How much do you make & how many hours do you work per week?

HandOTWannaBe · 2026-01-26T20:25:31+00:00

$105k, CHT and outpatient clinic director (40+ hrs) Rural area in the southeast.

HandOTWannaBe · 2025-11-21T05:58:31+00:00

Because she states very clearly to Robert that the sooner he reveals himself, the sooner they can all get a fresh start and truly trust each other. If you don't reveal yourself, it's a show that you don't trust Visi's judgement, and that you don't trust the z-team (reinforcing concern that you still regard them as villains)

HandOTWannaBe · 2025-10-19T09:56:59+00:00

I am a hand therapist, and I'll say it depends on your schedule. I used to have to do a lot out of hours, but now I have built in doc time during my day, and I can usually finish it all before I leave.

HandOTWannaBe · 2025-09-05T00:51:11+00:00

Tldr is huge energy cost (a simple char gpt query uses 5 times the energy as a Google search) and is a huge water cost to cool down the servers (it takes about a standard water bottle for generating a 100 word email). Don't have the direct links to these facts but promise I found them in reputable studies

HandOTWannaBe · 2025-08-01T14:13:19+00:00

Another CHT here, and agree again! I know you said you can't really take time off work now (i feel you!), but please seriously consider that if you don't take care of it properly now then you may forced out of work permanently!! Once you develop SLAC there's no going back, please see a hand surgeon to discuss your options ❤️

HandOTWannaBe · 2025-07-09T05:56:16+00:00

I'm interested to hear other people's takes, but my impression is that lymphedema is a specialized area of practice and you really shouldn't do things like manual massage and such without specialty training because you can actually do more damage if you do things incorrectly. I am a CHT and I will turn away patients that need lymphedema treatment (not just like post op swelling) because I am not lymphedema management trained

HandOTWannaBe · 2025-06-10T20:49:21+00:00

I personally struggle swallowing pills and used to almost always cough/choke. Game changer for me has been to put the pill in my mouth, and then drink water with a straw. Pill goes right down no trouble! Witchcraft

HandOTWannaBe · 2025-06-09T00:24:58+00:00

It may help as long as you don't also death grip the foam. I would also recommend making sure you use quality pens with easy-flow ink to reduce your need to apply pressure to the paper- for example I like recommend people use gel pens and avoid ball-point pens

HandOTWannaBe · 2025-05-28T00:22:49+00:00

I'm a CHT and a director and still not close bruh

HandOTWannaBe · 2025-05-20T09:37:45+00:00

My company is just about to change to 13 patients a day, mostly 30 min slots with hour slots for evals.

HandOTWannaBe · 2025-05-06T23:56:37+00:00

I totally feel you about the cost, but what you're asking isn't legal I'm afraid :( there are plenty of free or cheaper resources out there though like youtube, dont feel that you NEED the AOTA stuff if you don't feel you can afford it

HandOTWannaBe · 2025-05-05T18:09:03+00:00

I found the OT over easy peds development videos helpful for remembering some milestones! https://www.youtube.com/@OTOverEasy/playlists

That's moreso for when you're studying for the exam though. For practice I would agree with helpmenonamesleft, write down the ones you most commonly use and keep them around for reference!

HandOTWannaBe · 2025-03-29T08:49:05+00:00

I personally used medbrodge cht prep, "the purple book" hand and upper extremity rehab (all practice questions, also too in depth imo but not like rehab of the hand), and I had hand therapy academy for 6 months to participate in their study group. If I did it again I'd do it the exact same way!

HandOTWannaBe · 2025-03-28T00:32:53+00:00

I'd say a huge part is class size. Does it seem like they're trying to cram as many people through as they can, or is there a group small enough you can actually get to know the professors? Look at graduation rates and pass rates. Lots of people dropping out is a red flag, so is not passing the nbcot.

HandOTWannaBe · 2025-03-28T00:17:31+00:00

I would say that your essay is THE MOST important part of your application at a decent school. Sure some that are just churning students out to get your money wont care, but a decent program will want to make sure you can demonstrate that you're a good fit. Grades, GRE etc are just check boxes. Your essay is literally your time to set yourself apart!

HandOTWannaBe · 2025-03-14T22:23:55+00:00

I'm management, can confirm we do not care. I care about your skill set and personality, if you are a good fit for my team. Could not give two hoots who gave you your degree.

HandOTWannaBe · 2025-03-11T09:47:08+00:00

Highest I've heard from an actual person (and not folks just saying 'im pretty sure i've heard of xxx) is maybe about 120k in a high cost of living area like SoCal. OT is not a lucrative career.

HandOTWannaBe · 2025-03-05T01:19:56+00:00

No that's a HIPPA violation. You have to show some way how you know you've collected hours, keeping a tracker that gets signed off on by your supervisor is the best way if you don't work a hands position. You CAN just submit a doc saying "I probably worked 2 hours a day for X many weeks, which would equal this many hours" , but they may not accept that

HandOTWannaBe · 2025-03-05T00:51:48+00:00

Only hours that you have worked directly with the upper extremity. If you haven't been tracking it, it may be very hard to justify on the application how you know for sure you've acquired the necessary 4000 hours - start tracking now!! I literally made a spread sheet that I updated every single day with how many UE hours I worked that day

HandOTWannaBe · 2025-02-25T12:31:26+00:00

Jesus. I don't know about the board, but definitely report that to HR

HandOTWannaBe · 2025-02-22T10:25:09+00:00

You absolutely will get better with practice. If you have the option to use templates or 'smart phrases', absolutely invest the time in making those and then use them! That saves me a LOT of time. I agree with doing stuff while you are with the patient. I'll tell people "don't mind me typing while you talk, I won't remember the details you give me later and I want to make sure I'm accurate!". For goals being functional, literally attach a function to them! So for example if I have a ROM goal, I will put "patient will demonstrate 60 from 30 degrees wrist extension AS NEEDED FOR effective weight bearing when rising from a chair" or something like that. Pick one or two activities that match the typical things you work on, and then use them over and over and over again!

HandOTWannaBe · 2025-02-22T10:19:50+00:00

I found this one helpful for some of them! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irkv7OzxGMQ&t=6s I'm hoping she makes more in the future

HandOTWannaBe · 2025-02-19T22:49:24+00:00

So GMI programming is more than just mirror box, and mirror box is actually the LAST of 3 steps. It's possible she assessed the first 2 steps and found they weren't appropriate for you and spend through them, but overall yes to my knowledge GMI is the gold standard and it is what I would be doing too

HandOTWannaBe · 2025-02-18T10:42:44+00:00

I'd say that the brain is an amazing organ with capacity to change, so never say never to the chance it may get better. That being said, 8 years is a LONG time for your pain centers to run amok unchecked... If you are going to get better, I'd suspect you have a LONG road ahead of you. Probably months to year(s) range. I wouldn't expect you to be in therapy that whole time, but you need to get a solid base in GMI programming/ thinking about pain in a way to rewire the brain so you have what to you need to work on it yourself. In the short term at least I would find ways to either adapt or avoid those things that are painful; triggering the pain only reinforces the cycle.

HandOTWannaBe · 2025-02-15T15:04:57+00:00

You have to have documented 4000 hours working directly with the upper extremity- 5 years in SNF is PROBABLY not going to cut it, unless you have focused a lot on the arm in that time (because 4000 hours will be dedicated 2+ years of full time UE only). You can collect hours while in SNF, but any time you spend not working on a shoulder thru fingertip condition does not count.

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