Other OT-Related Information Exploring OT as a career - first steps

[werthiness]

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Hi all -

This is a much broader question than most on these forums, as I am in a different biomedical field and know very little about OT - but answers or suggestions offered at all would be greatly helpful and very appreciated.

My friend is currently finishing her sophomore year in college in a major that is not directly relevant to OT, but is considering the possibility of switching career paths. What is the best way to explore this?

More specifically, she is starting to take classes to introduce her to the material, but would also like to get her feet wet with experience in the hospital with hands on or observational work - anything outside of the classroom, really. I am worried some opportunities provided through volunteer departments at the hospital tend to be largely dirty work that is unrepresentative of what she'd actually be doing someday if she went into OT. What is the best first step to take here?

 

[Babybluentexas]

OT’s do a lot of dirty work... that’s part of healthcare.

The schools require you to observe because a lot of people see the salary and don’t really think about what’s OT’s really do.

Since OT is across the lifespan, there will be kids who have accidents, or vomit on us. There will be some who need assistance with going to the bathroom. Adults will have swollen body parts, and nasty burns, while the elderly revert back to infants in some cases needing assistance with feeding to sleeping to having someone wipe them after an accident. It’s not always pretty, but rehabilitation means you are creating ways for them to get the best kind of normal for them, to make life a little bit easier.

I would say if any of these things gross her out to where she can’t perform— then OT may not be her dream field.

 

[werthiness]

OT’s do a lot of dirty work... that’s part of healthcare.

The schools require you to observe because a lot of people see the salary and don’t really think about what’s OT’s really do.

Since OT is across the lifespan, there will be kids who have accidents, or vomit on us. There will be some who need assistance with going to the bathroom. Adults will have swollen body parts, and nasty burns, while the elderly revert back to infants in some cases needing assistance with feeding to sleeping to having someone wipe them after an accident. It’s not always pretty, but rehabilitation means you are creating ways for them to get the best kind of normal for them, to make life a little bit easier.

I would say if any of these things gross her out to where she can’t perform— then OT may not be her dream field.

Thanks for the answer! I have no doubts at all there is dirty work involved - I don't think any of that would be a turn off. I just meant that I was wondering what opportunities would give her a good feel for what the daily work is like, without an extreme bias towards the most unpleasant parts.

 

[Babybluentexas]

Thanks for the answer! I have no doubts at all there is dirty work involved - I don't think any of that would be a turn off. I just meant that I was wondering what opportunities would give her a good feel for what the daily work is like, without an extreme bias towards the most unpleasant parts.

My two observations were at a rehabilitative home (elderly) which also had outpatient services and pediatrics.

A lot of physical therapy places will also have an OT housed there (like for hand clinics). You just have to call around and ask about volunteer/observation opportunities.