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As described by the American Physical Therapy Association, professional physical therapists must possess the following qualities; accountability, altruism, compassion, excellence, integrity, professional duty, and social responsibility. Professionalism in the context of being a student in a doctor of physical therapy degree program should possess similar traits because after all a physical therapy student is a future professional physical therapist. In this essay, I will be telling you three stories; the story of an Asian American daughter, the story of a first-generation college graduate, and the story of a vision therapist.
Undergraduate school is a time of growth and exposure to many. People learn to become accountable for their actions and develop skills that they will carry on to their careers. As a first-generation college student, I can testify to this. My parents never finished their education so the whole college experience was new to them and I had no one to guide me. I wanted to make the best out of my experiences so I became accountable for my actions and developed a sense of integrity in my work. I worked hard to earn my grades, all the while maintaining a job and extracurriculars. This is a quality of professionalism a student in a
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As a doctor of physical therapy student, this quality is one that you won’t have to even learn because it should just come naturally. To be any healthcare professional is to be caring and compassionate to all your patients. It is a quality that at the end of the day should make you satisfied as a healthcare provider. Every day I go home with a smile on my face because some patient has given me a hug, expressed gratitude, and even enjoyment in their therapy session. It is not only a satisfying feeling to myself but a feeling of altruism because I have helped improved someone’s
A year and three months ago, I was at football practice. I was on the defensive line. I tripped up the running back, but the running back landed on my left ankle. The result was a fracture on my left tibia. I played on my injury for two weeks. At that moment, I was not able to play football for the rest of the year. During this summer, I injured my back. I began to accumulate information about how to treat my injuries. While I was researching, the words physical therapy popped up. I clicked on them, and the article discussed what a physical therapist does. When I was halfway down the article, it stated that a physical therapist helps people with injuries like mine. After researching, I decided to be a physical therapist.
Now that you have a better understanding about Athletic training, I will explain about physical therapy and why I would like have as a lifetime career. In an article I read, the author Sue Klappa said that, “PT’s reach into our communities through engagement and social responsibility. It compels us to bring hope and love to others. It urges us to learn to see things differently. It holds the promise of defining moments, as we take the time to see things in a new light” (Klappa 2). Klappa is a physical therapist that traveled the world to help others and when she went to different countries. She learned how important physical therapist are in the medical field and how she can get others attention. Starting a career path in physical therapy can
There are many attributes that contribute to being professional. The many that stick out in my mind are responsibility and accountability, leadership, honor and integrity, respect, and caring compassion and communication. All of these attributes pertain to the professional work environment in the own important way. When you are a professional you need to have responsibility and accountability. This means you have to demonstrate awareness of your own limitations, and identify developmental needs and approaches for improvements. You care for yourself appropriately and you present yourself in an appropriate manner (demeanor, dress, and hygiene). You recognize and report errors and poor behavior in peers. You have to take responsibility for appropriate share o...
Entering my first year of college I didn’t have any idea of what I wanted to do. I still didn’t choose a major let alone a career. I was stuck in between wanting to make enough money that my family would be taken care of financially and choosing a career that I wouldn’t mind going in to work every day. The one thing that I was certain of was that I wanted to be able to help people in whatever I chose to do. After careful consideration and exploring the options available to me, I have come to the conclusion that I want to have a career in physical therapy. Physical therapy is the treatment of disease, injury or deformity through physical methods rather than through drugs or surgery.
Educational requirements, opportunities and general demands of the career are only a few of the areas to inquire about in the field of physical therapy. This career is diverse in nature, in that a therapist sees many different ailments ranging from a sprained ankle to rehabilitating someone who has had an amputation. There is a fair degree of difficulty involved in becoming a physical therapist, and due to the high competition involved in entering the various Master’s degree programs as stated earlier, high grades and a positive attitude are very important for success in an interested student’s career. Volunteering is a great way to find out if a person would or would not be interested in entering the practice of physical therapy. This is an exciting career with many opportunities for advancement. This career is also a nice choice for those who become bored with the tedious monotony of a daily routine, since each day is a new experience.
I chose Exercise Science as my major because I want to pursue a career in Physical Therapy. I have been through physical therapy throughout my entire life and it has always interested me and caught my attention. Most recently, was in 2015 after I needed surgery on my knee to repair a torn meniscus. The surgeon had to completely repair my meniscus because it was not just torn it had twisted and folded over on itself. I had to go through longer physical therapy than normal because this was not just a simple tear in the tissue. I will be getting another surgery on my knee in the near future so I will need to go through more physical therapy after that. It is better to have someone that has had those experiences and has seen things from the patient’s point of view so that they know how their patient is feeling going through therapy. I know I would rather have a physical therapist that knows what receiving the treatment is like and has gone through physical therapy before, rather than someone who has never received therapy and does not necessarily know what being a patient going through physical therapy feels like. I originally thought about majoring in athletic training to stay within more of an athletics type of atmosphere but exercise science will give me
My journey to pursue an education in physical therapy actually originates from my early childhood. I endured a very impoverished upbringing and my family’s socioeconomic status was below the poverty line. At a very young age, money became the central issue of my life. I found myself worrying about mortgages, health bills, and grocery money. As I grew older, I vowed to myself that I would not endure my family’s financial burdens into my adulthood. I knew the best way to accomplish this was by obtaining a college degree and having a professional career. However, I was unsure what career I wanted to pursue. I experimented with many different career ideas, but during my sophomore, I discovered my passion and skill for physical medicine. For my
Exercise Science is a field of work that is valued by many. There are different paths for different kind of people whether they are interested in personal training, physical therapy, or even some kind of sports coach. The route I would like to take would be Exercise Science for Athletic Training. I want to be an Athletic Trainer because growing up, I loved playing and watching sports. I played baseball for about 2 years, ran track for 3, and played basketball my entire life. After my high school career, I knew that I could not stay involved in sports because all of the injuries I have experienced so I decided I wanted a job that is behind the scenes but still rooted in athletics.
