Occupational Therapy Occupation
Two children, Josh and Ariel, scurry about the specially designed kitchen facility; Josh pours a cup of flour into a large mixing bowl, and Ariel adds baking soda. Karen, occupational therapist and supervisor of the exercise, ignores the trail of ingredients left as she encourages the children by asking them what to add next. Ariel exclaims, “I want to add the eggs,” and she snatches the carton from Josh. Karen gently intervenes; she questions Ariel on how she would feel if the scenario had been opposite and how they could fix the current dilemma. Karen congratulates Ariel after she reluctantly suggests that she and Josh could both add an egg (Occupational Therapists). If Karen’s role sounds fulfilling, consider pursuing occupational therapy as a career. Occupational therapists (OTs) work with people of all ages in physical, emotional, spiritual, and social contexts to face many challenges including developmental, physical, and psychological disabilities (Occupational Therapists).
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, occupational therapy is, “creative activity prescribed for its effect in promoting recovery or rehabilitation.” I chose to research this career for many reasons. First, many occupational therapy patients are children, and I love to be with and work with kids. Second, I am passionate about helping people, and helping them medically has always been a keen interest of mine. Third, I have always had a heart for the physically and mentally challenged. Additionally, I have often been told that I would make a great therapist. After shadowing a pediatric occupational therapist, I know that occupational therapy is the career I want to pursue.
The United States Department of Labor explains that, “Occupational therapists treat patients with injuries, illnesses, or disabilities through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. They help these patients develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for daily living and working.” Occupational therapists strive to make their clients as independent as possible. To do so, the therapist must assess the client’s condition, interests, needs, and potential in order to establish a personalized treatment plan. Once the plan is made, the therapist, client, and client’s family work together through varying types of exercises to achieve the set goals.
To be an occupational therapist, one must have specific education and training. First, most students are required to have a bachelor’s degree in “biology, psychology, sociology or liberal arts” (Nau). Second, most master’s degree programs require that the student has participated in a volunteer internship within the field of occupational therapy. Third, the student must have a master’s or doctoral degree. In addition, to be an occupational therapist, one must pass the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy Exam. Once the student has passed the exam, they must get a license in order to practice. Then, they are equipped to find a job and start their career. While many colleges offer bachelor’s degrees in biology, psychology, sociology, liberal arts, or health science, the only school in South Carolina that offers a master’s degree in occupational therapy is the Medical University of South Carolina.
Many skills, hard and soft, are needed in order to be an occupational therapist. Hard skills, or technical skills, are learned in college and through other life experiences and are crucial for any medical career. Occupational therapists are required to know all of the core medical information and facts needed to do their jobs. In addition, they must also learn written communication skills, technology skills, cognitive skills, advanced verbal communication skills, and intense motor skills. Written skills are needed to write and record information efficiently; many records are through computers so one must know how to use the provided technology. Therapists must be able to problem solve, analyze data, use computers, record and store data, and diagnose; those are all cognitive skills. Hard skills, such as these, are needed to be an OT.
In addition, “Soft skills are personal attributes that enhance an individual's interactions, job performance, and career prospects… soft skills are interpersonal and broadly applicable” (Rouse). Many soft skills, like adaption skills, interpersonal skills, stress management skills, observational skills, and the desire to help others, are needed to be an occupational therapist. New treatments are discovered regularly, so one must be able to adapt to new ways of treating patients. Interpersonal skills are all about communicating well; managing stress, while not easy, is crucial to the job. Pediatric occupational therapist, Lori Griffith, stated that one must have good “people skills” to be an effective OT. She also said that one must have a passion of “caring for others,” and that “time management” is a must.
Ms. Griffith, employed by the NextStep Rehabilitation Center in Georgetown, South Carolina, stated that the job market for occupational therapy in the next twenty years will be “very good.” She also stated that there is and will be a “large market for health professionals.” A U.S. News article, 10 Businesses That Will Boom in 2020, by Rick Newman, documents that by 2020 therapy is estimated to be the second most in-demand job in the country. Griffith also added that the entry-level salary ranges from about $55,000 to $70,000. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook shows that in 2010 the median pay was $ 72,320 per year, which is $34.77 an hour. In summary, the job market in the near future will be full of opportunity.
According to Griffith, the most rewarding components of being an occupational therapist are, “helping others and being with children.” There are many benefits to being an occupational therapist. Occupational therapists usually have flexible work schedules. Additionally, for current and future OTs, the market is and will be extraordinary, and jobs will not be hard to find. Also, starting salaries are exceptional, and the pay continues to increase as experience is gained.
In the opinion of Ms. Griffith, some of greatest drawbacks of being an occupational therapist are that, “some parents are difficult to work with, and they don’t care about carryover.” Parents are often too clingy and controlling. They hover over their children throughout their exercises, interfering and making it very difficult for the patient to focus on their tasks and goals. If what is asked of the client and client’s family is not carried over in the home, the patient can quickly fall behind and the challenges often increase. Lack of positive reinforcement outside of therapy can be extremely stressful and discouraging for both the patient and the therapist.
In conclusion, occupational therapists work to help people through their struggles to do what they yearn to accomplish in everyday activities. Everything about this career is so fascinating; even the difficulties would make for exciting challenges. I plan to pursue a career in pediatric occupational therapy, and I hope that my research sparks the interest of others that have a passion for helping the physically and mentally challenged.
