As an occupational therapist, you are a unique professional who resides between physical therapy and speech therapy. You have multiple skills and you administer treatment to improve physical impairments, self-care difficulties, functional cognition, and visual impairments. Your treatment options cover a vast amount of territory, and you might be finding it tedious at times. However, it is Feb., the month of love. Maybe it is time to fall in love with your occupational therapy career again?
How to Fall Back in Love With Your Occupational Therapy Career
Making a Positive Impact on Peoples’ Lives
Helping others enhance their quality of life is likely why you chose your OT career. Seeing the day-to-day improvements is special. You are the one who teaches them to get back doing what is essential such as getting dressed, eating food, driving, and getting back to work. Learning to do these tasks again is a life changer for patients, and you are helping make this possible.
Flexibility
The ability to work in various settings with a flexible work schedule is a beautiful thing. Not many career choices offer the opportunity to work with people from all walks of life. Whether it is children at school or the elderly in a nursing facility, you work with all of them. This career offers the chance to travel and work worldwide too.
The Demand for Your Services
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projected 17% growth for occupational therapists until 2029. This growth rate is much faster than the average growth rate of 4% for all occupations. This demand for services is attractive, and it will continue to rise as OT continues to be a part of treatment for people with disabilities and illnesses.
Opportunities to Learn and Advance
There is a lot to love about your work environment. Each day you get to work with a team of talented medical professionals while gaining new knowledge. Speech Pathologists, registered nurses, physical therapists, you work with them all, making for a more well-rounded experience in the field.
All Those Interesting People
You have no doubt met some fascinating people during your OT career. Think about how great it was to learn more about them. As an OT, you know that engaging patients in conversation during exercise is necessary. It is an excellent opportunity to learn more about your patients and ask questions about their lives.
It’s Great Exercise
After moving around as an OT, it might be challenging to sit at a desk. Being a therapist is a daily workout, and you will certainly have no trouble moving around constantly. Think about lifting and assisting patients as needed to chairs and beds. There is nothing like getting your exercise in before you even leave work!
Looking For A New Job?
Are you a frustrated OT? Sometimes the wrong job can make you fall out of love with your career. Work with myPTsolutions to find a job for which you can get excited.