Careers othe rthan OT

Anyone ever leave the OT field? If so, what did aor are you doing now? I get frustrated with the field sometimes and feel I need a career change. Thanks.

Hey bro (i'm assuming you're a male per your screen name),

I must say that I'm in a similar situation as you. I don't know if it's a male thing, but most of the guy OTs I know don't seem to be satisfied with their career choice(s) either.

I was just wondering, what are some of your issues with the profession b/c I definitely have a lot of my own and I'm curious to hear someone else's concerns.

I am a male in So CAL that recently graduated with a master's in OT. I was wondering what issues West Coast OT dude was experiencing. I sometimes wonder if I made the right career choice. I left another profession to get into the OT field and haven't really found any one particular area of OT practice that I find all that interesting. This concerns me since I have invested a lot of time and money to get this degree -not to mention wages, 401k, seniority, etc that I have lost from my previous job -which had a decent salary. I have experienced mental health, peds and have just completed a level II internship in a rehab setting. I often ponder why I spent two and 1/2 years for a master's degree to analyze how people put on socks, sit on the toilet, bathe themselves and brush their teeth -etc.I guess I thought there was going to be a lot more to it. I just don't find the field all that interesting-kind of boring (sorry if I am offending any OT's out there but this is just my opinion).I know there are sub- specialty fields within the profession but you usually don't just jump right into them without some work experience and/or extra training.I still want to explore the school setting to see what it is like there. The pay for OT jobs is pretty decent here in So Cal and the job is not all that difficult. OT can be very rewarding at times but I often find it pretty boring and somewhat tedious.I know that many jobs are like that and I am pretty realistic about my expectations but I was curious about your experiences and/or issues. Have you ever worked for the school district-LAUSD or others? Any experience with hand therapy, ergonomics, home health?
Do you ever get sick of people asking you if you can help them to find a job when you tell them that you are`an "Occupational Therapist"
-Confused in So Cal

Hey SoCal OT Guy,

I've gotta say that I see eye to eye with you on a lot of things. Pretty much after the first semester of grad school I knew that OT was NOT the right choice...but, by then I kinda felt it was too late. I also had a solid career before OT...it seems that I traded one job with good pay/benefits/etc and much more challenge (but also a great deal of stress) to do very boring/uninspiring work. As far as working in school districts...I wouldn't know. I hate working w/other peoples' kids so I don't have 1st hand experience...but from what classmates who work in LAUSD say they are overworked, undersupported, and the pay is whatever ($72,000/yr to start). As far as hand therapy...I personally find it pretty interesting work, but you kinda have to pay your dues at a hospital/clinic that oftentimes won't pay very well. Despite the common belief that CHTs make bank, I haven't found that to be the case from the people I've met and spoke with. But maybe I'm talking to the wrong people. Home health is not too different from SNF...pay can be pretty good, but you do a lot of driving. Ergonomics consulting...this really varies based on your personal marketability. However, I've heard about some major companies hiring full-timme ergonomist OTs but I hear they pretty much just do workplace evaluation and adjustment (office chair height etc)...this is what I heard from someone who works for Northrup-Grummond (or is it Drummond?). I don't know what to tell u b/c I've been thinking about a switch for quite some time...it's just that paying a mortgage and saving for kids' college really doesn't afford me with the freedom to really explore my options. Sounds to me like ur still pretty young and unencumbered, so you should look into doing something else while u still can. One thing I can say is that as an OT i have more time/freedom to be a better dad than when I was climbing the corporate ladder. That's definitely one thing u might want to consider for late

Hey West Coast OTDUDE,
Thanks for replying. Ya, I am in a similar situation to you but no kids and I haven't bought any property yet-still waiting/hoping for the market to go down more.I am not a youngster anymore-later thirties- so being able to "career explore" is sort of out of the question for me right now due to loan debt,having spent a lot of my savings, and a need for income. I do like some things about OT and I rarely get stressed or take any of it home with me. I don't have to work late hours and do have some autonomy-that's a plus. Most days I come home from work- I feel that I have done something positive and I don't have trouble getting up in the am and going to work. I am just not that excited about it-maybe there are no perfect jobs out there. I wasn't bashing OT by any means in my last post, it's just that I feel that I also quickly realized (after second semester for me) that I might not be making the right choice. I did not want to quit and I didn't want to go back to my old job right away despite a promotional opportunity that arose while just starting school. I also had a pretty stressful job prior to grad school. I felt that I was moving forward by obtaining a higher education. I haven't regretted it yet- it's just that I am a little concerned that I haven't really found my OT niche yet. Hopefully, after getting some experience, I will find it. I really like hands and might be interested in driver training rehab. Anyway, thanks again for the info and good luck. I am always interested in speaking with people in the OT field (especially guys) since there are only a few of us out there (males in OT are on the rise though). I may want to start a business one day in OT or related field. There are many grants up for grabs for those who know how to utilize them. Let me know if you have any ideas or have had any thoughts about the matter. Just throwin it out there-Thanks again.