With the help of my family and employers, I resign from my job and enrolled into the University of Houston-Clear Lake. They motivated me into taking the first step into my professional career in where I achieved my bachelor’s degree in Fitness & Human Performance. It was there that I was given the opportunity to do my internship at Proactive Physical Therapy (PPT) and see hands on what to expect in a PT setting. To be a part of someone’s rehabilitation journey, from the moment you first see them at their initial evaluation, to when they are graduating and being discharged, is an incredible feeling to be a part of. A Physical Therapist often encounter patients that are at the lowest point in their life in which they would have to teach, coach, listen and motivate the patient to rehabilitate them. When TW came in for PT, he was down on himself because he had
I have been exposed to the medical field my whole life. My Mom was a nurse and I would love to listen to the stories she told about her time in the hospital. If anybody asked me at the age of five what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would say “a nurse like my mom.” A few years later I decided I wanted to be a doctor from the few times I got to watch the television show “ER”. The beginning of my interest in physical therapy was when I met my fourth grade pen pal, Elmo, at a nursing home. Elmo had muscular dystrophy and only retained control of his right arm and pinky which allowed him to manouver his wheelchair. During one visit where we got to spend the whole day with our pals, the physical therapist at the nursing home came to see Elmo. I was allowed to stay and I remember thinking it was so cool that there was one person to help Elmo retain the little muscle tone and mobility he had left. In sixth grade, my class went to the hospital to sing Christmas caroles and I remember the coolest place being the physical therapy room. I thought it was amazing how patients were learning to walk again or throw a ball.
When brainstorming what comes to mind when one thinks of the word professionalism words and phrases such as being on time, communication, following policies, presentation, making deadlines, respect for superiors, addressing conflict, and cooperation may come to mind. All of these words and phrases can be put into the context of being a student in a doctor of physical therapist degree program. Each one is important and can contribute to the success of individual students in the program. Making the decision to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy is a major decision and will involve hours of dedication and commitment. Maintaining a professional mindset and attitude is a crucial part of being a student in a doctor of physical therapy program.
Physical therapy plays a major role in the lives of many individuals every day. It is up to those in the Physical therapy profession to assist patients in rehabilitation, prevention, and care. Obtaining a Physical Therapy license requires relevant certifications and credentials. A Bachelor in Health Science is just the start of the educational requirements needed to succeed. As with any profession, there are some current issues in the field of Health Care that relate to Physical Therapy. This includes the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, and individuals with disabilities. It is vital to be a respectful and professional Physical therapist. Patient care is priority. Having the proper education and knowledge to assist clients is extremely important. People of all ages require physical therapy for various injuries, illnesses, and diseases. I feel that my connection with working with people of all ages will benefit me when it comes to the job. While I know what my strengths are, I do have goals set for my future in Physical Therapy. These goals include: graduating Kaplan University with a Bachelors of Science in Health Science, graduating University of Massachusetts with a Doctorates of Physical Therapy, receiving licensure from the State of Massachusetts, and gaining employment in a sports or rehabilitation setting. I know that Kaplan University Career Services can assist me in obtaining my goals as a Physical Therapist because of their in-depth assistive programs that can assist me with my employment desires. In 5 years, I see myself working with athletes or wounded Veterans in a local rehabilitative setting or hospital. There is no other profession I would want more than becoming a professional, licensed, Physical Therapist and gettin...
Physical therapists play an integral role in health care. The vision statement for the physical therapy career is: “Transforming society by optimizing movement to improve the human experience”. 1 Through my prior volunteer and work experiences, I discovered that physical therapy was the perfect career choice and vision for my future. As a current student and future physical therapist, I will play an important role for society and within the health care profession. The vision statement will serve as my reminder to always strive for more knowledge and feedback as a student, uphold pertinent values that will improve the practice of physical therapy, and to always provide quality care to all patients.
A patient may be seen for physical therapy during various stages of the healing process. No matter the disease, disorder, or dysfunction that they suffer from, it is my job as a therapist to make them comfortable, reduce their pain, and to help them heal. Each of those things has a mental component too, as we all know our physical health goes hand in hand with our mental health. I can help to reach those goals by being polite and attentive.
From the moment of interviews to the end of our education in a Doctorate of Physical Therapy Program the quality our professors will notice and watch develop throughout is professionalism. In the context of being a student in this elite program, professionalism entails the same attributes employers look for in new hires and who patients seek to find the best care. There are many attributes underscoring professionalism, but what I will focus on are the qualities I embody through my life, how they apply to a Doctorate of Physical Therapy Program, and how my experiences in a Physical Therapy clinic have shaped my perspective of professionalism.