How to Deal with Burnout as an Occupational Therapist, Burned Out in Occupational Therapy? I just want to point out that I am changing careers, after getting a masters in one field and working in that field for over almost 14 years. You can certainly find a position, whether permanent or travel, but you might have to make the choice to leave a bigger city. 10. If anyone can provide further insight on that, I'd appreciate it. I am HATING Being an OT Need some words of encouragement or advice. It does pay well but you do toilet transfers, see body fluids from wounds and deal with people who are tired and/or cranky. Even if there were any openings, I felt very uncomfortable working in healthcare while I lived with family members who had pre existing conditions. I would agree. I have contracted to local schools with very low rates. As with any relationship, there needs to be a good bond between the two parties. Teddi has become the first child in the UK to receive lifesaving gene therapy after being born with metachromatic Liked by Zo W. Hand therapist Augusta has been fitting splints for 25+ years - supporting or immobilising the hand for medical needs, such as arthritis, trauma I have a pretty generous sliding scale and a handful of clients take advantage of it. Im only interested in outpatient rehab/hand therapy and Im unable to even get an interview. 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 . If you're going for the OTR (Master's or Doctorate) route, you can expect to pay anywhere from $40,000 to well over $100,000 for your degree. Also seeing patients really put their hope in you to guide them is kind of motivating, albeit a bit nerve racking as well. I'm going to strive to keep that idealistic motivation intact throughout my education and career! An OT is responsible for making ppl as independent as possible. This way you get the variety of two different settings part time instead of only one setting full time. Additional job details. Most OT settings, from pediatrics to adult rehab settings, require a considerable amount of physical exertion. Working a job with intense physical demands as well as high productivity challenges five days a week is really rough. I hate that there is a lack of OTs. I am feeling discouraged and jaded about the field of OT. NO documentation at all this meeting. Being an OT is definitely not equal to being a glorified CNA. 1. ), and it can certainly be emotionally draining given the complexity of the patients we see. 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.) So while you do get to provide meaningful treatments and help people achieve their goals, you will likely have to deal with the struggle of meeting your productivity on a daily basis. The 3 Month (100 Day) MCAT Study Schedule Guide: 2022 Edition, http://www.indeed.com/forum/job/Occupational-Therapist/OT-burnout/t28855/p2. 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. I think OT can be a great profession, but people need to know all of the information beyond the hype about the profession. For example, you may need to be able to drive and go to the grocery store. Use the observations, answers, and medical history to evaluate the patient's condition and needs. This parent informed me that the special ed director called her in to an unofficial meeting at the school board office and upon arrival the superintendent was also present. 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. As OTs we are trained to analyze and assess-the individual, their skills/needs, the demands of each task, and determine the ways to either bring the person back to a functional state or adapt the task/environment/tools to facilitate success. Oh man, I really feel you buddy. It's all about finding where you fit in. I am feeling major burnout and depression from my current work situation. A non-staff member scheduled a meeting with my daughter to meet with my grandsons teacher and principal. 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. I agree with this. We moved my grandson to his home school system, and he has made 360-degree progress and loves schools. Follow your heart and always remember ones experience isnt everyones bad experience. 9 popular non-traditional OT jobs There are many avenues your non-traditional OT career could take, but here we highlight nine of the most common. I met one that had been doing it for 30 years. 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. 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. It took forever to get into it. 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. In order to practice in the United States, you must pass the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination. What would be most helpful for you? If you answered yes to these questions, being an Occupational Therapist at Select Medical may be a great fit for you! I still plan on going into OT, I just want to be prepared for everything, even the negatives. 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. 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. 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. It is recommended that you consider pursuing a degree in biology, kinesiology, health sciences or physiology. State licensing requirements vary, so make sure to consult your state's occupational therapy regulatory agency. 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. You must log in or register to reply here. and we come out thinking every job will be fantastic. I don't feel like the person 3 years ago that wanted to be an OT. You'll . But it will give you a better idea or what NOT to look for. I just started working for a pediatric HH agency; the regulations, compliance, and documentation is enough to drive any sane person crazy. (My OT Spot), How to Deal with Burnout as an Occupational Therapist (My OT Spot), Burned Out in Occupational Therapy? 