Registered Nurse or Occupational Therapist?

I would not know what to tell you on direction. You can become an RN in 2-4 years, but it is about 6 for an OT now. I know that as a nurse you can work many places, but your work duty would be very limited.

As an OT, you could work in acute care, outpatient, long term rehab, in peoples homes, doing consulting, etc. You could work with diverse populations like infants, adults, or seniors. You could work with an unlimited number of specializations.

As a nurse, you could make good money(if you work overtime and nightshifts), plus you would have many people over your head. As an OT, you could go into private practice and make many more of your own descisions.

I said all that to say this- I am very biased in that I am halfway done with a graduate degree in OT. I would recommend shadowing with both to see what you like better.

matt in Charleston, South Carolina said: I would not know what to tell you on direction. You can become an RN in 2-4 years, but it is about 6 for an OT now. I know that as a nurse you can work many places, but your work duty would be very limited.

As an OT, you could work in acute care, outpatient, long term rehab, in peoples homes, doing consulting, etc. You could work with diverse populations like infants, adults, or seniors. You could work with an unlimited number of specializations.

As a nurse, you could make good money(if you work overtime and nightshifts), plus you would have many people over your head. As an OT, you could go into private practice and make many more of your own descisions.

I said all that to say this- I am very biased in that I am halfway done with a graduate degree in OT. I would recommend shadowing with both to see what you like better.

They are both fine careers, it would depend on which specialty you wish to pursue. I disagree with the above opinion and think that nursing has much more options, including a very wide range of salaries from new grad floor RN to nurse anesthetist who make more than family practice MDs without the overtime or nightshift. Some Nurse Practitioners can also work independently, depending on the state. The work duty being limited as quoted above is also dependent upon the RN's position. Chief nurses sit on hospital boards, for example. The range is much greater than that of OT, IMO.

You can also do rehab nursing if you wish to be in that field which only requires an LPN. To be fair though, I have a dear friend who is a professor of occupational therapy and she really loves it. I am an RN MSN trauma nurse and not really loving it at all. Contact your local HR and get some shadowing experience for both and research the monies available for education. It will be less painful if you don't have to shell out all the money by yourself, whichever field you decide. GL.

brambleton in Chantilly, Virginia said: You can also do rehab nursing if you wish to be in that field which only requires an LPN. To be fair though, I have a dear friend who is a professor of occupational therapy and she really loves it. I am an RN MSN trauma nurse and not really loving it at all. Contact your local HR and get some shadowing experience for both and research the monies available for education. It will be less painful if you don't have to shell out all the money by yourself, whichever field you decide. GL.[/QUOT
THIS IS GREAT ADVISE . PERSONALLY IF I HAD TO DO IT OVER I WOULD PICK PT .

Thank you everyone for all your help!

Fifteen years ago I was on the academic path of becoming an OT and when I transferred to USC I made a last minute decision to go into nursing. I got my BSN and getting jobs has been easy. Nevertheless, nursing is a semi-profession where often there's no distinction between ADNs,LVNs and BSNs. Some states like Virginia have given a lot of autonomy to Unlicensed Assistive Personell (no degree). I know this because I moved to Virginia from California where RNs have much more influence. This loss of influence has lowered the RN's wages and prestige in Virginia.

The OT has a lot less stress as well. The RN will get report around 0700 and then face everything from Patient's family members (good and bad), unruly patients to impatient doctors. The RN is there with them for the whole freaking day while the OT does their business and gets out (nice). Don't believe that there "will always be a CNA to do the dirty work" because that's a lie." RN's do the dirty work and at the end of the day you are sweaty, dirty and tired. Also, patients need to be out by 1100am and the next one is in before the bed gets cold. Yes one can become a CRNA but that may not be for you so go volunteer in the OT setting and RN setting to get a clear idea of what's going to be on your plate. Having associated PTs and OTs I can tell you that their quality of life on the job is superior. BTW, in over ten years of working as an RN I've never seen an OT working as an aide (that's ridiculous!).

I am now looking at OT again because the direction of Nursing is all about cost and there's little unity amongst nurses. OT will always have superior work schedules and a better work environments.

Good Luck!

Thank you very much Glen! That is really helpful information! I hope you succeed in all your future endevours.

matilda why would an ot do cna type work
I thought the job was to help them learn to do it themselves and shouldn't the nurses and cna do the actual wiping and stuff
please answer of what your experience with ot has been
what you do in a day... what is the pay range etc

What kinds of personal/professional characteristics describe an ideal nurse and ideal OT? I am trying to decide which profession fits my personality the most and I would like to hear from actual RNs and OTs as to the ideal traits in their profession. Thanks!

Since I am sitting here thinking of both of these as future careers, this discussion has been most interesting. I currently have an undergraduate degree in biology, and have been working in research for the last 15 years. However, I have lost my passion for this area. I am looking for a change for many different reasons. I would like to have a more direct impact in helping people. Research may lead to something that improve lives 15-20 or more years down the road.

I am wondering if incurring the debt for a graduate OT program would be financially worth while, as I am over 40 my years of earning are much shorter than a 20something. Also, does anyone have an opinion as to what sort of personality would lend it self to a OT career or a nursing career.

Thanks

Glen, although you posted this a while ago you really made my decision a whole lot easier. I was always between the two - but after hearing your advice it was very helpful and something i needed to hear. i always wanted to be a nurse, and when i went to nursing school, i wasn't very interested in it - i really noticed when i started doing clinicals, that feeding people weren't for me - i thought nursing was more than feeding someone, and etc. i really am thinking about pursueing my academics in OT, and I love to help people, but I'd rather see someone accomplish something - than have to help them with something in the here and now, and see someone overcome something over a while... this was very helpful; and you really helped me understand!.