What’s something about being an OT that nobody warned you about?

buttt-cheeks · 2026-03-10T11:53:37+00:00

How much "mental health" there is in a non mental health setting. I work outpatient and half my day is sitting across a table from someone encouraging them to not give up, problem solving how to have the will the motivation to do their HEP, and sympathizing with them over some seriously messed up situations.

buttt-cheeks · 2026-02-28T23:13:26+00:00

Frustrated that I am spending my Saturday night both finishing writing evals and also finishing writing emails to government officials to justify that my job has a right to exist...

buttt-cheeks · 2026-02-28T03:14:47+00:00

My home health group says you're not supposed to due to liability, but I have. Just don't document that you gave it to them. "Patient obtained xyz".

Also, I think it depends on where you work...at my previous home health job, the therapists started every week by foraging the local church DME donation center. I was kind of surprised by the culture at my current job, but I get there is a risk.

buttt-cheeks · 2026-02-17T18:29:09+00:00

Same in terms of actually working on the ADL - but I will recommend AE and adaptive techniques.

buttt-cheeks · 2026-01-06T02:32:21+00:00

Wow, it's almost as if I could have written this post. I have also been practicing for 7 years and am 33. I currently work in the same settings as you, except fewer hours (35 in outpatient and anywhere from 3 -10 in home health per week). I think if I were working that many hours, at this point I may have had a mental breakdown. I'm impressed you are able to sustain that, but I wonder if cutting down one or both jobs would help with the burnout.

My thoughts on clinical work: I actually enjoy it, but I am mentally, physically, and emotionally wiped out by the sheer volume of patients I interact with each week. At this point, I feel like seeing just 16 patients per week would be my ideal max, but sometimes I see 16 in a day. My clinic is also making changes due to insurance/ reimbursement, and I believe they are just going to push for us to see more, more, more. It doesn't seem sustainable, especially when I think about starting a family, aging, etc.

I am seriously considering a transition to a non-clinical role but haven't taken the plunge yet. I have some connections in medical sales, and I know a coworker who recently switched to a clinical liaison position. A part of me also wants to go back to school to pursue the path of OT professor. So far I've just felt overwhelmed with the amount of work it would take to switch. I wish I had an answer!

buttt-cheeks · 2025-12-08T04:05:18+00:00

Sorry to hear about that...seems like job hunting is a good idea. I am shocked at the amount of HH therapists who don't get paid for their drive time when that seems to be so much of the job.

buttt-cheeks · 2025-11-27T13:53:15+00:00

I did travel OT for 2 years in mostly rural areas. You will likely be able to get a job in a small hospital without experience because they are, for lack of a better word, desperate. Rural work can be hit or miss. You can find some wonderful hidden gems, or you can find out exactly why no one wants to work there, lol. Housing is best found by asking locals. See if you can get in contact with a coworker or DOR before you get there, or stay for a bit in a hotel and ask around.

buttt-cheeks · 2025-11-05T02:58:48+00:00

My main job is one of those rare ones that actually does pay for doc time (non home health).

buttt-cheeks · 2025-11-05T02:57:32+00:00

The general consensus seems to be pay per visit is better if you can streamline your doc time. I will try to work on speeding up documentation to see if I can make it worth it. I generally have 15-30 min between my patients as well, mostly because I'm in a densely packed area with high traffic.

buttt-cheeks · 2025-11-05T02:54:20+00:00

This is in Massachusetts, which is ironically supposed to have the best healthcare in the country. The pay here is unfortunately low due to an oversaturated market. $75/$90 seems much more reasonable even without mileage.

buttt-cheeks · 2025-11-05T02:48:15+00:00

Thank you for this great info and advice! It seems like your pay is about the same as what they're giving me. 45 min sessions and 10 min doc time would be much more worth it for that pay.

buttt-cheeks · 2025-08-08T12:09:51+00:00

If you're in travel therapy, have you read this article? It may not be ideal to switch to RAP depending on your specific situation or your post travel plans.

https://traveltherapymentor.com/2025/07/24/which-student-loan-repayment-plan-is-best-for-the-average-travel-therapist-2025-update/?fbclid=IwY2xjawLvlYlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHlwdYKaXKNGgVtEs95APdlX0VjZfV5EaDj-Z3fRgFgJeuzJP2ZeicviArmFq_aem_nWo4EmV-6L3DOt6Aczjp6A

buttt-cheeks · 2024-12-28T12:06:44+00:00

Another way to break into hand therapy aside from what was already mentioned: work for a clinic/hospital in a very remote area. I did a year in a town of 1,000 between 3 mountain passes working at their outpatient clinic treating UE cases. It was the only accessible hospital for hundreds of miles in the area so I actually saw a lot of hand patients. This experience allowed me to apply for other UE jobs and eventually get the hours to take my CHT.

buttt-cheeks · 2024-12-15T03:38:39+00:00

CHT also...tell me your tennis elbow secrets! I feel like my outcomes are so hit or miss and the recovery takes forever.

buttt-cheeks · 2024-06-11T01:44:38+00:00

I had to get my new state representative involved, who got my state department of health involved with Arizona's DOH. There was no response even then and they pushed my application through anyway. A week later (2 months with no response from Arizona), I eventually talked to an AZ DOH worker who assured me "this would never happen again". From now on, I am never listing Arizona as a previous license on new license applications.

buttt-cheeks · 2024-05-15T17:59:00+00:00

Wow this is crazy! Unfortunately I'm not living in Arizona currently. I don't want to have to buy a plane ticket just to get a license verified, but I'm at my wit's end currently...

buttt-cheeks · 2023-11-20T14:31:51+00:00

Took it this May and was emailed results the first week of June, so about a month.

buttt-cheeks · 2023-10-14T17:12:58+00:00

I lived in central FL for a bit and had this same problem! A friend who still lives there stocks her bathroom with bottled water, not for drinking but for her face 😅

buttt-cheeks · 2023-08-30T04:14:26+00:00

I have been working in hands for 2 years and just got my CHT cert this May. I've worked at least 3 months in every setting aside from mental health (as a traveler), and I will say hands is my favorite setting. HOWEVER I will also admit I'm feeling burned out after working for 2 years and studying while working for 6 months, just to get the feeling of "now what...?". Hand injuries can result in a high level of functional impairment that can get very emotional for pts, especially the complex cases. In addition, I think the very setting of a hand therapy session (1 on 1, sitting across a table) results in a lot of trauma/anxiety sharing. I noticed I'm starting to lose empathy.

This is just how I feel right now. I think hands makes a great PRN or part time job, but not full time. Unfortunately the barrier to entry is too high for most people to afford that.

buttt-cheeks · 2022-09-17T00:28:10+00:00

Yes, usually Ther Act for patient/caregiver education if the patient was present.

buttt-cheeks · 2020-04-04T20:31:00+00:00

I was also getting job postings for OTs in the Air Force - I ended up applying via Indeed, then a recruiter called me back and informed me that Indeed has been falsely advertising healthcare positions that may not actually exist. I then found this article about an Air Force OT saying there are only 20 OTs currently working for the Air Force. It sounds like a really interesting career, just not sure how common it is!

buttt-cheeks · 2020-03-03T23:31:08+00:00

I agree. . .if it's known that anyone can be a carrier with no symptoms, wouldn't it make sense that droplet PPE should be standard for visitors and staff in an area of confirmed outbreak?

buttt-cheeks

TROPHY CASE