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Occupational therapy and career exploration
Journey of becoming an occupational therapist
Why I want to be an occupational therapist
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Occupational Therapy Katrina Perdue South University Eng 1100 Occupational therapy is also known as the dynamic and developing healthcare profession that deals with people in ways of regaining their skills required for the every days of life. For a very long time I have always had the desire to achieve my dreams in becoming an occupational therapist. I am very well equipped with creativity, flexibility and the ability to aid people in solving their every day’s life challenges they get involved in. Occupational therapy is quite involving and needs good strategies and skills for one to be successful in the program. According to the United States Department of Labor they explain that, “Occupational therapists treat patients with illnesses, Injuries, and disabilities through therapeutic use of everyday activities. Occupational therapist help patients recover, improve, and develop the skills …show more content…
The Department of labor says that by 2020 occupational therapy is estimated to be one of the most in-demand job to be (htt1) . The salary ranges for entry-level vary from about $56,000 to $72,000. The Occupational Outlook Handbook shows that in 2009 the median varied between $ 72,520 per year, which is an average of about $35 an hour (htt). In otherwise the job market for Occupational therapy will be full of opportunity. Some of the most rewarding components of being an occupational therapist are, “helping others reach their needs according to carol smith a licensed OT” (Smith, 2017). There are many benefits to being an occupational therapist. for future as well as current occupational therapist, the market is and will continue to grow tremendously, so therefore jobs will not be hard to find, the starting salaries are great, and as you gain experience your salary will also start to grow. Another plus is you will have a flexible
Becoming an Occupational Therapy Assistant has been an ambition of mine for several years now. After researching, job shadowing, and talking to professionals, I have decided to make Occupation Therapy my career. My passion is to help patients by participating and assisting them in their recovery from injuries and disabilities. My compassionate and caring attitude will be vital assets in pursuing this career. After training in Occupational Therapy, it is motivating for me to know that I will be a part of assisting patients to gain back their independence. Helping others is something that I am passionate about in my career and in my spare time. I have been on several mission trips to Haiti and other places which I have provided care for others in a medical setting.
The Occupational Therapy Practice Framework defines an occupational profile as “the initial step in the evaluation process that provides an understanding of the client’s occupational history and experience, patterns of daily living, interests, values, and needs (2014).” During this process the client’s problems and concerns about daily occupations are identified then the client’s main concerns are determined (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2014). Occupational Therapists strive to be holistic and client-centered, and the occupational profile is one method to ensure treatment takes on these characteristics. During the occupational profile the clients share their priorities based on what is important to them, and the therapist
The health care industry is always growing and needing more workers. Occupational therapy has an extremely bright job outlook. According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of occupational therapy assistants is projected to grow 29 percent from 2016 to 2026, which is much faster than other occupations. (Occupational, 2017) A reason for such a high outlook is because of the baby-boom generation becoming older which means more health implications. Becoming older can affect their ability to perform everyday
Occupational therapy is projected to be one of the fastest growing jobs in the upcoming years. This job has the potential to be an exciting career for someone interested in a healthcare profession. One of the rewarding things about being an occupational therapist is the ability to help people reach their goals while earning a good salary and benefits. Occupational therapists help people across their lifespan by increasing their range of motion on their joints and helping people get back to their daily lives. Learning more about the origins of occupational therapy, what an occupational therapist does, how to become an occupational therapist, and what the job outlook is for this career may help someone make an informed decision about their potential career path.
Occupational therapy has a multifaceted nature providing endless opportunities to serve a wide range of people within many environments, which is just one of the reasons I love this occupation. My long term goals enlist the desire to maximize my knowledge and abilities to care and supplement the lives of anyone that may cross my path in this career. I have seen occupational therapy positively impact the lives of people around me, and I strive to be a bigger role on the team helping make that happen.
My results for my high school career quiz displayed many careers that I did not believe were for me, however there was one that I had never heard of that sparked my interest, Occupational Therapy. At the time, I had no idea what this career consisted of, but as time went by and I participated in various volunteering opportunities and shadowed several therapists, I began to realize that this career really intrigued me. Occupational therapists assist individuals across the entire lifespan in participating in daily living activities. They work with individuals with physical and developmental disabilities, those who have previously sustained an injury and need to regain their abilities, and the elderly population who may lose the abilities to perform certain tasks. This profession contains many important responsibilities that involve aspects of social psychology including evaluating the abilities of the patient, increasing independence of patients with
A career in occupational therapy is challenging, yet rewarding. Someone who is a people person would enjoy the constant interaction with clients and families. After studying this career, it is extremely apparent that all occupational therapists have one thing in common; a love for people and healing.
