If you come into it unsure or you're just doing it for the money, you're gonna have doubts and be disappointed. Fortunately, most rural parts of the country have a desperate need for occupational therapists. I advise everyone to research into the profession and keep an open mind. But probably less scope to work at higher clinical bands. 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 newly qualified NHS OT can expect to start on a minimum of 21,000, with more experienced OTs earning 25,700-34,500 . Others work in schools, nursing homes, and home health services. Follow your heart and always remember ones experience isnt everyones bad experience. doing what you love. These cookies do not store any personal information. She was at a hospital and she said that the top administrative jobs always goes to nurses. I mean, there's so much you can do in healthcare, most of which requires you to have healthcare experience, which OT would fulfill. 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. 11 /15. I have a 7 yr. old grandson who has Autism, ADHD, and sensory dysfunction. because the younger child is not showing signs of costing the school money. Learn how your comment data is processed. Heather Fork is an authority on physician burnout. Thank you all! You are using an out of date browser. If anyone can provide further insight on that, I'd appreciate it. The lady I shadowed did help with toileting with the in-patients but she also did that as her own choice. 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. . This is what Ive done for the several years, and I really like the ability to have the change of pace. 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. 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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. A CNA is there to dress, help with toileting, etc. I volunteered extensively in multiple settings and worked as an aide for a year before I even made my decision. 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. Or narrow your search. And, when you entered into your fieldwork years, covid hit so you didnt get the full experience so you are entering the field slightly less prepared than previous years. 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. Let me know what you guys think about this. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. To become an OT, you will need to complete certain education and licensure requirements. 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. Would you mind elaborating more on your current position in the forensic psych hospital? Ive found that hospital and clinic settings are the best for learning and for being around other therapists to help show you the ropes. 1. Since Jan, myself and another contracting PT has witnessed a classroom aide pulling speech students (some Medicaid billable) and performing one on one speech therapy with them. I've had to abandon Indeed. As a new grad OT as a month, I feel you 100%. 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. As a new grad, I applied three times to my first inpatient rehab job after I already started working at another position that wasnt a good fit for me. This post covers the most common reasons I hear of why OTs are frustrated or unhappy with their jobs. 5 Surprisingly Easy Ways To Make Extra Money After OT School, Manage stress, avoid burnout, and stay inspired. You must log in or register to reply here. One advantage of working in home health is you can be your own boss and set your own schedule. The purpose of the OTD is a management degree to help clinicians with experience learn more management oriented aspects of OT and to implement this in our field. This post was originally published on March 25, 2017 and updated on June 15, 2019 and February 28, 2023. For people who do not have insurance coverage, the cost of an occupational therapy session is between $150.00 and $200.00 for the initial evaluation, and between $40.00 and $200.00 for each therapy session. I guess once she had enough of hands on of OT, she was was ready to move on and couldn't. This generally takes 2 years of full-time study. ), and it can certainly be emotionally draining given the complexity of the patients we see. The school did not hesitate to take my grandson; however, I had some reservations. As a school and hospital OT, I found that the lack of resources and sheer amount of paperwork and red tape interfered with my ability to actually spend time with patients and make a difference. Kids should be reading, playing, and having fun - not working. I stood up in front of a group every so often and I discussed how to prevent back injuries. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Did travel therapy bounce back yet? It's very negative and will scare virtually anyone from choosing OT as a profession. And my school didn't prepare me for so many things. 10. 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. 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. 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. It has sent me into panic and questioning what I want to do. Occupational Therapist Salary: Data From 2,322 OTs and COTAs, The Best Splinting Guide for Occupational Therapists, 6 of the Best Occupational Therapy Forums, 10 Reasons Why OTs Should Be Using Occupation-Based Interventions, https://www.aota.org/Education-Careers/Accreditation/acote-doctoral-mandate-2027.aspx. If this is your first time posting, please read the sub rules. What would be most helpful for you? B) Depending on your setting, you may be the only OT in the department. Im so sorry to hear this! But Im hoping to love every minute of my future career as well. 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. and visual impairments. 