Here I am, an employed woman.  It is a great feeling.  I have not started work yet, as I am in the process of doing all the pre-employment screenings, but I may start as soon as next Tuesday.  I decided to accept a position with a staffing/recruiting facility.  All through school and beyond I have had ...

  Computerized documentation and tracking for therapy have been around for some time now. Advancements in programming and internet access have helped create many new programs directed towards the therapy world. With the latest change at work I am wondering if they actually help save time.   My first computer at work was in 1985 when ...

     My job hunt has been very enlightening thus far.  I feel I have spent more time defending COTAs than actually interviewing.  I have done this on three separate occasions now.  In the first instance, I was called regarding my resume, but was informed that the facility does not utilize COTAs and that COTAs ...

  What type of clothing do you wear to work in a long term care setting? Over my years I have seen everything from a dress shirt/tie and three piece pant suits to scrubs and jeans. With the different activities we address as COTAs in LTC there are different opinions as to what is appropriate.   As I said the different clothing I've ...

I passed the exam!  I am now officially a COTA!  I can't believe it's finally done, that was the last hurdle I had to jump and now I can officially be on my way to my new career.  It's such an awesome feeling to know that there will be no more lectures, no more studying and no more exams.  My time is again my own.  It is ...

 At work today another staff member cautioned me to wash my hands often, as there seemed to be a bug in the building. Back in school I remember the importance that was stressed with proper hand washing techniques, before and after treatment with each patient, before and after eating, and after any ADL's. As a teacher I remember teaching the ...

Today I took the NBCOT certification exam.  Wow.  That was not fun.  I have studied diligently for the past 2 months and I do not if I will pass.  It is just one of those exams that you do not walk away from feeling great about your performance.  I say this not only based upon my experience, but of that of my ...

  Some time ago I wrote a blog about COTA salaries, and in it I mentioned that with the increased cost of schooling and decrease in salaries that soon we may see a shortage of people seeking to enter the field. Was that a bad prediction?   The cost of the two required years of OTA school can vary greatly. At the local community ...

Citing financial concerns the federal government has quietly begun to shut down the president's medical healthcare plan for those who are uninsurable. They have already served 135,000 people, the majority suffering from cancer or heart failure, but the remaining money congress set aside for this plan will now be reserved for those enrolled in ...

  How big is your rehab gym? Is it big enough to hold all the walkers, wheelchairs, parallel bars and other equipment needed in the gym? Are you able to comfortably seat 20% of the therapy caseload in the gym at the same time without having to jump over objects or step on toes?   Over the years I have found that the size of the gym ...