So Cal OT guy in Los Angeles, California said: I am a male in So CAL that recently graduated with a master's in OT. I was wondering what issues West Coast OT dude was experiencing. I sometimes wonder if I made the right career choice. I left another profession to get into the OT field and haven't really found any one particular area of OT practice that I find all that interesting. This concerns me since I have invested a lot of time and money to get this degree -not to mention wages, 401k, seniority, etc that I have lost from my previous job -which had a decent salary. I have experienced mental health, peds and have just completed a level II internship in a rehab setting. I often ponder why I spent two and 1/2 years for a master's degree to analyze how people put on socks, sit on the toilet, bathe themselves and brush their teeth -etc.I guess I thought there was going to be a lot more to it. I just don't find the field all that interesting-kind of boring (sorry if I am offending any OT's out there but this is just my opinion).I know there are sub- specialty fields within the profession but you usually don't just jump right into them without some work experience and/or extra training.I still want to explore the school setting to see what it is like there. The pay for OT jobs is pretty decent here in So Cal and the job is not all that difficult. OT can be very rewarding at times but I often find it pretty boring and somewhat tedious.I know that many jobs are like that and I am pretty realistic about my expectations but I was curious about your experiences and/or issues. Have you ever worked for the school district-LAUSD or others? Any experience with hand therapy, ergonomics, home health?
Do you ever get sick of people asking you if you can help them to find a job when you tell them that you are`an "Occupational Therapist"
-Confused in So Cal

Dear OT Guy, I have had similar experiences as you. I was getting tired of the monotomy of SNF rehab.

Hey, couldn't resist replying. I'm a guy as well. I find it gets pretty frustrating constantly trying to resist being pigeon holed into one particular area such as the whole SNF/ADL thing. My recommendation is to look at the hospitals that might expose you to a variety of practice areas. At least you will not spend all your day doing one particular thing. I used to work in advertising so I always think of SNF's as similar to working at a bad advertising agency....sure they'll pay you a lot of money to stay there, but you probably won't be too satisfied with your career a couple of years down the line.

OTdude in Piscataway, New Jersey said: Anyone ever leave the OT field? If so, what did aor are you doing now? I get frustrated with the field sometimes and feel I need a career change. Thanks.

Hey,I'm just finishing my Level II and I keep getting that irking feeling I made the wrong choice too, this was a carreer change for me too(45 y/o and 2 yr old child. I'm hoping just to get a job at first then I hope to create my own niche, possiblly Aging in place specialist, or rehabilitation of a specific area.Try not second guess yourself, there was a reason you got into OT now you just have to create the job you want to do.

HEY PT/GUYS CHEER UP HERE IN THE NY AREA SOME OF THE GUYS EXPRESSED THE SAME SENTIMENTS/WHETHER OR NOT THEY MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE. I AM A FEMALE OT SOON TO GRADUATE, ANONE KNOWS OF ANY SPECIAL GRANTS FOR OT,S? THINKING OF STARTING MY OWN BUSINESS.

Frances,What area are you thinking of establishing yourself in?

Tom

Hey guys, this the orig OTdude that posted this tread. The reason why I asked the question is basically because I have the same feelings as you guys. LOL I am mid 30's with 3 young kids and feel I am trapped. I even pondered the idea to be a police officer after 8 years of OT! I am bored, unsatisfied, and feel that retirement will not be that secure, at least lack of pension. I feel since I am the primary earner I don't have the financial opportunity to change careers, let alone change jobs (can't afford a gap in health ins). Maybe it is a guy thing. LOL Its hard to chat with many other female coworkers about cars, ultimate fighting, etc...LOL Or is it just me?;-)

Tom in Albertson, New York said: Frances,What area are you thinking of establishing yourself in?