2. Are you really forced to compromise your morals and the law just to bill more hours and make more money for your company? With that said, I'm sure every forum dedicated to any profession has plenty of negativity as well. 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. Gain work experience. Personally, I would not had any issue going into an OTD program because I'm interested in academia. This PDF from AOTA is a great educational handout you can also give to patients and medical professionals when youre in this predicament. State licensing requirements vary, so make sure to consult your state's occupational therapy regulatory agency. Being an occupational therapist requires a bachelor's degree in biology, kinesiology, health sciences, physiology or a related field. We (I say we, as in the OT community but it was really the boomers) did yall a disservice by flooding the market with OT schools when the profession became hot. A career in occupational therapy has many potential benefits, but it can also be demanding. 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. You're just "go go go" all day long. Do you or Sarah have any tips on changing role with little to no experience in the fields? I've never known anyone in any field who didn't have at least one not-so-great job. Leave your reasons down below. Please note that we are not able to give specific treatment advice or exercises to do at home. It's always best to work with a therapist you connect with. Occupational therapists have a Master's degree in occupational therapy. Welcome to r/OccupationalTherapy!This is an automatic comment on every post. My daughter decided two years ago to place him in the local city school as a non-resident student with an IEP. The great thing about our profession is that we have theflexibilityto work when we want. Thank you so much! There are pros and cons to everything. (My OT Spot), Is Occupational Therapy a Good Career? 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? Why???!!!! 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. Started looking for OT jobs since May 2021 after everyone in the household was fully vaccinated. I really love being able to provide affordable therapy to folks who don't have much money. Occupational therapy assistants work under the guidance of an occupational therapist, who conducts the client evaluation and assessment, then comes up with treatment goals and a big-picture plan for accomplishing them. Whats the setting? Additionally, some states may require that a person using distance therapy be located in the same state in which the therapist is licensed. Maybe look at a change of role, maybe an emerging role. Specifically in the part we have to explain every single day for everyone we know what we do. An occupational therapist cares for patients with disabilities, chronic illness or injuries that cause them to need help with daily tasks. I love her OT and PT. Cast a wide net when you are looking for jobs. You'll . All of this is very true! How to Deal with Burnout as an Occupational Therapist, Burned Out in Occupational Therapy? This will also increase tuition considerably, without any foreseen comparable pay raises for either OTRs or COTAs with these pricier degrees. I also chose OT for the fact that it combines healthcare and behavioral science, and I'm very confident in my choice. For example, you may need to be able to drive and go to the grocery store. Im about to start OT school. In my area (I live in a major city), I haven't seen any non-school based or agency OT positions available. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Many PTs and OTs that I know have suffered workplace injuries, particularly back injuries due to extensive demands of transferring patients. It may be easiest to get a job in a SNF versus landing your dream job in pediatrics, acute care, hand therapy (or insert your ideal OT setting here). This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. And you wonder if youre missing out by working in a setting that isnt everything youve imagined. Working a job with intense physical demands as well as high productivity challenges five days a week is really rough. One of my weekly sliding scale clients needed to come in for an emergency session. Being an occupational therapist can be stressful. Occupational therapists help people who have difficulties caused by physical or mental illness, disability, accidents or ageing. Oh man, I really feel you buddy. 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. If not, it should have an impact. For kids that are worried about getting soap in their eyes, no-tear shampoo formulas can be a life saver. Alternatively, if you have already completed an undergraduate degree, complete a masters degree in occupational therapy. But there are certain things about OT that concern me. The first step to becoming an occupational therapist is to complete a bachelor's degree in a related field. If you dont mind me asking, what kind of OT dream job did you land? Because of this, any time that you arent treating (or even when you are treating) youre doing a lot of paperwork. I think OT can be a great profession, but people need to know all of the information beyond the hype about the profession. You can read more about ethical dilemmas in my post titledEthical Dilemmas in Occupational Therapy. Join us, and you'll help more people live better lives by achieving their individual breakthroughs. THAT SPEAKS VOLUME!!!!!!!! I believe in you, OP. And yet, despite making ABA therapy fun and positive, the underlying goals of ABA have not changed. Back home in the Philippines, occupational therapy is deemed to be a profession in demand . It is an active job. 