Hi everyone. I'm a junior in college right now thinking about OT. At first, I wanted to be a PA but I concluded that it wasn't for me and I think OT is more suited because you seem to connect to the patients more and that's what I want. I've taken all my prereqs for PA and now considering OT, I need to take more classes for prereqs but I don't have time next year to do that because I can't choose my classes next year because as health science major in my university, we have to take required classes. So I might have to stay an extra year in school.

But anyway, my problem is, I can't find much information about OT and if I did, they all say the same thing.  

I know OT is a rewarding field and I would really love to be one of the people who can really change someone's life.  I also know that there is an upside and a downside in all careeres.  I would just like to know the opinions of OTs in their field. Please tell me not only the good aspects of the job but also the bad aspects. For example, does lifting people pose as a problem? Do OTs assist in toileting all the time? Is it worth all the stress of schooling? I would really prefer some personal details on this. Thank you for your help.

From reading your post, it is not too clear what experiences you have had that has lead you to consider the fields that you may be choosing.  Hopefully, before you truly decide on your career goal, consider volunteering one on one with an OT.  I initially was going into veterinary medicine but when I started really working with animals other than cats and dogs, I found that I am so allergic to them.  So there went that career, but at least I found out at that time rather than later after I had already entered vet school.  Next, I considered going into medical school but after talking to my uncle who is a doctor and just knowing a lot of medical students, I just didn't feel that it would be the right match either.  Then I discovered OT after talking to a friend who was going into that route also.  I volunteered for over 2 years and really loved it. 

 

Some good things about includes the fact that you have skills to really work with any population, whether it be kids or old folks.  You can work in so many different settings too, like community based therapy or in institutions.  Your skills also can allow you to do so much more then what is typically OT.   

 

<>Of course, the fact that your work and directly influence the well being of another person's life is truly amazing.  When you are a student and working, you only get a brief time with these patients.   I sometimes get tears in my eyes when I run into a patient of mine in the community.  It truly is wonderful to see an active young grandma playing with her kids after initially seeing her confused and hemiplegia and w/c bound.  I have so many stories to share that add to my life.
 

On the opposite note, a job that comes with great rewards also can come with great stresses too.  There are days where I am totally exhausted.  There is some heavy lifting involved but that is not a big portion of the job, as you will know what you can handle and what you can't.  There are the pressures of the corporate issues also depending on where you work.  Productivity is such a funny numbers game but so important.  Some of the patients aren't the best either and there are some really unpleasant families to deal with also.  There will be those times that a patient or a family member will yell their head off at you for really no reason but you have to deal with it.

<> As you try and discover what career with be the best for you, I highly suggest that if you go into health care field dealing with people directly, take a read at a book called the Four Agreements.  You can really gain insight on how to deal with different people and help you to be a better, calmer person...

 

<>Good luck on your endeavors!
 

The Best thing about being an OT is watching people progress and be satisfied.

 There are actually 2 things that are the worst about being an OT. 1. People sometimes expect you to be a miracle worker. 2. We are limited by payer sources and prejudices within the insurance/Medicare field.

I have been an OT for 10 years, and I am also a CHT.  For my entire career the biggest gripe I have about being an OT is the lack of awareness in the general population as well as the medical community as to what exactly an OT does. I think that is why I became a CHT, so that I could have a title that most people could at least imagine with some accuracy what I do for work.  But I have always felt that us OT's take a backseat to PT.  Everybody knows what PT is.  But even the nurses in my facility will answer " OT's do waist up" when asked by anyone what the difference is between OT and PT.  Well if that's the case, why aren't PT's doing toileting and LB dressing right??  Or in the outpatient setting people think OT's only do work-comp cases, with the diagnosis of the day being "carpal tunnel".   I had a patient ask me one time if I had to "take a course to do this job"  Take a course!  OMG!  I said yes, it's called a Master's degree.  At the facility I worked at for 9 years, it was well known by all that PT's made more money, and PT's got more vacation time from day one ( 3 weeks at hire, vs 2 weeks for OT's with the 3rd week after 5 years).  This never seemed fair to me, and it still happens, everywhere.  Home care would not approve OT services for clients unless they also require either PT or nursing.  OT could not stand alone as the only skilled service in homecare according to medicare.  (Maybe this has changed, I don't know, I don't do home care anymore).  But just the idea of it.  Also, I have given very informative descriptions to people when they've asked me that question that always come up, almost every day......"what is the difference between OT and PT?"  Only to have them turn around to someone else and introduce me as their PT.  Or they will get a phone call during treatment (outpatient) and say to the person on the other end "I can't talk now, I'm having PT".   Now this may seem silly to some, my husband thinks I'm neurotic about this but it really bugs me.  Can you tell?  OT month alone just isn't enough to educate our public, we need a title change.  I suggest "Functional Skills Therapist".  Otherwise it is very rewarding, and the choices of settings is vast.  I'm not criticizing PT, they do great work too, but I don't think we should be back-burner people any longer. 

The other thing is the paperwork, but in any branch of healthcare there will be mountains of paperwork.  But the pay is good, and there will always be people in your facility that notice the good work you are doing and you will be appreciated as an OT by people who take the time to notice the difference .  Good luck with your decision.
 

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Judy