Tom

Health care employment agency specializing in ot placement.

Hello OT Dudes,
I am in my last year of grad school and I have mixed feelings. I constantly worry that PT's can do the same thing as OT's (ADLs's are part of their scope of practice) and we will eventually be phased out of phys-dys. What do you guys think of schools that offer dual OT/PT degrees (i.e., University of Florida)?

Hey OT Chick,

That dual degree sounds great! I'd try to explore it further. If i'd known about a program like the one you'd mentioned...I'd probably would've done something more like that. Good luck with that!
However, as far as your concern that PTs will make OT obsolete...I wouldn't be too concerned. Just pay for your AOTA dues and our lobbyists will make sure that we all have jobs....not to mention, there is a shortage of licensed everything (OTs and PTs) which is why I've seen and heard of so many foreign rehab professionals being courted into the US to fill the plethora of available positions. (and no I'm not worried that foreigners are taking AMERICAN jobs...I could care less. If u live in this country, speak english, and ur not working...ur a freakin loser). THat's my 2 cents....peace!

OTdude in South River, New Jersey said: Hey guys, this the orig OTdude that posted this tread. The reason why I asked the question is basically because I have the same feelings as you guys. LOL I am mid 30's with 3 young kids and feel I am trapped. I even pondered the idea to be a police officer after 8 years of OT! I am bored, unsatisfied, and feel that retirement will not be that secure, at least lack of pension. I feel since I am the primary earner I don't have the financial opportunity to change careers, let alone change jobs (can't afford a gap in health ins). Maybe it is a guy thing. LOL Its hard to chat with many other female coworkers about cars, ultimate fighting, etc...LOL Or is it just me?;-)

Hey Jersey OT Dude,
It is difficult to talk with other co-workers about UFC, cars, sports etc b/c most (all) of the therapists are female. I guess we are experiencing "male co-worker withdrawal syndrome." LOL. I hang out now so much with women -if you combine work time and time spent with the girlfriend, that is most of my life. I really miss being with my male friends and old co-workers.There are some male P.T's where I work and I get to chat with them once in a while but I do feel your pain. Also -lots of little issues,catty B.S. and nit picky crap over petty issues is kinda annoying.Oh well, I guess it could be worse though.Sometimes we are valued at the workplace if there are very few males there-If you want to be a police officer, apply to different departments and go through the process. If you pass all tests, background etc., they will hire you and pay you while in the academy. You can maintain your current job while going through the process. I am looking at different options for careers. You can always work registry or per diem on a part time basis and pursue something else on the side. Anyway-good luck to you and you have an O.T. here that you can talk with about the above mentioned topics.UFC 83 coming up!

OTdude in Piscataway, New Jersey said: Anyone ever leave the OT field? If so, what did aor are you doing now? I get frustrated with the field sometimes and feel I need a career change. Thanks.

Wow, you guys are totally uninspired. There are tons of other things you can do as an OT. Get your Massage Therapy certificate. Do sports massage. Get your MBA and go into healthcare administration. Don't want to get another degree? Do some consulting work.

hubpages.com/_blogpost/hub/Pros--Cons-of-distance-learning-online-classes

Kat,

ur suggestions are uninspired. Massage therapy?!?! Are u kidding? Talk about a step down in pay and prestige...should I specialize in "functional happy endings" and post ads on Craig'sList? As far as an MBA...how about a more generic suggestion--Hey guys, why don't u just get a JD and go into advocacy all u have to do is take food out ur children's mouths, screw the mortgage, and become further indebted to SallieMae. Gimme a break. Some of the fellas (and like minded females) on this topic just wanna vent and hear the opinions of other male OTs.

Btw,I clicked on that link of yours and I see that u have no kids and graduated with what looks like a bachelors in OT. Most of these guys seem to have kids (not cats and guinnea pigs and mortgages. Not to mention that OT was a career change for a lot of them with the added debt and sacrifice of graduate school. Also, most of the fellas on this particular forum topic probably don't have the luxury of eventually being stay at home parents as you plan (per your profile) bc they are the primary breadwinners in their homes.

And no, I don't have kids and I'm not married, but I found your words condescending. I'm sure that most of these guys are hustling to try and make the best of what, for many cases, seems to be a less-than-ideal situation. So stay-up gentlemen!

