Hi, I'm a COTA/L from Southwest Florida.  I graduated in 08 and immediately began working in a hand clinic.  I worked for five years until last month, due to the recent "issues" with reimbursement my employer had to let me and another COTA go.  I picked up a job at an SNF pretty quickly after being laid off (i have never been unemployed before and i think i just grabbed the first full time position that if found, b/c I do NOT care for SNF settings) , which was a huge mistake, I had no clue what I was doing and nobody had any intentions of training (unlike what they promised when they hired me) i quit two days into it.  And now I am so shaken from that experience with the SNF, I don't know if I pigeon holed myself working in a hand clinic right out of school like I did.  I am now (fearfully) looking into home health/outpatient work (which is not plentiful in my area).  I am worried I will not find anyone who wants to train an OTA who has never worked in any other setting other than hand therapy.  Are there any CEU courses to take for first timers going into home health.  I really need some guidance with this, I'm so lost. Thanks, Crystal

I was leary about entering a specialized area right out of school.  I luckily found an acute care facility that oriented me for 6 weeks, and is also a teaching facility.  Our culture is based around mentoring and everyone shares their knowledge and experience.  I'm sorry you had that experience at the SNF as my friend also had the same experience and initially tried to steer me away from SNF's.  She eventually found one that had a friendly staff and eventually everything worked itself out.  My advice would be to review your books and educational material from school and "shop around" for a better facility.  You might have to tough it out for a bit.  Also, there is a lot of online con-ed courses you can take to help orient you.  Maybe try and become friendly with the COTA's at a new facility quickly, and express your anxiety toward working in a SNF.  See if they'll be more open to helping you.  I know this might not help, but I wish you luck!

Hi Crystal

I realize that you posted this in march and it is now may - and I really hope that you have found the new path that you were searching for.  However, you are still feeling lost and confused it may be helpful to talk things over with a coach to get to the bottom of where your real direction lies.  I am very happy to help if you need a safe place to get to the underlying issues and heaps of encouragement.  I wish you well.  You can email me if you need to at alice@communeot.com

Alice

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Alice I Loader
OT and Coach