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. I just got my license in July and started my very first OT job this past September. What OT topics are you most interested in? In any profession there are upsides and downsides. All of the people working there, including OTs, are extremely positive people, and they make this into a fun environment. 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. Becoming an Occupational Therapist Occupational therapy is highly rewarding work that is growing in demand as the healthcare landscape continues to evolve. Not many positions were available during what seemed like to be peak COVID. Thats part of being a novice. An OT is responsible for making ppl as independent as possible. Another thing I really admired about this article, was the reference to physical demands. Just do what you can because it feels like the system is set up to counteract what is right. I love the broadness of OT but I'm wondering if I should choose something more specialized. I'm starting school in the fall and I'm confident that this is what I was meant to do. CA and TX used to be great states to try different settings as a newer grad. This post outlines what occupational therapy is and the steps you can take to get certified and launch your career as an OT. Think about what you like about OT, what drew you to it. This can range from working with patients who require very little physical assist to patients that are dependent. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Many spokes on a wheel: Using our training, expertise, & skills to meet our clients' needs Our Values And it is these goals that, like gay conversion therapy, do long-term damage to the human psyche. 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. 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? What type of sites/jobs would be the best fit? Even my fieldworks felt aimless and I feel like I lack initiative and am too burnt out to want to take CEUs. So while you do get to provide meaningful treatments and help people achieve their goals, you do have to deal with the struggle of meeting your productivity on a daily basis. A session generally lasts for one hour. I hate how OT services are viewed as a "privilege," creating a lack of accessibility, especially for clients living in rural areas. 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. Every career will have things people love and things people can do without, that's life. Yeah! You can stay where you are unhappy or go somewhere else. I'm sure there are good and bad OT jobs, just as there are good and bad teaching jobs, etc. 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. Occupational therapists treat patients who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. Im officially a little over a month in as a OT and I feel a lot of what youre feeling too. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Through her work, she's found that many doctors aren't always aware of the skills they have. Press J to jump to the feed. That way my total compensation isnt lower as a result of working a few less hours. 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. It took forever to get into it. OT is a complex, growing field, and who knows how it will evolve in our lifetime. I wouldn't base an opinion in rankings. Cohorts typically have 20-40 students per program, and schools are getting 300-500+ applicants each cycle. 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. Im doing travel right now and its hot. I am feeling major burnout and depression from my current work situation. And I have enjoyed a lot about my career, it's just getting increasingly difficult, stressful and frustrating (as I'm sure healthcare will be at times) and I'm ready for something different. Thanks for the article. I would love to go part time but my work load wouldn't change. Its also a sad reality that future practitioners also need to be aware of. 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.. Of course, you are free to do what you want but it's sentiments such as the one you describe that enable schools to charge exorbitant rates of tuition to desperate students. Writing Writing is one of the easiest switches you can make, but you have to be willing to put in lots of time, and you might take a pretty steep pay cut at the beginning. The disparity in financial compensation is just awful, honestly. Prepare for your Exam. Easier to avoid burnout when you know your contract has an end date and you can take time off in between assignments! 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! Local government? These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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. I worry that the paper work, and physical demands of the job will be too much for me. Because more people are wanting to become occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants, schools in bigger cities are creating more programs and pumping out more and more new grads every year. 2. I found myself agreeing with 100% of what you said. Honestly I am not feeling confidet in my knowledge, I'm always pretending I know everything I do but it's just a fassade. 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. MOT4ME, you've offered some helpful advice on these forums but this particular comment was very condescending and unnecessary. I wish there were more OT forums out there. 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. Im only interested in outpatient rehab/hand therapy and Im unable to even get an interview. 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. 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. 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.

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