I'm gonna be 'that guy' in Los Angeles, California said: Kat,

ur suggestions are uninspired. Massage therapy?!?! Are u kidding? Talk about a step down in pay and prestige...should I specialize in "functional happy endings" and post ads on Craig'sList? As far as an MBA...how about a more generic suggestion--Hey guys, why don't u just get a JD and go into advocacy all u have to do is take food out ur children's mouths, screw the mortgage, and become further indebted to SallieMae. Gimme a break. Some of the fellas (and like minded females) on this topic just wanna vent and hear the opinions of other male OTs.

Btw,I clicked on that link of yours and I see that u have no kids and graduated with what looks like a bachelors in OT. Most of these guys seem to have kids (not cats and guinnea pigs and mortgages. Not to mention that OT was a career change for a lot of them with the added debt and sacrifice of graduate school. Also, most of the fellas on this particular forum topic probably don't have the luxury of eventually being stay at home parents as you plan (per your profile) bc they are the primary breadwinners in their homes.

And no, I don't have kids and I'm not married, but I found your words condescending. I'm sure that most of these guys are hustling to try and make the best of what, for many cases, seems to be a less-than-ideal situation. So stay-up gentlemen!

I just finished my Level 2 in a SNF (I'm a 45 y/o male)
I do not want to end up there, however the adl thing is not something I think i can get away from. I was hoping to get into home modification working as an aging in place consultant. Anyone have any interest in this are???

TOMOT

I'm gonna be 'that guy' in Los Angeles, California said: Kat,

ur suggestions are uninspired. Massage therapy?!?! Are u kidding? Talk about a step down in pay and prestige...should I specialize in "functional happy endings" and post ads on Craig'sList? As far as an MBA...how about a more generic suggestion--Hey guys, why don't u just get a JD and go into advocacy all u have to do is take food out ur children's mouths, screw the mortgage, and become further indebted to SallieMae. Gimme a break. Some of the fellas (and like minded females) on this topic just wanna vent and hear the opinions of other male OTs.

Btw,I clicked on that link of yours and I see that u have no kids and graduated with what looks like a bachelors in OT. Most of these guys seem to have kids (not cats and guinnea pigs and mortgages. Not to mention that OT was a career change for a lot of them with the added debt and sacrifice of graduate school. Also, most of the fellas on this particular forum topic probably don't have the luxury of eventually being stay at home parents as you plan (per your profile) bc they are the primary breadwinners in their homes.

And no, I don't have kids and I'm not married, but I found your words condescending. I'm sure that most of these guys are hustling to try and make the best of what, for many cases, seems to be a less-than-ideal situation. So stay-up gentlemen!

Wow, you made that really personal. I'm the breadwinner in my household too. 2 Master's degrees. Trying to make the best as well, as is everyone. Didn't realize this was the boy's club forum - backing out now.

TOMOT - HOME REMODIFICATION CONSULTATION IS A GREAT IDEA

I'm the original poster. For some reason, this site changes where I am from whenever I revisit. In my own defense, the 2nd to last response from Kat brewed the SAME REACTION as the other guy. But then I saw her last post and said to myself...oops. But it is true that a career change isn't just as easy as, "Hey go to grad school....AGAIN!" or "Hey get a cert and do massage and increase my risk for arthritis." or "Consult on stuff that I would like to get away from!" I appreciated the replies but no one really has answered my original question....Did anyone leave and if so, what are you doing now?

SORRY OT DUDE - CAN'T HELP YOU WITH AN ANSWER SINCE I MYSELF IS ABOUT TO LAUNCH MY CAREER AS AN OT

Hey guys,

I've been doing some lurking on this post for some time now. Thought I'd put in my $0.02. I graduated with a B.A. in OT 14 years ago. Worked for about 7 years in a variety of settings. During that time, I got married and had a beautiful baby girl. Oh, I almost forgot. I also purchased a small townhome while still an OT. Going into the profession, I thought things would be more interesting. I was an avid sportsmen. I wrestled in college (only D-III). I thought I would be able to use my background more. I found that I couldn't. Don't get me wrong. It's not as if I didn't try. But honestly, there was no money to be made in the more creative, or 'inspired' pursuits I had in integrating OT to ____________ (fill in the blank) that I was passionate about.
Long story short. I went back to school to become a chiropractor. I'm much happier. On the flip side, I owe a ridiculous amount of money and I feel that there is much more job opportunity with OT. However, I work with athletes (no pros yet, just high school and collegiate athletes) and I get to do more than functional assessments and adl re-training.
To Kat, I think your heart was in the right place, but sometimes blind optimism can be a little off-putting. I think I can really relate to these guys and girls. If you've read all the posts, there have also been a handful of female contributors. For me, if I didn't have the support of my wife there would've been any way that I would've finished chiro school. In fact, if I would've really counted all the costs of going back to school I probably never would've done it. It's just that I am admittedly impulsive (and at times a little immature) and I just said screw it to OT and pushed forward. Hope that answered the original questions thread starter. BTW, I still keep up my cont ed for OT just in case I might need to pick-up extra work. SO I'm still an OTR/L!

