First, I will check my patient schedule for unfamiliar patients and whether I have to do a patient evaluation. I will briefly read charts of unfamiliar patients and check out whether the patient has physical therapy treatment on the day. Then, I will prioritize my day with evaluations first, then short term care patients, then long term care patients. Before end of day, I will note what patients did and complete necessary documentations due that day.
CAREER
Occupational Therapists
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$86,280
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
+15.9% (much faster than the average)
Most Common Level of Education
Master's degree
Career
Roadtrip Nation Leaders in This Career
What Occupational Therapists Do
Assess, plan, and organize rehabilitative programs that help build or restore vocational, homemaking, and daily living skills, as well as general independence, to persons with disabilities or developmental delays. Use therapeutic techniques, adapt the individual's environment, teach skills, and modify specific tasks that present barriers to the individual.
Other Job Titles Occupational Therapists May Have
Assistive Technology Trainer, Certified Hand Therapist (CHT), Early Intervention Occupational Therapist, Home Health Occupational Therapist, Industrial Rehabilitation Consultant, Occupational Therapist (OT), Pediatric Occupational Therapist (Pediatric OT), Pediatrics and Acute Care Occupational Therapist, Registered Occupational Therapist (OTR)
How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work
President/Clinical Director/Occupational Therapist ,
Abilities OT Services & Irlen Diagnostic Center
I am a professional advocate for the disabled and I have a private occupational therapy practice with a very flexible schedule; that means that on any given day, I could be an expert witness in a litigation case, teach a health and wellness program for brain and body health, consult with interior designers, architects and builders to make sure a space is fully accessible and optimized, or perform ADA consulting to help employers with employees with disabilities stay on the job or return to work.
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- Test and evaluate patients' physical and mental abilities and analyze medical data to determine realistic rehabilitation goals for patients.
- Complete and maintain necessary records.
- Plan, organize, and conduct occupational therapy programs in hospital, institutional, or community settings to help rehabilitate those impaired because of illness, injury or psychological or developmental problems.
- Plan and implement programs and social activities to help patients learn work or school skills and adjust to handicaps.
- Select activities that will help individuals learn work and life-management skills within limits of their mental or physical capabilities.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Occupational Therapists
Most common level of education among people in
this career: Master's degree (53%)
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Doctoral or professional degree
Other*
*All other responses combined for clarity.
Majors Related to Career
Educational Paths Suggested by Leaders
Suggested Path
High School
Bachelor
Statistics, General
Graduate
Occupational Therapy/Therapist
Doctorate
Occupational Therapy/Therapist
President/Clinical Director/Occupational Therapist ,
Abilities OT Services & Irlen Diagnostic Center
Suggested Path
High School
Bachelor
Occupational Therapy/Therapist
Additional Skills & Experiences That Can Help You Excel
Strong interpersonal skills, team player, strong time management skills, being able to think on your feet, physically able to help transfer patients, protect patients' privacy, strong professionalism behavior, designing client-centered treatment plans, having a good sense of what patients are capable of upon first encounter, and being mindful of patients' physical and mental limitations during treatment.
President/Clinical Director/Occupational Therapist ,
Abilities OT Services & Irlen Diagnostic Center
I was able to adapt my lifelong interest in pottery and crafting into my career by using the creative arts as a form of therapy. I am also a licensed Brain Gym Instructor and a Certified Irlen Screener/Diagnostician.
Getting Started
Recommended First Step for:
College Students
President/Clinical Director/Occupational Therapist ,
Abilities OT Services & Irlen Diagnostic Center
Know what you're getting yourself into! My advisor, Dr. Griffin, head of the OT Program at Quinnipiac College, told me that I shouldn't commit to entering occupational therapy degree until I had done thorough research on the field and the profession that would follow. She lent me a copy of Willard and Spackman's "OT Bible," which I immediately read cover-to-cover. The passion I conveyed in our ensuing conversation convinced her I'd make a great OT, and she gave me glowing recommendations.
I believe that in order to apply for an Occupational Therapy program, you have to observe someone in an Occupational Therapy setting for 40 hours. This will help you to see the reality of what it might be like to actually work with clients and what skills are needed to complete the job competently. You should then check in with yourself and try to picture yourself performing these tasks. Does it "feel" comfortable or are you panicking inside your "mind's eye"?
Everyone
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
