What are the challenges of being an Occupational Therapist?

Question

I have read a lot of good things about being an OT. But before I choose it as a career, I want to know the bad things as well. What may be some drawbacks of the job?

Answer 1

Listen, this is a great career because they are in national shortage throughout the state, they get paid more than Physical therapy typically and the demand is great. However, if you are a person who looks for quick results this is not for you as you have to be very persistant with your patients and repeat--repeat--repeat your therapy, getting attention to the great details is essential for a successful career here, as a Rehabilitation Doctor my self who worked with many OT, I will tell you that you have to be a good politician too to survive as well as many of your care will be complementary to a big team (PT/ST/RT?Social worker and physician) Kissing asses is gonna be there, dealing with frustration of insurance companies is a daily thingand beleive or not the worst enemy will be finding and OBJECTIVE measures to prove to your payer (Insurance companies) in that you are making progress with your patient. anyway addition to lengthy documentations and earning the trust of the doctor to keep feeding you the patient. I KNOW A GOOD OT FROM A BAD OT and I send my patients only to who can prove himself. GOOD LUCK-- GOOD CHOICE INDEED, FIND ME IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A JOB WHEN FINISHED

Answer 2

Depending where you live, it can be a very dull job, just like Physical Therapy. If you live in a big city and can work with big health care centers then you have interesting challenges like helping people recover from traumas, or strokes, or such. Most smaller centers only hire OT's part time. Have you looked into recreation therapy, or activation therapy? There are lots of choices, so make sure you choose wisely. Nursing is always challenging and you do some of the work of all the health professions.

Answer 3

I work closely with OTs at work.

They complain that that PT field is slowly eroding their field, taking on more and more of their usual functions. Since most facilities have very limited personnel budgets, more and more they only hire PTs.

In more and more states, many of the functions of an OT are being cut from funding or becoming harder and harder to fund.

Depending on your region, OT jobs can be very scarce or be really, really boring. Ours alternate between adaptive stuff, helping PT's load, and doing paperwork.

Answer 4

you will be dealing with people who have been injured perhaps severely, some of them will be depressed and hostile. what you are doing to them hurts SO if you have a thick skin go for it but if you get offended or angry easily try something else. It can be a thankless job at times but also extremely rewarding. watching someone take their first steps out of a wheelchair and knowing you helped is a great emotional high

Answer 5

My sister is an OT.

You will have to deal with a lot of gross bodily functions.

Also, many of your patients will die. And many of them will have made dumb decisions, like not wearing a helmet and driving while drunk.

You might have to work holidays.

Lots of paperwork.