Thx OT2DC! That was exactly what I was looking for. Good luck in the chiro field.

frances rodney in Yonkers, New York said: Health care employment agency specializing in ot placement.

Just an FYI, you don't have to be an OT or be in healthcare to have a business "placing" people for work. You just need $$$$$ for start up, benefits, liability, etc. A healthcare employment agency is just like a regular work agency in that they both find people work and take a cut of money. Just start working and you'll see what I mean. Now using your OT career to start your own rehab company is altogether different than just an agency. Good luck as you start you new OT career!

There must be a whole lot of us out there. Great to read your e-mails, because I'm in a similar boat. I think what we need to do is develop some sort of a network group for male occupational therapists as it seems we are all experiencing the same thing. The career is meaningful and purposeful, however, it's just not providing that sense of satisfaction that we may be looking for. Maybe it's a guy thing. Not sure, but it's certainly worth exploring.
Anyone reading this post, feel free to reach out with your thoughts or ideas: healthandwellnessot@Yahoo.com. I have a lot of experience building businesses and would love to hear thoughts that might be able to be turned into something special.

Wishing all of you continued success. Looking forward to your e-mails

Hey guys,
Wow! I am wondering if this will happen to me as well. I am also older, 32 and changing careers from climbing the corporate ladder and making decent salary. I went back to complete my undergrad degree at 28! (have four courses left). But, the work I was doing was stressful and without a sense of accomplishment. I have considered OT but I was in it to help people, I previously even considered social work(at master's level) but the low salary is very dissapointing. I actually like working with children and have worked with several populations and found it rewarding so I thought OT would be even more so. While working both corporate and in the mental health field I was mostly among women and it didn't bother me much because I have male friends outside of work but I'm listening to the concerns you guys have and now wondering if this will happen to me. I just would NOT like to wind up changing careers later on again. I had considered being a chiro long ago but I haven't looked into it since my focus was on OT. I haven't started grad school so I still have time to save myself. I currently don't have any mortgage or rent to pay and no kids so I must make a good decision now! I felt I was in the same boat as most of you guys but perhaps I may have it abit different because I have come along way (academically and doing community mental health work) so the OT profession may be a big step for me and I may feel more satisfied than you guys...or is that wishful thinking? Is it really a guy thing? But then again I'm constantly told I'm not the average guy (whatever that means) Decisions, Decisions...

NY Intrest if your interested in OT and think it will be for you go for it, if you want to make it work youll do fine, there are plenty of jobs and diversity. I know if I dont enjoy one area I can get into another, what other profession offers that. Don't let OTs that have allowed themselvs to stagnate sour your desire to help people engage in purposful activity.

Tomot08

Thanks, I think that is very true. If one area gets boring I can always try something else. Besides, I am the type of person that fully engages in something so I will keep up to date on anything related to OT and i doubt I will get bored. I was very quickly climbing the corporate ladder I 'm sure I will do fine plus I find it rewarding to help people in anyway even in simple tasks or ADL. Thanks again for the words, I'm moving FULL SPEED ahead. The program is 2 1/2 years and will begin and end before I know it!

Tomot08 in Albertson, New York said: NY Intrest if your interested in OT and think it will be for you go for it, if you want to make it work youll do fine, there are plenty of jobs and diversity. I know if I dont enjoy one area I can get into another, what other profession offers that. Don't let OTs that have allowed themselvs to stagnate sour your desire to help people engage in purposful activity.

