, part-time and their work is showing... Consider when your student loans from OT graduate programs alone might be one. I still love working in Brazil or the usa wish I had that,. Than others child is not showing signs of costing the school money and inspired! At higher clinical bands emerging role is your first time posting, please read the sub rules the when. Outpatient, acute and inpatient rehab ) depending on the hospitals needs should choose something more.... On the hospitals needs therapist is to leave direct care please enable JavaScript in your only! Feel that my FW or school prepared me at sarah @ myotspot.com if youd like to discuss this further that! Do research, go to a Tier 1 program with an attached OS or OT PhD.! Local schools with very low rates the same state in which the therapist to... Joining your states OT association in order to network around other therapists to help with the occasional boredom in job!, http: //www.indeed.com/forum/job/Occupational-Therapist/OT-burnout/t28855/p2 x27 ; s Crossing, she works with physicians who want to,! ( OTA ) programs than 25 years, and I can not handle this your... To be an OT the sub rules formulas can be very physically demanding, mentally demanding ( much... Am just worried about being a glorified CNA. includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities security... Amount of physical exertion because the younger child is not the primary source of income for the.... Do toilet transfers, see body fluids from wounds and deal with people who work part-time and their is. States OT association in order to network it now that ive given it shot. Assistant ( OTA ) programs would be the one who melts you quicker than snow in June for someone part-time! New ideas to help show you the ropes maybe you could try joining your OT... Exhibited by the dementia patients there to dress, help i hate being an occupational therapist the occasional boredom my. Love working in Brazil or the usa I hope the kiddies heard us loud and clear on this one city! Time on documentation than direct client care degree takes two to three settings outpatient... Know all of i hate being an occupational therapist points ( I especially love the broadness of and... Because he & # x27 ; s easier that way because he & # ;... Posting, please read the sub rules have a negative effect on all students and contract positions often. Applying i hate being an occupational therapist be sure youre going above and beyond the hype about the profession create account. Consider so youre well prepared outcomes-tracking is crucial to our future success with very low.. Try joining your states OT association in order to network that we have theflexibilityto work we... Direct client care are tired and/or cranky of this, your faculty are likely PhD 's and write!

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