Burnout among PTs

[geronamo26]

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What is the burnout rate with PTs? Someone told me today that at the hospital she works at, the physical therapists were complaining about their jobs and seemed quite bored with their day to day physical routines with their patients. Low salary growth, lack of upward mobility and responsibilty in the system are all factors that can cause burnout, right? My question is what are some ways to avoid burnout in this profession? Is there a way to move up in the system? Nurses seem to have a wider array of options and positions available to them in the medical field, such as head nurse, nurse practitioner, nurse director, DNP, charge nurse etc...what about physical therapists?

 

[black]

One of the draws to the profession for me was the ability to switch between specialties. Talking with PTs I have found some of them have switched specialties or into different settings outpatient vs inpatient. To move "up" you have to move, demand more money, be the best, or go to the administrative side of things (owning your own clinic etc). I would contest that PTs have more options than most professions in the medical community. There are things you have to do to switch specialties as an MD and nurses tend to work with high need patients, but PTs are able to work with children, adults, people with heart conditions, neurological issues, orthopedics, teaching, research, and the list goes on. My point is the barriers to change what a PT is doing on a day to day basis are much easier to pass through and requires less effort to prevent burnout than say someone with an MBA, MD, or RN.

 

[truthseeker]

This isn't really answering the OP's question, but I have seen numerous posts that ask specifically how much PTs make and how it compares to PA, pharmacy, nursing etc . . .

If someone goes into any profession primarily because of the salary instead of a passion for the profession, they are sure to be more likely to get burnt-out. I love my job probably more today than I did when I started 18 years ago.

 

[blumonsoon]

From just an observing viewpoint, I have noticed that it really depends on where you work. I have worked at an outpatient care clinic where every therapist (there were about 12) loved their job and have been doing it for years. Then at a hospital setting, the therapists look really bored and seem to not be as happy. This made me really not want to work in an inpatient setting. However, then I volunteered at another nearby hospital, and all the therapists are smiling every day and love their job both in and outpatient. So my conclusion - it really depends on if you pick the right setting for you to work at.

Good luck deciding!

 

[jesspt]

I should prefaace this by saying that this opinion always gets me in a little trouble, but if the OP is referring to inpatient physical therapy, I can see why the burnout would happen. In my oppinion this is a setting that we don't really belong in. We're over-trained for it. Many of these therapist are walking patients up and down the hallway and are runnign them through relativly generic ROM and strengthening programs. I'm not saying that these things are unimprotant to teh patient's recovery. Rather, that we are a relativley expensive resource to employ when this could likely be done by someone with less training and a lower salary. I worked in this seetting for about a year, and then got out. Not enough opportunity for crtical reasoning for my tastes.

My advice to avoid burnout - practice in a setting that you enjoy and that makes you critically think on a daily basis. One that challneges you mentally. For me that was outpatient orthopaedics, but for others it may be another setting.

 

[capricia]

The PT I know works in a special education school where her salary is only slightly above that of an experienced teacher, and she told me you really have to find the right environment for yourself because she could be making 20-30k more if she left the school system but she really loves her job and finds it stimulating. She said it also helps that she doesn't work in the same place everyday - she spends 1-2 days a week at the collaborative programs the school has at regular high schools so that keeps things interesting.