Shadowing hours advice

[NJPT26]

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I will be applying to schools this upcoming cycle and I have completed volunteer hour at three different places.
1st-outpatient private clinic- 55hrs
2nd- hospital outpatient- 180 hrs
3rd-SNF currently at- 60hrs

I am looking to get into another setting but I am not sure which one to go into next? I wanted to follow a home health PT but I am not sure as to how that will work. I do not think I will be able to follow a school PT since the school year is coming to an end. I think my only option next is to get into an acute care setting. When I applied to the hospital I thought I was going to get into acute care but they placed me in the outpatient setting.

I wanted to look into getting a PT aide job since my job does not pay well and is not related to PT (but it is very flexible with my school schedule) but I am afraid that it is going to be at an outpatient setting which I have plenty of hours in already.

Also, I got 2 PT's already willing to write my letter of recommendation. Therefore wherever I go next I will only be doing the hours.

 

[SwampPT]

I will be applying to schools this upcoming cycle and I have completed volunteer hour at three different places.
1st-outpatient private clinic- 55hrs
2nd- hospital outpatient- 180 hrs
3rd-SNF currently at- 60hrs

I am looking to get into another setting but I am not sure which one to go into next? I wanted to follow a home health PT but I am not sure as to how that will work. I do not think I will be able to follow a school PT since the school year is coming to an end. I think my only option next is to get into an acute care setting. When I applied to the hospital I thought I was going to get into acute care but they placed me in the outpatient setting.

I wanted to look into getting a PT aide job since my job does not pay well and is not related to PT (but it is very flexible with my school schedule) but I am afraid that it is going to be at an outpatient setting which I have plenty of hours in already.

Also, I got 2 PT's already willing to write my letter of recommendation. Therefore wherever I go next I will only be doing the hours.

The hours do not matter nearly as much as the number of settings. You should try to get at least 5 different settings. The more settings the better. Take whatever new settings you can get because you never know, you may find one you're passionate about that you never considered.

 

[emespt]

Ask the hospital again if you can observe acute care or try a different hospital. And maybe try outpatient pediatric or aquatic.

 

[tweaze]

Acute care would be good, as would pediatric or aquatic. You could also see if there are any hand therapists in your area.

 

[DesertPT]

My vote is for acute care as well. Rehab is great too, if you can get both. I'd try hardest for acute care, that is one that schools seem to like to see that a lot of applicants don't have. You already have a huge number of hours though, I would just try to get like 20 hours in another inpatient hospital setting or too just for the variety.

 

[mv85dpthopeful]

I've done about a hundred hours in acute care alone, and recommend spending a lot of time there, but it's good to get as many settings as possible. Pediatrics, home health, hand therapy, or even women's health PT would probably look great. I've always found my next setting by word of mouth. When I'm shadowing someone I've just asked, "hey, do you know anyone who works in pediatrics" or whatever specialty you're looking for. I'd say with the three settings you've had and number of hours you're in a solid position to apply, but getting those extra settings will really help set you apart. Good luck!

 

[DesertPT]

hand therapy

I really enjoyed hand therapy, it's quite different from other outpatient settings. It could be tricky to find a PT who does hand therapy as most hand therapists are OTs. If you can find someone who is a PT, CHT who will let you shadow for a few days I would recommend it, I found it to be a very interesting experience and another one that not too many applicants have.