Allow ourselves to stagnate??? Since when was keep on moving around in different fields of OT a requirement as an OT??? If an OT becomes bored is he/she stagnant??? Just because OT has many different aspects doesn't mean an OT HAS to explore them if he/she is bored with his/her job. Tomot08, I'm not trying to sour anyone's plans to enter the OT career. Who knows, maybe one will start the program and find that 1 year into it one HATES it!? Or one can start and fall madly in love with it. One won't know until he/she starts the program. All I was originally asking was, "Sometimes I get bored with my career, does anyone feel the same way?"
Sincerely, Happily stagnant for now OT

Tomot08,

What's the deal with the judgement? We all live in the real world where people do what they must to get ahead, make a living, and try to find some happiness with what they do. Just because someone doesn't enjoy being an OT and is voicing their frustrations doesn't make them somehow stagnant. Quite honestly, it's the people who seem happy all the time that you need to worry about.

I commend anyone who's grinding it out--whatever they may be doing. If anything, I appreciate the balance that this thread provides. There are a lot of unenjoyable aspects of our field (as there are in every other field), but the words shared by some of our frustrated colleagues are a dose of reality that is appreciated. It's a lot better that some of the potential OT students read this info and know it before deciding. Besides, I've read this whole thread and I don't think I've read one instance where anyone was discouraging people to consider the profession.

So Tomot08...quit being such a douche bag.

Voice O'Reason in LA,

Your last comment really displays your true character, sorry if I struck a nerve.:)

Voice O'Reason in LA,

Your last comment really displays your true character, sorry if I struck a nerve.:)

Take it easy OTs. I think both sides of the profession was presented here. I'm sure had some of those who are not so sure they made the right decision pursing OT had heard some of these very comments before diving in they may have reconsidered. On the other hand, Tomot08 presents the other side to those prospective OT students who may be reluctant to enter the field only hearing the frustrations. Thanks to both sides I can consider other's personal accounts of the field and re-evaluate my own traits to made a more informed decisions. No need for name calling....EVERYONE is just trying to connect with others and help one way or another. Thanks!

I AGREE WITH YOU tomot08, WE SHOULD ALL BE GRATEFUL TO EVEN HAVE A JOB; AND TRY TO FIND SOME KIND OF GRATIFICATION IN WHAT WE DO. THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO DOES NOT EVEN HAVE A JOB, AND FURTHER MORE I KNOW OF OT'S WHO ARE REAPING THE BENEFITS OF OT AND LIVING A VERY REWARKING LIFE. IT BEATS STANDING ON THE HANDOUT LINE!

I'm a guy on the cusp of going into grad school. Taking the GRE Tomorrow in fact, and have most of the prereqs wrapped up. I'm on the fence at the moment between PT and OT, and am resolved to picking a direction and charging by the end of this summer.

I'm 32, and making a career about-face. I'm looking for better stability in a job, one that pays decent (not lucrative), and one that doesn't dominate evenings and weekends like nursing jobs do.

My initial reaction after exposure to OT work was that it WAS a bit boring. By the end of the day I was glazing over. I guess you could probably make it pretty interesting by using your own creative approach, though, from time to time. Also, I have to confess I was turned off with the whole wiping/changing diapers thing. Helping with transfers to the toilet is one thing, but actually cleaning up afterwards is something I'd rather hit a call button and have a nurse take care of. What are your guys' experience with that? Is it sort of optional, or do you feel compelled to get into that side of things. I mean, that doesn't seem to have much to do with enabling people to do things on their own, which for me was part of the appeal of OT.

Do any of you who have some regrets about OT think you would have been happier with PT?

Thanks for the feedback, fellas.

Yes, without a doubt, knowing what I know now having actually practiced as an OT, I would have chosen PT rather than OT. Working mainly on skills such as transfers and ambulation and not ALDs would have been a much better fit for me personally. So if you are set on a career in therapy I would recommend PT. I enrolled in OT school because I was sold on the idea of all kinds of exciting, and personally interesting areas of OT practice such as low vision OT, hippotherapy, and the prospect of working with community organizations involved with the arts and individuals with disabilities. I have since discovered that these jobs are extremely difficult if not impossible to find and land. The vast majority of OT jobs available are in hospitals, schools, or skilled nursing facilities (nursing homes). So much for just "getting into another practice area" for more personal satisfaction. In certain practice areas, such as OT in the nursing home environment or hospitals, wiping/changing diapers and begging patients to please just try to put their socks on (ADLs)is NOT optional. The upside is that you can always find a job doing these things and some people truly enjoy doing these things and find them personally rewarding. I however do not. It seems very ironic now that I went into a career as an OT to help others to be able to engage in "meaningful, purposeful activity" and yet I myself am not. I am hoping this forum can get back to attempting to answer the original poster's question as it is somewhat my question as well. In other words, using the occupational therapist's skill set, what other positions/careers outside of OT would be appropriate/possible to pursue(and land)without additional education? Is this even possible?

i am on my field-work (lev 11) knowing what i know now - i would have chosen pt instead and i am a female.

