This week, guest blogger and professional occupational therapist Marlene Hampton shares her story of deciding to become an occupational therapist (OT). You can’t help but relate it to your own situation; you think about the person, the pain and desperation and what their family may be going through. You see such desperate situations but you toughen up and eventually learn that despite trying, you can’t save everyone. Many times, insurance and Medicare auditors don’t really understand the interventions we’re providing. People often have trouble with wiping themselves and you will need to assist them. 0. “I am one of five children, and my youngest brother has cerebral palsy. You experience intense emotional pain followed by many unanswered questions; you feel guilt, sadness and desperation, along with anger, low mood and anxiety which can be overwhelming. When patients do not feel well, they can be grumpy or in bad moods. Rehabilitation to regain independence is the goal for an occupational therapist. Benefits of Being an Occupational Therapist. However, being an occupational therapist, we are able to effectively decipher other therapists’ notes and determine the necessity of the treatments being billed. In some instances, I had to learn to help myself and be my own advocate, if you will. Almost every setting has productivity requirements, with some settings less strict than others. 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.) (stock photo) Photograph: Alamy. Even though in my program they are more realistic but I have heard that other programs dont do a good job of giving you the facts. It is heart breaking when you, your patient, or patient’s family put in so much effort into therapy and you reach an obstacle you cannot overcome. Daily plans are adjusted after the meeting to accommodate what has been discussed. Art therapist 2. If you have the essential traits to become a successful occupational therapist and are looking for an economically sound career, occupational therapy could be a good choice for you. Work on an acute psychiatric ward is extremely busy so meeting and helping new people kept me distracted and focused. We often have to deal with bodily fluids and functions. In any profession, there will be aspects you like, aspects you don’t like, and aspects you sometimes wish you did not have to do: the good, the bad, and the ugly. It takes practice to distance yourself and put your emotional well-being first. I leave work knowing I have made a significant difference in someone’s life. Or if you would like to travel and live across the country, you can do that too. I find wound care interesting and a welcomed challenge, but for many, this in an “ugly” aspect of OT. Medical sales representative 5. At times I wish I could tell them that I understand – I have been there and I know it hurts – but I think this would be unprofessional. 5 Reasons Why I Love Being a Therapist. Within certain limits, it is up to me to what value I bring to my patients during my treatment sessions. Why I love being an occupational therapist We asked OTs to tell us what they enjoyed about the job. I can remember thinking what a relief it was just to know he would be kept safe and get the help he desperately needed and wanted. A long time! However, if you do have what it takes, you should give it a go. My freshman year of college I was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive tumor on my jaw. Sometimes, situations you find yourself in at work will hit very close to home. As OTs working in inpatient settings, we often teach people how to perform toileting again. Successful occupational therapists are typically upbeat, smile a lot, and have a motivational quality to their interactions with others.” With that said, it’s okay if you change your mind becoming an occupational therapist. High intensity therapist 6. Join the Healthcare Professionals Network to read more pieces like this. I walked to improve my mood and reduce the stress and anxiety. And follow us on Twitter (@GdnHealthcare) to keep up with the latest healthcare news and views. … I am about to do my level 2 fieldwork at large cancer center. My situation gives insight that you wish you never had. This could be irreparable nerve damage, excess scar tissue formation, lack of bone healing, pre-existing cardiac condition making them a poor surgical candidate, etc. Maybe you’re sick of googling “I hate being an occupational therapist,” or perhaps you simply want a new challenge. Ergonomist 4. Social worker 7. If you want to learn more about becoming an occupational therapy assistant in California or Virginia, contact an admissions advisor today. You never imagine it will happen to you. (stock photo), Join the Healthcare Professionals Network, Mental health (Healthcare Professionals Network). Occupational therapy provides support to enable people to facilitate recovery, to overcome barriers during illness or disability which prevent them from doing the activities that matter to them. Job options directly related to your degree include: 1. I loved my job and worked hard with the team to keep patients safe, so it was extremely difficult when someone close to me became very mentally unwell. Occupational therapy is always evolving Occupational therapy is an evolving