True PTS and OTS get bored?

[NaCksm]

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Is it true that many Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists get bored of their jobs within 5 years? If thats true, why do they get bored?

Thanks!

 

[bipennate]

You're kidding, right? Where does this information come from?

 

[Buckeye4life]

This is mainly due to the repetitiveness of the diagnosis they see, especially in outpatient ortho. When all you see is LBP, TKR, adhesive capsulitis, ankle sprain to name a few, and the evaluation and treatment can often times seem the exact same for every patient, there is a tendency for boredom and burnout.

 

[Elbrus]

I am extremely far from being bored. There is continuously new information coming out, if anything it's frustrating trying to keep up.
Overall, if you give up wanting to learn and challenge yourself in any profession you will become bored.

 

[jesspt]

Elbrus hit the nail on the head. I honestly think that boredom is clinician dependent, not profession dependent.

I know of some PTs who work in a Podiatrist's office and see post-operative bunionectomy patients all day long. I would rather gouge my eyes out, and could certainly see where this setting might get repetitive and boring. But, there are so many other settings where a PT can work (with most of these setting having plenty of jobs available) that I can't see why a PT who is "bored" would stay in a setting that they find boring.

That said, I tend to think most PTs who say they are bored really mean that they have allowed themselves to become disengaged from their profession, and, not surprisingly, tend to give the exact same treatment to each diagnosis they see. Which is a boring way to treat for the clinician and a bad way to recieve physical therapy for the patient.

 

[PharmDan2]

Excellent point Jess!

If you take your job seriously and treat your patients like PEOPLE who need help rather than stats, you'll see that each and every person is a unique individual who needs unique care.

 

[SuperKirby]

i chose this profession mainly because of its flexibility. I get bored super easily and plan to switch jobs every 3 years or so (very easy to do in PT).
I really wanted to do pharmacy because of the money, but i know i will shoot myself after a few years.
in PT i can switch From out patient, to acute, to nursing home, home health, travel PT, private practice, ergonomics, hopefully with tennis players and their shoulder adhesive capsulitis someday? (im a tennis player), etc...

too many to name. i gotta get into PT school first. LOL

Pharmacy? i can switch from wal mart to wal greens.

 

[jbizzle]

Thats why you need volunteer hours to see if you really like doing this sort of stuff. And like so many people here have said. PT is not boring; meet new people everyday, and there is always something happening at a hospital, so I dont think I will get bored.

 

[darkangel77]

Meh...most of the PTs I've met are far from bored with their jobs. I've met about 15+ PTs while working and volunteering in an outpatient clinic, a hospital and a nursing home. Some of them had been practicing for over 20 years, and they still love their job.