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. Thats where I got my mentorship. Our results indicated that the average salary among the participants was actually $70,732. I love what I do as a health proffesional! I then got an early intervention agency job, and hate it as well for the lack of mentorship and disorganization in the agency. If you have a disability, they will . You may not know what floats your boat. 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. Ive certainly been in this situation. Wanting to be an OT so badly, the size of the loan didn't affect my decision to which schools I applied to. Thanks! While juggling multiple PRN jobs might seem difficult, if your hospital has multiple areas, you can usually cross-train and stay within the same system. Use no tear soap. I volunteered extensively in multiple settings and worked as an aide for a year before I even made my decision. 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. When I learned this, I quickly transitioned to positions where transferring adult patients was not a requirement. I did learn a lot from the setting and it gave me the experience I needed to get my dream job in inpatient rehab. Would you mind elaborating more on your current position in the forensic psych hospital? With rehab-based occupational therapists and COTAs, a big focus is transfer training. What I saw was that young OTs - (23-30) are much more likely to hate their job. ), and it can certainly be emotionally draining given the complexity of the patients we see. That's an exhausting list of things to do to get a 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. Your training as an OT was about learning to identify and solve problems in holistic ways most others cant. Hi! 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. I advise everyone to research into the profession and keep an open mind. From experience I know that finding OTs for those positions can be very difficult. I let a client not pay for a session. Becoming an occupational therapist is expensive. I have 20+ years as an OT. 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. Join us, and you'll help more people live better lives by achieving their individual breakthroughs. 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. Make a new food more appetizing by pairing it with something you enjoy. You're just "go go go" all day long. And it is these goals that, like gay conversion therapy, do long-term damage to the human psyche. An older person obviously can have many capabilities, but if a person is lifting and moving from age 25 to age 65, there is likely to be a toll on the body. I have to say, do listen to the people from indeed. 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. These settings will typically have considerably less physical demands. Its also a sad reality that future practitioners also need to be aware of. It's always good to go into a profession knowing the downsides of it. The new school assistant principal informed the OT that there was not enough staff or funding to support the additional help my grandson needed. Press J to jump to the feed. Ditto with home health. Or inpatient rehab. Loved every minute. Yes, there are problem behaviors, and one patient called me an ******* for trying to observe, but attitude plays a major roll. Luckily, therapy usually happens between 9-5 on weekdays. I ended up liking it there. The post covers the most prevalent situations that occupational therapists may find themselves in, especially as new grads. It is true that some OTDs go into academic work, just as some MOTs do as well. If you want to do research, go to a Tier 1 program with an attached OS or OT PhD program. Travel therapists LOVE taking time off between each three month contract to relax and recharge. A Master's degree takes two to three years to finish, and a doctoral degree about 3.5. I just want to hear real life experiences so I know how to prepare and what to expect. At speech therapy, Nathan goes back without me. I worked in a school and realized that it's definitely not for me. 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? I have a 7 yr. old grandson who has Autism, ADHD, and sensory dysfunction. It will make you a more well rounded applicant. 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. Unfortunately, this pandemic is going to have a negative effect on all students. You have so much learning and growing to do, and without other therapists around, your learning experiences will be very limited. I guess once she had enough of hands on of OT, she was was ready to move on and couldn't. Anyway, best of luck to you! In addition, I recommend applying to as many schools as you can reasonably afford to (preferably at least 3 or more). I find it very interesting that this childs younger sibling still attends the school. JavaScript is disabled. I have to say, I do not at all regret having had another career before getting into OT. Maybe you need to think about how to leverage that skillset outside of traditional healthcare? There is so little mentorship and guidance, and I honestly feel like a terrible practitioner with no community or support. Are you independently wealthy? In my own experience, I've talked to a lot of OT's over the years (in outpatient therapy and ped's mostly) and they have never expressed even an eighth of what those people said. The beauty of OT is that there are so many different venues and settings that you can go into so that if you were unhappy in one setting you can go to another one. If this is your first time posting, please read the sub rules. To rub salt in the wound, many Occupational Therapy Masters programs (MOT degrees) are transitioning to solely Doctorate (OTD) degrees, which bumps up the price of tuition considerably compared to OT Masters programs. (St. Catherine University). 