profession that applies to everyone and all aspects of life. It can be a dirty job, but I guess somebody has to do it. After surgery, people are frequently nauseous. I think I’m definitely set on doing travel therapy for the next 2-3 years so I can pay down loans faster and do some other classes at the same time. You absolutely should not take it personally. You and the OT field may both be better off if you choose another career, especially if you do not possess the qualities described above. I think this … This includes wound packing, cleaning discharge from wounds that are infected, removing dying tissue (that sometimes doesn’t smell the best), and dealing with blood. Advice worker 2. As an occupational therapist, you have the opportunity to help people get their lives back when they cannot do it on their own. Megan O'Brien | Croydon, United Kingdom | Specialist Occupational Therapist at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust | 94 connections | View Megan's homepage, profile, activity, articles stressedoutpa Wed 15-May-19 20:00:28. We’ve done it at home through early intervention, in a private therapy office, as an inpatient at a hospital, and at school (“at school” being my favorite because I am, by definition, not expected to be there). Name * Email * Website. I felt that mental health services had failed to keep a loved one safe and had desperately let us all down. Prerequisite subjects, or assumed knowledge, in one or more of English, biology, chemistry and physics are normally required. Occupational Therapists play an important role in helping all kinds of disabled students by strengthening their physical body and abilities. To quit being an Occupational Therapist (52 Posts) Add message | Report. I know this because people are often emotional about their progress and people frequently tell me how happy they are that they came to therapy. © 2021 St. Catherine University | Privacy Policy, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Occupational Therapy, occupational therapy assistant in California. No products in the cart. The gentleman took a turn for the worse and, because his family had gotten to know me so well, turned to me for guidance. You have the ability as an occupational therapist to completely change your career at the drop of a hat by changing settings. Being a physical or occupational therapist or an SLP is no exception. Login ; Cart / $ 0.00 0. The effects of the stroke were far too severe that therapy could not help him recover. Being a mental health occupational therapist is my passion. The profession of occupational therapy appealed to me because occupational therapists can work with clients of all ages and they can work in numerous settings, such as hospitals, schools, or private clinics. This is not very glamorous at times. Occupational therapy … I eventually returned to my job on a phased return. I immediately told staff on the psychiatric unit, as I knew the news would have a devastating impact. Your email address will not be published. It had destroyed my faith when we trusted them to care for him in a time of crisis and keep him safe. It is difficult but necessary to separate yourself emotionally from those situations. 3D printing can also play a role in assisting with functional prosthesis training. By requesting information, I consent to be contacted by St. Catherine University through my email, phone, and text using automated technology regarding enrollment. In a non-traditional occupational therapy job, you WILL still be using your valuable experience. I listened to relaxing music to aid sleep at night. Leave a Reply Cancel reply. But if you can stomach through it, you’ll leave at the end of the day knowing you’ve made a difference. If you’re looking to become an occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant, it’s important to know and anticipate these “ugly” types of situations. So without further ado, three reasons why I hate therapy: I won’t pretend it’s always easy. (I say almost every day because you will have the occasional bad or overwhelming day.) As an example, while I was working in a hospital, I was treating a gentleman who had suffered a stroke. Listening to handover can still be difficult, particularly when a patient is admitted to the ward in similar circumstances. When someone close to me was permanently damaged after being admitted to a mental health ward, I thought my career was over, Last modified on Tue 17 Jul 2018 08.51 BST. I’m an occupational therapy assistant specialising in neurosciences, which is the scientific study of the nervous system. In my current job as an outpatient therapist, I deal with a lot of wound care. The nurses sent messages of support. During this time of grief aspects of my professional life stayed with me. OP’s posts: See next | See all Add message | Report | See all. I was devastated. But if you can stomach through it, you’ll leave at the end of the day knowing you’ve made a difference. Anyone made a change? Employment and Economic Opportunity. Life coach 4. If you’re looking to become an occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant, it’s important to know and anticipate these “ugly” types of situations. I was a familiar face and was going into his hospital room for daily treatments