going to school for ot... but not interested in working in rehab...

[Lizziehope]

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i have a question that might sound a bit odd...

i am a student who is starting a MSOT program in the fall. I guess I never felt sure about the OT field, but got lots of encouragement from people around me to go for it and I want a solid career where i can get a job and holistically help people to live the fullest lives possible...

The only thing however is i really can't see myself working with most populations that OTs work with. I see myself as a caring deeply compassionate and warm person but not really a creative and insightful person- i am more concrete. Doing observation and even working in the recreation department for a facility that serves people with profound developmental disabilities, I really can't see myself working in a rehab place or with peds (as much as I love children i think i don't have the insight to work with them). I could see myself working more with people with addictions, though I've never observed in this setting before, but even more than this I could see myself working with people with chronic illness like diabetes. I am passionate about nutrition and have been torn between the two fields, but chose Ot because of the practicality. I saw on AOTA that working with diabetics is a growing field and I could really see myself with this population and it could sort of combine my passion for nutrition and holistic medicine with OT... eventually I may want to go back for a second masters in this field...

i'm a bit concerned because i've been doing research about available OT jobs and it seems that there are not many jobs availible in the areas i am interested in eventually working... most jobs i've seen are in rehabs or hospitals... do you think that there are jobs in these areas or are they areas of ot that are on the fringe and where no jobs exist...

thank for the help!
Liz

 

[Sunny324]

I know that the job market for dietitians is not as solid as the job market for OTs, but I imagine it would be easier to get a job working with diabetics as a dietitian than as an OT. Or maybe even being a PA?

 

[CurlyHairedGirl]

If you have serious doubts about OT as a profession, see if you can talk with one of the professors at your school. Or email the AOTA. And ask them if they have people on a waiting list who could come to the school if you changed your mind now and decided not to start in the fall.

18 years ago, I chose to go into Computer Science as a career "for the practicality", as you mentioned above. Over time I lost any enthusiasm I had for the profession. Didn't want to do studying outside of work, which is kind of a basic requirement for the industry. Instead I'm channelling that effort and energy into changing to OT.

Why not become a nutritionist and a certified diabetes educator?

 

[Lizziehope]

someone from where? did you mean AOTA? I guess i'm already in an OT program and I've received serious pressure from others to go in this direction so it makes logical sense...

 

[CurlyHairedGirl]

I had serious pressure to go into Science/Engineering. 1) to stand up for women and say they could be good in those fields. 2) because my dad regretted dropping out of engineering and majoring in business. I realized that about 10 years before he did.

Pressure from others isn't a good way to choose a field. What was your undergraduate major? Did you just graduate in the spring?

 

[Liztor]

i have a question that might sound a bit odd...

i am a student who is starting a MSOT program in the fall. I guess I never felt sure about the OT field, but got lots of encouragement from people around me to go for it and I want a solid career where i can get a job and holistically help people to live the fullest lives possible...

The only thing however is i really can't see myself working with most populations that OTs work with. I see myself as a caring deeply compassionate and warm person but not really a creative and insightful person- i am more concrete. Doing observation and even working in the recreation department for a facility that serves people with profound developmental disabilities, I really can't see myself working in a rehab place or with peds (as much as I love children i think i don't have the insight to work with them). I could see myself working more with people with addictions, though I've never observed in this setting before, but even more than this I could see myself working with people with chronic illness like diabetes. I am passionate about nutrition and have been torn between the two fields, but chose Ot because of the practicality. I saw on AOTA that working with diabetics is a growing field and I could really see myself with this population and it could sort of combine my passion for nutrition and holistic medicine with OT... eventually I may want to go back for a second masters in this field...

i'm a bit concerned because i've been doing research about available OT jobs and it seems that there are not many jobs availible in the areas i am interested in eventually working... most jobs i've seen are in rehabs or hospitals... do you think that there are jobs in these areas or are they areas of ot that are on the fringe and where no jobs exist...

thank for the help!
Liz

Have you thought about the Consulting/Prevention side? To be honest I feel the OT industry is evolving with new emerging areas that the sky is the limit. Create the field you want. Although you may have to cut your teeth first in rehab or other common OT areas, the experience and ppl you meet could help pave the way.

 

[prodigiousflame]

Have you thought about the Consulting/Prevention side? To be honest I feel the OT industry is evolving with new emerging areas that the sky is the limit. Create the field you want. Although you may have to cut your teeth first in rehab or other common OT areas, the experience and ppl you meet could help pave the way.

thank you for this, i feel the same way as the OP. The areas and population I'm interested in are few and far between.