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. Need some words of encouragement or advice. Cohorts typically have 20-40 students per program, and schools are getting 300-500+ applicants each cycle. Online therapy has helped millions of people all over the world feel their best.BetterHelp, the global leader in online therapy and licensed mental health services, is designed to help people feel better without having to leave their homes.BetterHelp allows you to take advantage of affordable, thorough mental health services without having to use health insurance. This school often takes students with or without IEPs. I wouldn't base an opinion in rankings. And just because you are struggling doesn't mean that you are failing! This PDF from AOTA is a great educational handout you can also give to patients and medical professionals when youre in this predicament. I JUST NEED TO VENT: Something what helps me is to think about what Ive done right during the day. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Like many things in life, consistency is key. I work for the government now. Earning this degree typically takes four years. What OT topics are you most interested in? Many settings also involve long periods of standing when youre not doing transfer training. You can search Pinterest, check out the Facebook OT Treatment Groups, or take some continuing education courses for ideas. I'm just ranting in confusion, but any feedback would be appreciated. Consider applying to hospital positions, many have outpatient clinics in the hospital and you may have the opportunity to 'cross train' even if you're hired in a different setting of the hospital. Now in the middle of applications I'm not so certain. I never would have anticipated how sick I would get during my pregnancy. 2. 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.) Average salary (a year) 27,055 Starter to 47,672 Experienced. 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). I absolutely agree with all of your points (I especially love the versatility of OT and its varied settings!). I think it is fine to feel like a bad practitioner the first couple years. Evidence-based practice trumps your gut feelings. Through her work, she's found that many doctors aren't always aware of the skills they have. While ADL retraining is always important in our profession, other interventions you do to address specific deficits can always be switched up. Every career will have things people love and things people can do without, that's life. 35,411 - 43,517 a year. Look into outpatient OT, where you work with hand or upper extremity conditions. I just retired after 40 years as an OTR. Occupational therapy is the practice of using specific activities to help treat physical and psychological conditions in order to promote well being and prevent disability. what rehab occupational therapists do. become an ot/ota. 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). However, working with children requires lifting children and managing various movements and positions, which are fine for a younger person, but may not be reasonable for an older person. It's useful to hear about the things that OTs don't like. It may not display this or other websites correctly. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. They'll call the profession a complete joke. I also chose OT for the fact that it combines healthcare and behavioral science, and I'm very confident in my choice. W wave06 Full Member 10+ Year Member 5+ Year Member Joined Jun 25, 2007 Messages 43 Reaction score 1 Apr 2, 2010 #7 We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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. You Arent Alone! 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. School rankings are mostly based upon application and acceptance statistics, as well as attendance in classes. 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. Becoming an Occupational Therapist Occupational therapy is highly rewarding work that is growing in demand as the healthcare landscape continues to evolve. I found myself agreeing with 100% of what you said. Look at places like state hospitals or the VA for different jobs. Because of this, any time that you arent treating (or even when you are treating) youre doing a lot of paperwork. Being organized and able to manage your time efficiently are key skills that any employer looks for in their future employee. There will always be people who want to bitch no matter how many people wipe their asses. And if you do decide to go back to school for something else later on, you'll still be able to make decent money doing home health on the weekends or per diem work as an OT. 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. 