Switching population/clinical settings during career

[xena35o]

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Based on other posts on this board, it seems that PT'ss enjoy being able to work in a variety of clinical settings and with different patient populations, especially if they pursue more training after entering the field. My question is how difficult it is for you to break out of one setting and move into a very different setting? For example from hospital inpatient to sport medicine rehab, or from geriatric to pediatric? I know this is a very general question when you think about all of the possible transitions, but generally speaking is it very difficult? How often do you think you could make a transition without being "flakey?" Or if there are no general answers, do you or anyone else have experience with this?

 

[Akiramay]

I don't have firsthand experience with this, but my previous clinical instructor was working in inpatient rehab before taking a leave to have her baby. When she returned, they actually needed her in their outpatient ortho clinic, so she started working there right away. She told me she was a little rusty and was brushing up on her manual skills but she was very competent with treating patients. I think it depends how long you were in the particular setting and whether you would see more specialized patient populations (ex: going from outpatient ortho to a spinal cord injury rehab unit).