I wanted to be in a healthcare profession where I know I could spend quality time with my patients, and be able to help them to improve their quality of life in all aspects. Occupational therapy was the perfect fit. I have found that occupational therapy, amongst others, is one of the most holistic health care professions and I am very proud to have chosen this as the career path to take. It is a profession that requires understanding, compassion, and sensitivity; all of the characteristics that I tremendously value . Occupational therapy is a career where there will certainly be much contribution to society and also bring enormous self-fulfillment.
According to Merriam’s Dictionary the word Occupation is defined as “an activity in which one engages b: the principal business of one's life” (An Encyclopedia Britannica Company). Although, The Occupational Therapy Field has made significant advancements throughout the years, many people still do not understand what it is that it is the field truly does. In order to truly understand Occupational Therapy one must understand the history of the field.
...e-based knowledge to inform the therapy practice. It also assists with furthering the therapist’s knowledge of humans as occupational beings as well as the relationship between occupation and health.(Yexer ,1993) introduced occupational science as a fundamental science supporting occupational therapy, with an aim to refocus the provision of therapy back to occupation. Hence, occupational science provides the therapists with support, justifies the meaning and uniqueness of the profession and distinguishes occupational therapy from other professions. In addition (Wilcock, 2001), also emphasises that occupational science might be another way to avoid the possible failure of the occupational therapy as a practice. With a strong research background, occupational therapists could make a contribution to medical science, which may challenge it from a different standpoint.
This information includes traits and skills required, typical salaries, and future prospects for employment. First and foremost, being compassionate, implementing client-centered treatments, being able to problem-solving, and critically think, are an asset of becoming a competent OTA and PTA. In the article "10 Reasons Why You Will Succeed as an Occupational Therapist and Physiotherapist Assistant" Johnson mentioned "OTAs and PTAs not only know about these traits and skills that help them succeed throughout their career; but also know how to incorporate them into clients lives, helping them to succeed as well "( Johnson, 2015). Secondly, typical salaries for an OTA and PTA vary upon several situations such as, the location of work, how long you have worked for, and the type of contract that you’re under. Typically, clinics would offer minimum wage for a starting point; however, the pay may go up the longer you work there.
We are all born to live, not to simply exist. Experiences in life have taught me there is a purpose behind each individual’s existence. Discovering this purpose, has been challenging. My educational and professional background have helped shape my immediate and long term professional goals. Becoming an Occupational Therapist has become both my immediate and long-term goals in life.
In any medical injury or illness, the effects generated by the condition consist more than adverse side effects that come about. Mental issues may arise due to the lack of awareness presented to patients feelings toward their conditions. When asked about the role of an occupational therapist (OT) in a patient’s wellbeing, Sherry Judd, an OT at the rehabilitation center in the St. Michael Medical Center in Arkansas, says that it “offers a more varied approach to trying to help a person get back to independence. (Treadway). Occupational therapy can be defined as the aid of the restoration and development of cognitive and motor skills for the mentally and physically ill. (“Occupational”). With the use of technological and therapeutic techniques,
Amongst every great profession, there is a strong foundation that it was built on. However, change over time is what keeps the profession moving forward and being successful. We live in a world where things are changing every second, so if we remain in the past, we will let every great opportunity to grow past us by. Occupational Therapy was built to help those who suffered from both physical and mental disabilities. It was the foundation of moral treatment from Philippe Pinel and William Tuke which requires people to treat people with compassion. Also, the Arts and craft movement by John Ruskin and William Morris, that we believed that those who uses arts or crafts, helps them physically and mentally, thus make them healthier (O’Brien et al.,
Based on my personality, skills, and values, I decided that I want to pursue a career in occupational therapy. According to the prioritization grid my top 3 vales are family, helping others, and knowledge. This means that I prefer a career that involves constant learning. Also, a career that will allow me to help people better themselves, yet will not take time away from my family (prioritization grid). The purpose of an occupational therapist is to help people with disability accommodate to the world around them. I will have to be constant updating myself with new information about treatment plans as the field continues to evolve. Also as an occupational therapist I will have the freedom to plan my schedule, so that I will still be able to