what is it like to be an ot working for duke univweisry medical
Are you or someone y'all're shut to interested in becoming an occupational therapist?
After existence a United states of america-based occupational therapist for over 6 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.
This list isn't meant to scare you away from condign an OT! But, I practice want to share some of the realities of occupational therapy for you lot to consider so you're well prepared. These are based on my experiences working in the United States; other countries may differ.
1. Being an occupational therapist tin be stressful.
Occupational therapy is not e'er the "sunshine and rainbows" that you read virtually in the countless news articles touting its frequent rating in the height 10 happiest and least stressful jobs.
Virtually every OT setting has productivity requirements, with some settings having less strict standards than others. So while you do get to provide meaningful treatments and assistance people achieve their goals, you lot volition likely have to deal with the struggle of meeting your productivity on a daily basis.
This is harder than information technology sounds due to the increasing paperwork demands that companies and insurers require. Because of this, whatsoever fourth dimension that y'all aren't treating (or even when you are treating) you're doing a lot of paperwork.
Unrealistic productivity demands and some unethical companies and managers can be the biggest factors for exhaustion, so after graduation, I advise you to do your due diligence on these factors earlier taking your kickoff job.
2. Becoming an occupational therapist is expensive.
If you're going for the OTR (Chief'south or Doctorate) route, you tin wait to pay anywhere from $xl,000 to well over $100,000 for your degree.
Less expensive state schools are harder to become into, and then you may have to choose a private school and pay an average of $80,000+ for your Master's degree, and over $100,000 for your Doctorate.
To rub common salt in the wound, many Occupational Therapy Master's programs (MOT degrees) are transitioning to solely Doctorate (OTD) degrees, which bumps upwards the price of tuition considerably compared to OT Master's programs.
If you're thinking near becoming a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) you will pay much less in tuition equally information technology is at present an Associate'due south degree, but keep in mind this may be transitioned to a Bachelor's degree in the near time to come. This will as well increase tuition considerably, without whatever foreseen comparable pay raises for either OTRs or COTAs with these pricier degrees.
While the Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the average bacon for OTR'due south is $86,280, the average for new grads is quite a bit less (tens of thousands of dollars less). For a more than realistic look on OT salaries, be sure to check out our comprehensive article, Occupational Therapist Salary: Data From 2,322 OTs and COTAs. Our results indicated that the boilerplate salary among the participants was actually $70,732.
This is important to consider when your educatee loans from OT graduate programs lone might be well over $100,000, non including interest.
iii. Some big cities are already saturated with OTs and COTAs.
Because more people are wanting to get occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants, schools in bigger cities are creating more programs and pumping out more and more new grads every yr.
More new OTs does not automatically equal more positions being created to meet the demand, so many new grads are faced with the fact that they might accept to move to another city to detect a job.
Fortunately, most rural parts of the country have a desperate need for occupational therapists. You can certainly detect a position, whether permanent or travel, but you might have to brand the choice to go out a bigger city.
If y'all're wondering if your urban center is saturated, cheque Indeed.com regularly and meet if new chore postings are listed, in add-on to seeing how many OT and OTA programs exist in the metropolis.
4. Getting into occupational therapy school is Difficult.
I can't speak for occupational therapy banana (OTA) programs. Only as someone who has experienced the stresses of applying to OT school, I can tell you: Both Primary's and Doctorate programs are very competitive.
Cohorts typically have 20-40 students per program, and schools are getting 300-500+ applicants each bicycle.
Because of this, your application has to exist really stiff to stand up out among the massive number of applicants. Each program has different requirements, and so when yous're applying, be sure yous're going above and beyond the basic requirements.
In improver, I recommend applying to as many schools as you lot tin can reasonably afford to (preferably at least 3 or more than). This is will improve your odds of getting into a program.
v. After graduating, you might not get to piece of work in your dream setting right away.
Because of the over-saturation previously mentioned, your ideal setting might non have any openings when you're done with OT school and boards. I found this to exist the case when I graduated, and ended up in a setting I wasn't crazy about. I did learn a lot from the setting and it gave me the feel I needed to go my dream chore in inpatient rehab.
If you're open to other types of settings after graduation, this won't be a huge downside. You might find your second or tertiary pick is actually a nifty fit for you.
half dozen. You lot are always explaining what you do as an OT.
Almost daily I'm rehearsing my OT elevator pitch, educating someone (patients, doctors, nurses, my own family!) what rehab occupational therapists do. No, we actually don't work on getting people jobs. That'south vocational rehab!
I don't mind educating the general population on what nosotros do at all, merely I imagine after doing this for your entire career information technology could become tiring.
I've found that, at work especially, I'thousand also having to explain that no, I'thou not the concrete therapist, and what nosotros practice is similar merely dissimilar, and I go into the reasons why.
I discover that providing a short, curtailed clarification of my office every bit an occupational therapist is the all-time manner for medical professionals and patients to really sympathise what I'thousand telling them. This PDF from AOTA is a great educational handout you can also requite to patients and medical professionals when y'all're in this predicament.
vii. Many occupational therapy settings are physically demanding.
And lastly, I desire you lot to be enlightened of the physical demands of being an occupational therapy practitioner. Nearly OT settings, from pediatrics to adult rehab settings, require a considerable corporeality of physical exertion.
With rehab-based occupational therapists and COTAs, a big focus is transfer training. This can range from working with patients who require very trivial physical help to patients that are dependent. This sometimes requires a lot of lifting throughout the day which can be taxing on your trunk, even with proper body mechanics and equipment.
Many settings besides involve long periods of continuing when you're non doing transfer training. If you work in pediatrics, you will also exist doing a lot of physical motion with crawling, kneeling, jumping, chasing, and handling, oftentimes on the floor or mat.
If you don't think you can handle the physical requirements that many OT settings demand just withal are passionate about becoming an occupational therapist, you can look into outpatient settings like driving rehab, hand therapy, or working in mental health. These settings will typically have considerably less physical demands.
_______________________
These are some of the realities I've discovered afterwards condign an occupational therapist. Would I personally change my career choice? Absolutely not!
Every career has its ups and downs. With OT, you're helping people achieve their goals and increase their independence and life satisfaction, which far outweighs the downsides.
I can't imagine doing anything else. If you're passionate about becoming an occupational therapist, yous won't regret it!
The job flexibility and variety of task options combined with knowing you are truly making a difference in peoples' lives makes information technology a neat career choice as long as yous're prepared and you know the potential drawbacks you might run across.
For even more on the realities of being an occupational therapist, be sure to likewise bank 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? (My OT Spot)
Is Occupational Therapy a Skilful Career? (St. Catherine University)
This post was originally published on May 24, 2018 and updated on January 26, 2022.
Source: https://www.myotspot.com/tips-before-becoming-an-occupational-therapist/
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