THANK YOU folks. Thats exactly how I was feeling (original poster). The whole OT in a SNF and wiping butts is what made me post this. Having a master's degree and then being viewed as a glorified butt wiper, sock donner, & reacher expert, urkes me. After about a year of working as an OT I thought "I should have been a PT" and thought I made a mistake. To this day, I still hate having to "explain or sell" to my patients what I do and what I am about.

frances rodney in Yonkers, New York said: i am on my field-work (lev 11) knowing what i know now - i would have chosen pt instead and i am a female.

Hi,
May I ask you to elaborate. What is it that you know now that you didn't know before? OTdude in new brunswick is it only OT's in SNF that wipe butts? or is this unavoidable in the profession? Thanks...

Gabe, I can really relate to making the decision between OT and PT as I am trying to decide that myself right now. I still have a couple pre-reqs to take so I figure I can at least explore the possibilities till the end of the summer before applying to either one.

It food for thought to read this thread. I am single,male and 30 and I hope to have a family in a few years... At the end of it all, I would like to have a reliable job that I enjoy.

By the why, pardon my ignorance...What does SNF stand for?

E

Hi E,
Yes, sounds like you and I are in pretty much the same stage.

SNF is Skilled Nursing Facility...basically nursing homes. Another acronym you've probably come across is ADL (Activities of Daily Living).

The toileting aspects of OT are a turn off because it seems to bleed into nursing duties. My guess is it's become that because of well-meaning OTs over the years who, in those situations, perform those duties themselves instead of having a nurse come. In fact, in one case I actually saw an elderly man on the toilet push the button to call the nurse himself, and watched as the OT smilingly turned it off and then cleaned up after him herself. Sure it's more convenient, and doesn't make the patient wait that extra minute, but it also blurs the differences between nursing and OT; nurses and other staff start expecting OTs to do that, and that becomes a trait of the OT profession. I could be way off base here, not being an OT, so anyone feel free to correct me by all means.

My general sense is that if you work in a SNF, you will probably end up having to do this.

I've always thought OT was a little more of my natural area than PT (I'm a web designer, who tends to favor the creative), but I'm also athletic and would enjoy focusing just on muscle and bone rehab at the expense of cognitive rehab.

It'd be nice to think that the two professions are so closely similar that there's no wrong decision, but, well, you can see for yourself that the wrong choice can lead to regret. I'm very grateful for the comments people have here, because they are in a position that I can't be in without a roughly 3-year and $60k investment.

I think, E, that working or observing an OT or PT in their environment will make you start to favor one over the other, so use this summer to really put in those hours. That's my plan.

Hey everyone,

I just read through your comments and I am in a tough situation. I am just completing my first year of OT and I feel frustrated. I really don't think this is the career choice for me. I was wondering if anyone could help me out. Would you guys consider finishing the program (1 year left) or drop out? I know dropping out is probably a bad idea but I really doubt myself being happy as an OT. I feel the same way about donning socks, toileting, dressing, bathing etc..

Thanks.

Alex, I could give you some constructive advice. Just post an email address so I can respond. Btw, I'm the original poster of this thread. John

Hi Alex,
Sounds like John can give some good advice. Something to maybe check into is whether any of those courses you've taken would transfer into something else that you're interested in.

All the best,
Gabe

Alex in Mississauga, Ontario said: Hey everyone,

I just read through your comments and I am in a tough situation. I am just completing my first year of OT and I feel frustrated. I really don't think this is the career choice for me. I was wondering if anyone could help me out. Would you guys consider finishing the program (1 year left) or drop out? I know dropping out is probably a bad idea but I really doubt myself being happy as an OT. I feel the same way about donning socks, toileting, dressing, bathing etc..

Thanks.