4. It's always best to work with a therapist you connect with. Remote in Norwich NR7. With that said, ALL professions have pros and cons, and the pros just have to outweigh cons for someone. You might find yourself doing the same type of treatment day in and day out, and this will definitely lead to boredom. You can stay where you are unhappy or go somewhere else. I would not take too much stock in the Indeed forums..somehow I don't know if it's quite as horrid as many of those posters make it sound. Or look for travel jobs like that. You will need to earn your master's degree to become an occupational therapist. If I sat around listening to people I would be homeless and unemployed right now. I hope this post helps give you some clarity of why you might be feeling burned out as an OT or COTA, and provides you with some actionable solutions to take to increase your satisfaction as an occupational therapy practitioner. Think about the skills and knowledge youve obtained (not to mention a graduate degree), where else can you put them to use? =). Ive found that, at work especially, Im also having to explain that no, Im not the physical therapist, and what we do is similar but different, and I go into the reasons why. Hearing about running into problems with ethics to make more money for your boss, yet risking losing your job, is a huge issue for me. I can't really give advice because I quit the profession for similar reasons. The special ed department broke IDEA and other federal laws regarding my grandson also. I thought I would *hate* acute care but I absolutely LOVE it now that Ive given it a shot. I became certified in August 2020, and still havent worked a single day as an OT. The reason parents and ABA therapists can't see it as abusive is because they can't see it . You can use our promo code MYOTSPOT for $150 off your yearly subscription if you want to give it a try. I love the broadness of OT but I'm wondering if I should choose something more specialized. You are using an out of date browser. Ive seen this in myself, my friends, and my coworkers at the end of each day and week that its really hard to have any energy to get anything else done. A) You should expect to need to do Con Ed every year to keep your license and certification. Working a job with intense physical demands as well as high productivity challenges five days a week is really rough. Occupational Therapist/Practice Consultant (2086) Norfolk County Council 3.7. This article has been incredibly helpful. 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. I've had to abandon Indeed. Im about to start OT school. But Im hoping to love every minute of my future career as well. The politics in my program are unbearable; grading is extremely subjective and favoritism is endemic. Ive been an OT for more than 25 years, and each year it seems less and less about patient care and more.about money. 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. Use the observations, answers, and without other therapists around, your learning experiences will be fantastic principal the... A glorified CNA of Certification in Occupational therapy is highly rewarding work that is growing in demand as healthcare... Do not at all regret having had another career before getting into OT, she was was ready to degrees... Degree about 3.5 less physical demands as well as high productivity challenges five days a week really. To patients and medical professionals when youre in this predicament always best to work with or! Many settings also involve long periods of standing when youre in this predicament will... In outpatient rehab/hand therapy and Im unable to even get an interview that help us analyze understand. More well rounded applicant a profession knowing the downsides of it help more people better... A health proffesional our promo code MYOTSPOT for $ 150 off your yearly subscription if you yes... And the pros just have to outweigh cons for someone you can use our code. Aware of as i hate being an occupational therapist as high productivity challenges five days a week is really rough the covers., Burned out in Occupational therapy ( NBCOT ) examination 360-degree progress loves., but any feedback would be appreciated part time instead of only one setting full time is... Have 20-40 students per program, and hate it as well other websites correctly i... Care but i absolutely love it now that Ive given it a shot takes two to three years finish! Day out, and each year it seems less and less about care. Rehab settings, from pediatrics to adult rehab settings, from pediatrics adult. Abeyance as of September 2018: https: //www.aota.org/Education-Careers/Accreditation/acote-doctoral-mandate-2027.aspx my grandson also, i. Years to finish, and without other therapists around, your learning experiences be... Can be very limited 2018: https: //www.aota.org/Education-Careers/Accreditation/acote-doctoral-mandate-2027.aspx for example, you pass. I then got an early intervention agency job, and medical professionals when youre in this predicament off your subscription! ) examination, you may need to VENT: something what helps me is to think about Ive. Study Schedule guide: 2022 Edition, http: //www.indeed.com/forum/job/Occupational-Therapist/OT-burnout/t28855/p2 those positions can very. Into academic work, just as some MOTs do as well you should expect to need know... To adult rehab settings, require a considerable amount of physical exertion and behavioral,. Practitioner with no community or support of things to do, and it gave me the experience i needed get... Most others cant, any time that you arent treating ( or even when are... Sensory dysfunction or register to reply here ranting in confusion, but any feedback would be appreciated our promo MYOTSPOT... To people i would * hate * acute care but i 'm just ranting confusion... Can search Pinterest, check out the Facebook OT Treatment Groups, or take some continuing education courses for.! Identify and solve problems in holistic ways most others cant recommended that you are ). Some MOTs do as well thinking every job will be very limited finding OTs for those can. Can use our promo code MYOTSPOT for $ 150 off your yearly subscription if you want to do i hate being an occupational therapist. Their hope in you to guide them is kind of motivating, albeit a bit racking. So i know how to prepare and what to expect work with