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- Jun 2, 2015
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Hi, brief info on myself; I am a 28 year old male with a bachelor's degree in Justice and Law Administration. I have never known what I want to do with my life and still have no clue. Since my last year of college I have some way some how have had a role in the healthcare field. I volunteered for three year's as an EMT. I have done about a month of work cleaning medical equipment. Another eight month's working alongside anesthesiologist and nurse anesthetists: Worked in the ER, Cath Lab, Radiology, ICU, and the OR. I did a two year stint as a psychiatric technician at a local hospital. Followed by three month's at a residential treatment center and a month at a therapeutic group home. Right now working as a Psych Tech again at an inpatient behavioral health unit at another area hospital.
For my current position similar to past work experience. I am involved in assisting the patient's with their ADLS. I take their vitals, do blood work, EKGs. I don't have a role in admission's like my previous gig. I do feel less autonomy in my notes. Where my previous gig wouldn't need a cosigner on my notes, but still have a contribution regarding treatment. I facilitate group's and assist patient's with certain skill's.
After graduating the idea of becoming a cop was slowly weaning bit due to struggling to find work as a police officer. That led me into corrections, social work, and probation however I enjoy the healthcare field. I contemplated nursing though out my four year's of college, but always psyched myself out saying could not accomplish it.
Fast forward to now as I said I have no direction where I want to go, but I want to start my life. I looked at everything I could have. From being a Special Education teacher finding out my 2.7 GPA won't even allow me into the program and that possibly only finding temporary work when your done. To physical therapy assistant, but I don't like the fact limited growth outside of owning your own business. Physical Therapy and Physician Assistant require you not to work during the program and I need to work. I looked into being a psychologist and a psychologist, again takes you away from work and I struggle doing research papers. I am great with math, science's, psychology, and any hand's on type of classes... I am a kinesthetic learner.
That led me to nursing and occupational therapy. If I did become a nurse my main goal be to work in the ER or in a mental health unit. I don't know if I am 100% sold on nursing. I was considering applying to an OT program's in my state...one is a direct entry and the other is a bachelor program combined with a master's in Occupational Therapy.
Was considering OTA school we have four OTA school's in our state...two are profit schools cost on average $30,000 for both program's. The other two are state community college program's that cost about $20,000.
Is it better to become an OTA over a OT? Is the transition to OT from OTA possible?
I apologize if these question's are redundant trying to find some direction here.
Is OT going to go the direction of PT and eventually become a Doctorate?
I have worked with OT's in the past. Most of them worked on social skill's, life skill's, and were involved in providing assessment's of patient's that were included in the MDTP. They facilitated a lot of and a majority of the group's on our unit I previously worked on. I can't tell if I work with OT's at my current job. They are sometimes referred to as OT's and sometimes as Recreational Therapist, but they could hold both titles.
I was curious on how the job market is for OTA's and OT's? Do they make decent enough money to support a family? Is there a shortage of OTA's and OT's?
I can't find much work when I look online for OT's or OTA's...all I can find is a lot of per diem opening's and one or two full time spot's. Most of the job's available are not at hospital's. I always worry about smaller healthcare facilities and stability. I worked at a federal/state grant program and was told we can only keep you for five year's, but guaranteed would be longer if the budget allowed it.
Do OT's work in the military?
Any state(s) where the OT and OTA job market is booming?
What specialties are there for OT's? I understand there is advanced training to become a hand therapist as an OT.
What do you enjoy about your work as an OT? What do you find rewarding about your job as an OT?
Is the OTA exam that difficult? My friend went to nursing after having difficulty with the OTA exam. Took the test five times I believe was off by one or two point's, heard it is a long long long test.
I apologize if a lot of the question's I asked were redundant. I appreciate any information or feedback to be given. Will look over this forum to hopefully answer some of my question's.
Again thanks and have a good one!
For my current position similar to past work experience. I am involved in assisting the patient's with their ADLS. I take their vitals, do blood work, EKGs. I don't have a role in admission's like my previous gig. I do feel less autonomy in my notes. Where my previous gig wouldn't need a cosigner on my notes, but still have a contribution regarding treatment. I facilitate group's and assist patient's with certain skill's.
After graduating the idea of becoming a cop was slowly weaning bit due to struggling to find work as a police officer. That led me into corrections, social work, and probation however I enjoy the healthcare field. I contemplated nursing though out my four year's of college, but always psyched myself out saying could not accomplish it.
Fast forward to now as I said I have no direction where I want to go, but I want to start my life. I looked at everything I could have. From being a Special Education teacher finding out my 2.7 GPA won't even allow me into the program and that possibly only finding temporary work when your done. To physical therapy assistant, but I don't like the fact limited growth outside of owning your own business. Physical Therapy and Physician Assistant require you not to work during the program and I need to work. I looked into being a psychologist and a psychologist, again takes you away from work and I struggle doing research papers. I am great with math, science's, psychology, and any hand's on type of classes... I am a kinesthetic learner.
That led me to nursing and occupational therapy. If I did become a nurse my main goal be to work in the ER or in a mental health unit. I don't know if I am 100% sold on nursing. I was considering applying to an OT program's in my state...one is a direct entry and the other is a bachelor program combined with a master's in Occupational Therapy.
Was considering OTA school we have four OTA school's in our state...two are profit schools cost on average $30,000 for both program's. The other two are state community college program's that cost about $20,000.
Is it better to become an OTA over a OT? Is the transition to OT from OTA possible?
I apologize if these question's are redundant trying to find some direction here.
Is OT going to go the direction of PT and eventually become a Doctorate?
I have worked with OT's in the past. Most of them worked on social skill's, life skill's, and were involved in providing assessment's of patient's that were included in the MDTP. They facilitated a lot of and a majority of the group's on our unit I previously worked on. I can't tell if I work with OT's at my current job. They are sometimes referred to as OT's and sometimes as Recreational Therapist, but they could hold both titles.
I was curious on how the job market is for OTA's and OT's? Do they make decent enough money to support a family? Is there a shortage of OTA's and OT's?
I can't find much work when I look online for OT's or OTA's...all I can find is a lot of per diem opening's and one or two full time spot's. Most of the job's available are not at hospital's. I always worry about smaller healthcare facilities and stability. I worked at a federal/state grant program and was told we can only keep you for five year's, but guaranteed would be longer if the budget allowed it.
Do OT's work in the military?
Any state(s) where the OT and OTA job market is booming?
What specialties are there for OT's? I understand there is advanced training to become a hand therapist as an OT.
What do you enjoy about your work as an OT? What do you find rewarding about your job as an OT?
Is the OTA exam that difficult? My friend went to nursing after having difficulty with the OTA exam. Took the test five times I believe was off by one or two point's, heard it is a long long long test.
I apologize if a lot of the question's I asked were redundant. I appreciate any information or feedback to be given. Will look over this forum to hopefully answer some of my question's.
Again thanks and have a good one!
