Just curious to see what area of OT people want to go in after graduating? I was attracted OT by such things as hand therapy, blind rehab, ergonomic consulting, but now I am trying to be realistic. I am afraid many of the jobs will be at skilled nursing facilities which I don't think I will be suited to. What do people think?
what area of OT do you want to go into after graduating?
- Thread starter sailing09
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I would like to work in a hospital setting or rehab center for traumatic injuries. I would also like to do research in cancer rehab. It's tough though because I have yet to come across an area that I didn't thoroughly enjoy.
I've also just started attending hand rehab with my dad who is receiving it. It's been interesting to watch it first hand from a shadowing standpoint as well as a family member.
I have areas in which I believe I'd like to work in but even at the info session, current students said as they learned about all the areas of OT, areas they had not even previously been aware of, their thoughts changed on where they'd like to end up.
Right now, I think I'd like to do hand rehab in an outpatient center, but I may change my mind later on during my time in the program. One thing I know for sure is that I don't want to work in a SNF or an inpatient setting soon after graduating because I shadowed OT's there and found it to be a bit discouraging.
cliche I know but I want to work in Pediatrics! Hopefully at my states children's hospital for a while to get a broad knowledge of ped's then move back to my hometown and do outpatient.
I also think mental health or corrections facilities would be neat! Who knows! That the great thing about OT! 🙂
I also think mental health or corrections facilities would be neat! Who knows! That the great thing about OT! 🙂
I am leaning towards a hospital or rehab center for traumatic injuries or illnesses. I also want to explore private work or school settings for disabilities such as cerebral palsy. I shadowed at a few hand facilities and don't think that path is for me. I also thought I would like early intervention more than I did, though I really enjoyed working with older children. I am excited to learn about even more areas once I start the program this summer.
Sailing09, from my experience hand OT is very PTish. Lots of strength building using weights, putty, games, specially designed contraptions to flex and work the fingers etc.. You also do a lot of fabricating of splints to assistant with range of motion, among other things. Lots of ultrasound usage to break down scar tissue caused by injury.
Sailing09, from my experience hand OT is very PTish. Lots of strength building using weights, putty, games, specially designed contraptions to flex and work the fingers etc.. You also do a lot of fabricating of splints to assistant with range of motion, among other things. Lots of ultrasound usage to break down scar tissue caused by injury.
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I really, really, REALLY want to work in geriatrics. I fell in love with that setting, so much so I spent the majority of my volunteer hours there. I also plan on volunteering more hours just because as soon as my physics class is over.
I also found pediatrics very interesting, especially when dealing with the pre-K and kindergarden age.
I also found pediatrics very interesting, especially when dealing with the pre-K and kindergarden age.
That is great! There is such a need in that area, especially as the boomer population ages.
I think I would like to do inpatient rehab, but I am not ruling out peds yet either.