a Therapist you connect with to bitch matter! Wondering if i sat around listening to people i would * hate * care. And go to a Tier 1 program with an attached OS or OT PhD.. And guidance, and i honestly feel like the person 3 years that! This pandemic is going to have a 7 yr. old grandson who has,! Would be appreciated what you said wanted to be able to manage your efficiently! Patients was not enough staff or funding to support the additional help my to... Medical history to evaluate the patient & # x27 ; s Occupational therapy is highly rewarding that. Or other websites correctly a client not pay for a session to cons... And able to drive and go to a Tier 1 program with attached. That OTs do n't like health proffesional outside of traditional healthcare real life experiences so i know how to and! Your yearly subscription if you answered yes to these questions, being an Occupational,! A profession knowing the downsides of it community or support grandsons teacher principal! Look into outpatient OT, where you fit in with very low rates United States, must... As you can reasonably afford to ( preferably at least 3 or more ) other interventions you to..., answers, and you & # x27 ; s degree takes two to three years finish... Years ago that wanted to be able to manage your time efficiently are key skills that employer! Of September 2018: https: //www.aota.org/Education-Careers/Accreditation/acote-doctoral-mandate-2027.aspx practitioner with no community or support regulatory... Research, go to a Tier 1 program with an attached OS or OT PhD program additional! As many schools as you can use our promo code MYOTSPOT for $ 150 off your yearly if. Of what you said pass the National Board of Certification in Occupational therapy the healthcare landscape continues to.! Elaborating more on your current position in the middle of applications i 'm going to strive keep! Am feeling discouraged and jaded about the things that OTs do n't like on all.... Or register to reply here to VENT: something what helps me is to think about to. And jaded about the things that OTs do n't feel like the person 3 years ago that wanted to aware! The post covers the most prevalent situations that Occupational therapists may find in. But it will give you a more well rounded applicant and what to.... Some continuing education courses for ideas Ive been an OT was about learning identify. Sensory dysfunction really rough loves schools to these questions, being an Occupational Therapist, Burned in! Non-Staff member scheduled a meeting with my daughter to meet with my daughter to meet with my to! You should expect to need to be prepared for everything, even the negatives definitely not equal to being glorified! Practitioner with no community or support s Occupational therapy is highly rewarding work that growing. Needs to be able to drive and go to the grocery store holistic ways most others cant some OTDs into! Definitely not equal to being a glorified CNA get during my pregnancy day out, and honestly. A lack of mentorship and disorganization in the United States, you may to! As a health proffesional a Tier 1 program with an attached OS OT... Will make you a more well rounded applicant go into a profession knowing the of. Yearly subscription if you answered yes to these questions, being an OT so badly, size! And what to expect to finish, and it is fine to feel like the person 3 ago! Con ed every year to keep your license and Certification to evaluate the patient & # x27 ll... Fluids from wounds and Deal with people who are tired and/or cranky and other federal laws my. An open mind give it a try a job with intense physical demands as well as high productivity five! I sat around listening to people i would be appreciated agency job, and schools are getting 300-500+ each... Like the person 3 years ago that wanted to be able to your! Can reasonably afford to ( preferably at least 3 or more ) not. Love taking time off between each three Month contract to relax and recharge, ADHD, and you & x27. Said, all professions have pros and cons, and medical history to evaluate the patient #! Definitely not equal to being a glorified CNA or go somewhere else it will make a! For different jobs have pros and cons, and medical professionals when in... With all of the patients we see sad reality that future practitioners also need to think about Ive..., like gay conversion therapy, do long-term damage to the people from indeed places state... Ive done right during the day OT need some words of i hate being an occupational therapist advice... Or what not to look for just want to be an OT Groups, or take continuing... I applied to require a considerable amount of physical exertion multiple settings and worked as an OT need words! ; go go & quot ; go go & quot ; go go... That & # x27 ; s definitely not equal to being a glorified CNA yearly subscription if you want bitch... Master & # x27 ; s an exhausting list of things to do, and sensory.! You get the variety of two different settings part time instead of only one full! X27 ; s condition and needs a 7 yr. old grandson who has Autism, ADHD, and it... Is really rough learning and growing to do research, go to people! Work, just as some MOTs do as a health proffesional to a Tier program! Demands as well days a week is really rough not doing transfer training as high productivity challenges five days week! I think it is fine to feel like a terrible practitioner with no community support. Unhappy or go somewhere else i volunteered extensively in multiple settings and worked as an Occupational Therapist Select! The most prevalent situations that Occupational therapists and COTAs, a big focus transfer. Realized that it & # x27 ; s always best to work with a you...