Hey Alex, I was considering entering an OT program next year. I enjoy helping others but not very fond of the toileting and bathing. Was this mentioned in your program as unavoidable aspects of OT? Or are they mainly for SNFs and similar settings? If there is NO way to avoid wiping butts, bathing and such I'm not sure this is for me. I'm assuming that in other settings you wouldn't have to do any of this because there wouldn't be a need for it. Is that correct? I mean especially if you specialize in a specific area?

Hi NYInterest,
I'm not Alex, but everything I've heard indicates that's true (at least, I've been told by a couple OTs that's the case). There's specialized areas of OT like hand therapy and such where you could theoretically go through your entire career without having to deal with any of the toileting aspects, unless the school you attend gives you clinical time with geriatrics. The one thing about SNF is they tend to pay better there than most other areas of OT, and jobs are ridiculously bountiful. Alex probably could tell you more than that.

As silly as it sounds, the toileting thing is probably my one major hang up w/OT, and something I haven't been able to get beyond so far. If I do end up pursuing this career, I plan on getting into a specialized area like you mentioned...just hope it's not challenging to find a job like this. It's very helpful to see some of the seasoned OTs here discuss their thoughts on OT in retrospect, because I could easily see myself in their shoes, questioning my choice in career.

Hey guys,
I am e recent grad with an MSOT and currently work at a hospital in an acute rehab setting.I too have voiced some concerns/opinions in the past. The toileting/butt wiping thing is not usually done by ot's at the hospital where I work. They have personal aids and nurses/nurses assistants to do that. If a patient has an accident during therapy then I call on those people to do that type of stuff. I did not spend close to ten years in school to obtain a master's degree to do that type of work-I would leave the field in a hurry if I was doing that regularly. The problem is that we work with people that are ill or have disabilities. People will have accidents-that is just a fact-so you will be exposed to body fluids and or urine/feces from time to time.You may have to deal with it once in a great while helping to clean or wipe. If that is unacceptable to you then you may want to specialize in pediatrics, hand therapy, driver training rehab etc.I think it just depends on the place where you work and the amount of available help. I think ot can be a rewarding field and ADL's are just one aspect of ot-it is what really sets us apart from other disciplines.I only spend a small part of my overall time working on them with patients. In general, the pay is pretty good, the job can be very rewarding, there is a lot of flexibility in hours/settings you can work,and you will always have work. If you end up not enjoying the work then you can get into sales for various medical tech companies or work per diem or registry and pick/choose the hours you want to work while making top dollar and maybe do something on the side. Even if you choose to work per diem or registry part time you can still make a decent living due to the high hourly rate.Ot is a solid career choice that does offer a decent salary and some differing options. Ot's are in huge demand and you will always have a reliable recession -proof job.

What do you all think about going for your Dr. in OT? Seems like a great option for some of you. Teaching in an OT or related field seems like a pretty rewarding/creative/easy option. Let me know what you think because this is my ultimate plan.

SoCal OT guy is partially correct. A lot of OTs don't wipe butts...but (no pun intended) if u work in a SNF don't be surprised if u do. Also, part of OT is ADL training/re-training. Wiping butts is an essential ADL that may need to be addressed for many populations (geriatric, SCI, TBI, and the list goes on). U may not have to do it directly, but you have to help them learn how to do it to compensate or remediate.

As far as the more exotic options for OT...hand therapy takes about 5 years to pursue (which includes the mandatory training hours and a challenging exam), and driver's training (while freakin' awesome) is one of those positions that I never see available b/c these positions are so coveted that the OTs who have them need to retire/die before they'll let them go. After all, who'd want to go from teaching driving back to wipin' butts. Right? I do fully agree, though,
salary isn't so bad and it's a recession-proof profession.

As far as a Dr in OT (I think u mean OTD) go for it buddy. It's only 1 extra year of school. Some of my classmates got their's righ after the MA program and said it was pretty easy. If u mean PhD., u need to really think about it. That's 4 years more schooling (that's if u are diligent) and u have to be willing to basically do research that's inline with an already funded research topic--so forget about the creative part (unless u find pressure ulcers, lifestyle redesign for the well elderly, or occupational healthcare disparity of lower-income households creative--and there's noting wrong with it if u do). However, if u are good at schmoozing with higher-ups, have strong public speaking skills, are good at explaining concepts abstract and practical, and don't mind the fact that there are almost no tenure-track positions then rock-on.

I don't mean to be pessimistic b/c I know of people who make things happen no matter what the challenges. It's just that I like to actually present the facts. So do what u want