Two children, Josh and Ariel, scurry about the specially designed kitchen facility; Josh pours a cup of flour into a large mixing bowl, and Ariel adds baking soda. Karen, occupational therapist and supervisor of the exercise, ignores the trail of ingredients left as she encourages the children by asking them what to add next. Ariel exclaims, “I want to add the eggs,” and she snatches the carton from Josh. Karen gently intervenes; she questions Ariel on how she would feel if the scenario had been opposite and how they could fix the current dilemma. Karen congratulates Ariel after she reluctantly suggests that she and Josh could both add an egg (Occupational Therapists). If Karen’s role sounds fulfilling, consider pursuing occupational therapy as a career. Occupational therapists (OTs) work with people of all ages in physical, emotional, spiritual, and social contexts to face many challenges including developmental, physical, and psychological disabilities (Occupational Therapists).
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, occupational therapy is, “creative activity prescribed for its effect in promoting recovery or rehabilitation.” I chose to research this career for many reasons. First, many occupational therapy patients are children, and I love to be with and work with kids. Second, I am passionate about helping people, and helping them medically has always been a keen interest of mine. Third, I have always had a heart for the physically and mentally challenged. Additionally, I have often been told that I would make a great therapist. After shadowing a pediatric occupational therapist, I know that occupational therapy is the career I want to pursue.
The United States Department of Labor explains that, “Occupational therapists treat patients with injuries, illnesses, or disabilities through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. They help these patients develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for daily living and working.” Occupational therapists strive to make their clients as independent as possible. To do so, the therapist must assess the client’s condition, interests, needs, and potential in order to establish a personalized treatment plan. Once the plan is made, the therapist, client, and client’s family work together through varying types of exercises to achieve the set goals.
To be an occupational therapist, one must have specific education and training. First, most students are required to have a bachelor’s degree in “biology, psychology, sociology or liberal arts” (Nau). Second, most master’s degree programs require that the student has participated in a volunteer internship within the field of occupational therapy. Third, the student must have a master’s or doctoral degree. In addition, to be an occupational therapist, one must pass the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy Exam. Once the student has passed the exam, they must get a license in order to practice. Then, they are equipped to find a job and start their career. While many colleges offer bachelor’s degrees in biology, psychology, sociology, liberal arts, or health science, the only school in South Carolina that offers a master’s degree in occupational therapy is the Medical University of South Carolina.
Many skills, hard and soft, are needed in order to be an occupational therapist. Hard skills, or technical skills, are learned in college and through other life experiences and are crucial for any medical career. Occupational therapists are required to know all of the core medical information and facts needed to do their jobs. In addition, they must also learn written communication skills, technology skills, cognitive skills, advanced verbal communication skills, and intense motor skills. Written skills are needed to write and record information efficiently; many records are through computers so one must know how to use the provided technology. Therapists must be able to problem solve, analyze data, use computers, record and store data, and diagnose; those are all cognitive skills. Hard skills, such as these, are needed to be an OT.
In addition, “Soft skills are personal attributes that enhance an individual's interactions, job performance, and career prospects… soft skills are interpersonal and broadly applicable” (Rouse). Many soft skills, like adaption skills, interpersonal skills, stress management skills, observational skills, and the desire to help others, are needed to be an occupational therapist. New treatments are discovered regularly, so one must be able to adapt to new ways of treating patients. Interpersonal skills are all about communicating well; managing stress, while not easy, is crucial to the job. Pediatric occupational therapist, Lori Griffith, stated that one must have good “people skills” to be an effective OT. She also said that one must have a passion of “caring for others,” and that “time management” is a must.
Ms. Griffith, employed by the NextStep Rehabilitation Center in Georgetown, South Carolina, stated that the job market for occupational therapy in the next twenty years will be “very good.” She also stated that there is and will be a “large market for health professionals.” A U.S. News article, 10 Businesses That Will Boom in 2020, by Rick Newman, documents that by 2020 therapy is estimated to be the second most in-demand job in the country. Griffith also added that the entry-level salary ranges from about $55,000 to $70,000. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook shows that in 2010 the median pay was $ 72,320 per year, which is $34.77 an hour. In summary, the job market in the near future will be full of opportunity.
According to Griffith, the most rewarding components of being an occupational therapist are, “helping others and being with children.” There are many benefits to being an occupational therapist. Occupational therapists usually have flexible work schedules. Additionally, for current and future OTs, the market is and will be extraordinary, and jobs will not be hard to find. Also, starting salaries are exceptional, and the pay continues to increase as experience is gained.
In the opinion of Ms. Griffith, some of greatest drawbacks of being an occupational therapist are that, “some parents are difficult to work with, and they don’t care about carryover.” Parents are often too clingy and controlling. They hover over their children throughout their exercises, interfering and making it very difficult for the patient to focus on their tasks and goals. If what is asked of the client and client’s family is not carried over in the home, the patient can quickly fall behind and the challenges often increase. Lack of positive reinforcement outside of therapy can be extremely stressful and discouraging for both the patient and the therapist.
In conclusion, occupational therapists work to help people through their struggles to do what they yearn to accomplish in everyday activities. Everything about this career is so fascinating; even the difficulties would make for exciting challenges. I plan to pursue a career in pediatric occupational therapy, and I hope that my research sparks the interest of others that have a passion for helping the physically and mentally challenged.