to help him with his recovery. I missed work, the structure, routine, and the patient contact. Sometimes you will be unable to help people, no matter how successful their surgery was, no matter how diligent the patient is with their exercises, no matter how frequently you see the patient each week. The family felt comfortable asking me questions, confiding in me, and relied on me to help them understand the medical world that they were unfamiliar with. My OT and I: how occupational therapists achieve the impossible, The day an occupational therapist changed my life, Being a mental health occupational therapist is my passion. There are jobs everywhere. Christina M Toohill, MOT, OTR/L, an occupational therapist at Easter Seals Peoria-Bloomington, chose occupational therapy as a career because of her brother. After months off work I began to think about my job. Between the two kids, we’ve done physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. I feel bad for so many people being tricked into coming into this profession and thinking it’s something that it’s not. If you would like to stay local, you can. You can do a degree in occupational therapy, approved by the Health and Care Professions Council. Here is our list of the top 10 advantages and disadvantages of being a therapist. Put yourself in their shoes and take their comments or denial to fully participate in therapy with a grain of salt. I was all excited about going to school to become an OTA until I came across forums on indeed.com with pages upon pages of people bashing the OT field and talking about how much they hate their jobs. He ran away, made a serious attempt to end his life, and is now in a persistent vegetative state. Next up is Betty. Mental health care can be extremely pressured, challenging, exhausting and some days downright sad. I don’t need to be rich, but I need to live and require a job with prospects for promotion and salary increases etc. Buy It: I’m Done Being An Occupational Therapist I’m Going To Disney Shirt I’m Done Being An Occupational Therapist I’m Going To Disney Shirt, Sweater, Hoodie And Ladies Shirt She hates him and she does not pray for him. You can get into this job through: a university course; an apprenticeship; working towards this role; University. The work of an occupational therapist assistant is supervised by an occupational therapist. To get through this I applied what I advised my patients, to myself. My message was not passed to the nursing team and the next day, when he left the ward for fresh air accompanied by a healthcare professional, he received a telephone call notifying him of the sad news. Her staff will threaten you with the US Capital police even if you disagree with them [...] Skip to content. He was admitted for treatment into a psychiatric unit. It’s tough but you continue to fight for your patients’ recovery as you would fight for your own friend or family member. Therapists have to work with various students, who have a wide range of special abilities and are in need to improvise their life quality and permit more freedom too. I was very lucky – I got that job pretty quickly after qualifying and worked with a dedicated team of professionals. If you would like to contribute to our Blood, sweat and tears series which is about memorable moments in a healthcare career, please read our guidelines and get in touch by emailing sarah.johnson@theguardian.com. To get into these courses you usually need to gain your Senior Secondary Certificate of Education. I am 22 years old and in my masters program to become an occupational therapist. Cozytoesandtoast00 Wed 15-May-19 19:55:39. There was nothing I could do. I meet wonderful people from all walks of life who need our care in the NHS and I’m thankful that I’m still an occupational therapist who can help them. Being an occupational therapist can be stressful. How to become an occupational therapist. Each day I walk into the hospital I put my OT skills into practice for my patients and now for myself. I missed my OT team, who had kept in touch throughout my sick leave by visiting and being there to listen. The patients also kept me going without even realising. Here is the good, the bad, and the ugly of occupational therapy: Most occupational therapists have an immense amount of job satisfaction almost every day. Health promotion specialist 5. Sports therapistJobs where your degree would be useful include: 1. Working in the occupational therapy field can be one of the most rewarding careers out there. To become an occupational therapist you usually have to complete a degree in occupational therapy at university. Required fields are marked * Comment. 