Satisifed with career as COTA???

Hello, I've read some really negative things about the OT field, and I've seen posts where its the same person over and over posting the negative things under different names, so I was just curious, if people are really that unhappy with occupational therapy because I have just graduated from an OTA program and this site is giving me doubts, so would also like to hear something positive about it

OT itself is not a bad profession. The problem lies in job security, and high productivity requirements. I am on my last travel assignment with 5 weeks to go. I am in a signed contract with a 30 day notice to break the contract. Hallmark just hired a full-time COTA and now wants to end my contract as of today... it ain't gonna happen. Backstabbing is a huge problem in this field and I found that out the hard way. I have been a COTA for 8 years and it's time to move on. I doubt it is the same person bashing the field because I have been hearing bad things from the therapists I work with. In October, Medicare will be cutting reimbursement by 10.5 percent and another 11 percent January 2012. Personally, if you want to be in the OT field than just do it.

Carrie , your post is so true. I have been a cota/l for over ten years..... I found out the hard way how much backstabbing can affect your career. I had a issue where a team member with a trumped up title reported me to the state board. She totally made up a charge to gain her own exposure. This was vry hard to deal with , my board of peers did not sem interested in what I had to say..In the end I was fined ahuge amount of maney with a truck load od humiliation. I was still permitted to practice in the state but it sure felt horrible. Has this ever happened to someone??

Catgirl in Phillips, Maine said: Carrie , your post is so true. Sad to hear. The economic downturn has damn near destroyed so much good. Still an unemployed outpatient ortho COTA, I continue to try. I don't write to be negative but I only bring forward my experiences, which are positive concerning the COTA field. Just today, I tried to apply to an ortho job in Henderson NV. "It's already filled." It is?, how could that be? Then I contact another and try to get the recruiter to bring my resume forward to the company they are hiring PT's for, as this Co. does hire COTA's and, well, I was being assertive. The recruiter could not understand what I was doing or why! For crap sakes, only five years ago I called an OH travel job and they talked to me, allowed me to come out and look around, etc! I am not sure why I keep trying. It seems as though OT is in a strong decline and the COTA is slowly being phased out. Oh, you can get a job if you want to wipe bum in an SNF. Hey, I was literally told it was OT work to stand at the toilet then wipe someone's butt, that is an ADL! Are you kidding me? No it isn't. Assess their needs, increase ROM, strength, etc to be able to Perform the ADL, you DON't DO the act for them. Weren't we supposed to make people more independent? All true and factual events, THIS is the new COTA so it seems. I am looking at minimum wage jobs as no one respects my AAS in OT or medical hx.

bleepbooapopalap in Roanoke, Virginia said: Hello, I've read some really negative things about the OT field, and I've seen posts where its the same person over and over posting the negative things under different names, so I was just curious,

I have posted what would be regarded as negative but I am always me. Sad to hear. The economic downturn has damn near destroyed so much good. Still an unemployed outpatient ortho COTA, I continue to try. I don't write to be negative but I only bring forward my experiences, which are positive concerning the COTA field. Just today, I tried to apply to an ortho job in Henderson NV. "It's already filled." It is?, how could that be? Then I contact another and try to get the recruiter to bring my resume forward to the company they are hiring PT's for, as this Co. does hire COTA's and, well, I was being assertive. The recruiter could not understand what I was doing or why! For crap sakes, only five years ago I called an OH travel job and they talked to me, allowed me to come out and look around, etc! I am not sure why I keep trying. It seems as though OT is in a strong decline and the COTA is slowly being phased out. Oh, you can get a job if you want to wipe bum in an SNF. Hey, I was literally told it was OT work to stand at the toilet then wipe someone's butt, that is an ADL! Are you kidding me? No it isn't. Assess their needs, increase ROM, strength, etc to be able to Perform the ADL, you DON't DO the act for them. Weren't we supposed to make people more independent? All true and factual events, THIS is the new COTA so it seems. I am looking at minimum wage jobs as no one respects my AAS in OT or medical hx.