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. Growing up, I always had a passion for helping people, whether it was getting to school early to help my grade school art teacher get ready for the day or volunteering for random events in the high school Key Club. Occupational therapy is a unique profession that lies somewhere between physical therapy and speech therapy. Occupational Therapists quiz, should i become an Occupational Therapist, is Occupational Therapists suitable for me, do i want to be an Occupational Therapist, Occupational Therapists personality test. Occupational therapists work with people of all ages and can look at all aspects of daily life in your home, school or workplace. I LOVE being able to share tips and brainstorm with these individuals as they gather information to guide this big life decision. I’ll be straight with you. In a previous blog, I mentioned that health care is a growing field and OTs have the ability to work anywhere. OTs can also work in a variety of settings: pediatric outpatient clinics, with the geriatric population in a skilled nursing facility, hospitals, adult outpatient clinics, school systems, or rehab facilities, to name a few. I will never be able to work in mental health services again”. Although not every aspect of working as an OTA is perfect or pristine, the rewards of working in this field far outpace the demands. You *can* use your experience in a new way, without leaving the occupational therapy profession altogether. Is being an occupational therapy assistant really that bad? Care manager 3. I hate doing teaching so really can’t entertain using my teaching qualification, but I also ... being a help to others, b.) I have had to hold buckets or trash cans for patients to vomit in. With the evolution of 3D printing, there has been a new and emerging trend for 3D printed splints for hand therapy and burn treatment. and visual impairments. Sometimes, you will be unable to help a patient, no matter how often you see them or how hard they try during therapy. The advantages certainly outweigh the disadvantages. He ended up passing away and his family was understandably devastated. As a new therapist, this is more difficult. It was a very difficult situation to be in as a therapist. Occupational therapist 7. Denial played a huge role in my life and I stayed in school while completing my chemo treatments. There are some ugly and messy parts of occupational therapy. I’ve had one too many of my own experiences where I needed help – like, really needed help – and I thought no one was there. If you, too, are considering a career as an occupational therapist (OT) or occupational therapy assistant (OTA), or you know someone who is, then the tips in … However, we believe a PT, OT, or SLP is a rewarding career. My website: http://wildtruth.netMy Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/danielmacklerI was a psychotherapist in New York for ten years. Tags: career, career-quiz, quiz. This article highlights 5 advantages and 5 disadvantages to be a therapist. It is also a career with a steady paycheck where you can live comfortably. I found myself relating to a lot of your post. While I am extremely satisfied with my OT career, occupational therapy is no exception. It was and still is shattering. Betty is 96 and had a fall at home. Now I use my own negative experience as a positive to help patients. I decided to become an occupational therapist because I wanted to help people, and that is exactly what occupational therapists do: they assist people in becoming independent. As soon as I was placed on a mental health unit as a student occupational therapist I knew: working on a psychiatric ward was my dream job. Yes, I work in an industry brimming with regulation, but when I begin each treatment session, it feels like the brush is in my hands. I know that in school professors try to paint a very rosy picture of occupational therapy. I can remember thinking, “That’s it, my career as an OT is completely over. Then, one day, I got bad news I knew would affect him. have no real prep work- like in teaching, c.) I am busy and working hard but not too stressed out or overwhelmed, and d.) sorry- money. Now I use my own negative experience as a positive to help patients. How long do you have to go to school to learn how to become an occupational therapist? The Royal College of Occupational Therapists has more information about what occupational therapy is. You learn to use this insight as a positive to help others. You are constantly helping your patients improve their lives. His family was always in his room, very supportive, and I began to build a relationship with them. If so, what do you do now working part-time? However, like any other career, there is always some less-glamorous details that you should be aware of. They look at activities you find difficult and see if there's another way you can do them. Dance movement psychotherapist 3. In most cases, you’ll need to complete an undergraduate degree (four years, unless you graduate early or pursue an accelerated program), and then you’ll be in occupational therapy school anywhere from two to three years. Being a mental health OT is my passion. Play therapist 6. We called upon mental health services; I put my faith in the NHS and trusted it would not let me down. Video: occupational therapy . Special educational needs teacher 8. Occupational therapy allows therapists to utilize their creative thinking skills while also relying on their knowledge of science, development, and the body/brain to be effective in their role as an OT. Occupational therapy support personnel, or assistants, are individuals who have the job-related competencies to support occupational therapists in delivering occupational therapy services. Most really enjoy their work, although it’s not always easy. 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