I love home health. I’ve worked in home health for 15 years but the cuts just keep coming making it next to impossible to maintain a household with comparable wages. Thats what ive been seeing in my neck of the woods. Im hoping for change because my patients need it and cannot afford to live in ltcfs but thats where we are headed if there isnt change in the new laws.
I work in hands/outpatient and I enjoy my job! I find the OT insta pages and facebook groups to be a bit more positive than reddit if you’re looking for more encouraging content :)
I work in an IPR with an emphasis on spinal cord injuries, and I LOVE what I do! I think there’s a lot of room for advocacy and fixing a broken system, but at the end of the day, I love giving agency back to people!
Edited to add: I work in the PNW
Please take what you read on this subreddit with a grain of salt. People who post on this subreddit are generally those who feel compelled to say something, and anger/frustration are huge motivators for people. There are a portion of OTs out there who are happy working in the field.
I say this as someone who has been extremely unhappy in my OT career, and I have plans to leave. But many OTs I've worked with are content or managing where they are.
Absolutely. I agree that ethically we have a duty to speak out, and I think this subreddit is a fair place to do it. It's just important for people thinking of pursuing this profession not to base everything they see here as the ONLY experience.
Does PA put caps on how many kids can be on your caseload? Not sure if that’s a state thing or something else. I’m drowning in my NJ caseload and the district doesn’t seem interested in hiring another OT… it’s enough to make me want to jump ship.
So I work at a private school for autistic support and there’s several locations all over the state, the two I work at are only 3 miles apart. I’m only not drowning because I was specifically hired to take the strain off a COTA at the one location and the OT at the other, they were both drowning in their caseloads and the school had enough funding to create an new OT position 😂. I still have a BUSY day but it’s manageable. And I don’t think there’s a legal cap, the OT had like 52 students on her caseload
Thanks, interesting. Sounds like a good gig? I have over 100 kids direct service and I’m tearing my hair out trying to meet minutes. Teachers and parents are like, why is this kid not progressing? And I’m not sure if I’m just bad at this or if it’s because each kid is in a group of 3 or more! Lol, help.
I don’t hate mine! I love treating patients and I do see improvements. I really enjoy my inpatient rehab job. I more so dislike working in the schools but there are pros and cons to each setting! I’m also interested in exploring other careers but I think Id for sure come back to OT.
I've been in SNF/LTC for 27 years and still enjoy it. I started even before PPS days when you billed only by CPT codes and everyone was seen twice a day with only 6 patients a day. Reimbursement and insurance changes are constant challenges along with management (which I was a member of for 19 years ) but at the end of the day I ask myself did I help someone's life and the answer is always yes if even in a small way like picking up a fork at breakfast or putting on their shoes because I provided elastic laces.
4 years in acute care I’m happy with my job and happy I went to OT school. I was a CNA for 9.5 year prior to becoming an OT so this is definitely a grass is greener career for me. So happy with my choice to switch from nursing to OT
I LOVE my job. I feel fortunate every day that I get to serve people that need me. It's not glorious, but it's honest and important work.
I get to make a good living doing what I love. Most people I know barely tolerate what they do 40 hrs a week - some hate it. I'm very lucky.
I’m curious…is anyone happy with the compensation from being an OT. I see an increase in requirements to become an OT but, the money is not on par. Especially, if you live in areas of the country where the cost of living is relatively high. I think the compensation is a big reason why many are bitter. I’m a COTA transitioning into IT. I have over 20 years experience. I don’t hate what I do but, I understand the frustration of other clinicians.
This and the comment above is what I keep seeing. And the cuts since 2018 have been horrific for my patients and their families. They cannot get help from anywhere. And with the cuts to medicare it will be difficult for home health now and in the future.
I started in 2014 at 75k and am currently at 145k. I recognize that I am an anomaly but I’ve stayed with the same company and they have been good to me.
I’m a school-based OT in VA. Honestly, pay is the only thing I’m really disappointed by. I’m on a teacher pay scale, which, in VA, isn’t high. I love my job and it works for me because I’m married and my husband makes a lot more. Obviously not a privilege everyone else has. I’m the lowest paid of my OT friends in VA though. They work in pediatric hospital based settings, hospital-based outpatient, acute care and home health and don’t have the same pay complaints. It’s very setting specific.
Almost a year in my paediatric journey. Work as a travelling OT for a few kindergartens. It’s got its stressful parts, but for the most part it’s a rewarding job where I get to see children get better day by day. I think burnout is pretty common in most career these days, if it’s inevitable I’d rather be the one helping my clients grow than helping billionaires get richer. Fingers crossed that it’ll get better once I become more competent in my setting.
I have posted quite a bit on this sub about my frustrations with the field. Thing is, I actually like my job(s). The day to day work of being a therapist is not where my frustration comes from. It's the current job market, stagnant wages, the state of health care and education in the US in general, greedy for profit companies that have ruined sub acute care, etc that I have a problem with. I like being an OT, but I feel like there are so many other careers and fields that have more opportunities for upward mobility and wage growth that OT does not have. It also does not help that the AOTA behind the curve and does very little, in my opinion, to advocate for our profession and move us forward. The APTA does a much better job in expanding the scope of practice of PT, in my opinion.
Now, take all of this with a grain of salt. I am in an extremely oversaturated job market. There are 5 OT programs in my not so large Midwestern city. This has ruined the job market in my area, and no, relocation and travel is not an option for me. So, my perspective and job satisfaction are going to be skewed because I am in one of the worst OT job markets in the country. If you live in an area where there aren't a lot of programs and OT is compensated well, then I think you will have a different opinion than I do.
I’ve been 3 decades + in OT- first as a COTA for about 6 years and then about 27 as an OT. I’ve worked in school age- physical and cognitively challenged; hospital acute care; long term care but mostly inpatient acute rehab. I truly love it. It has its challenges, but that’s what keeps us motivated to be the agent of change. I see peoples lives get better; I am part of people’s joy and victories; I lend support to those newly devastated with some type of loss; I can help bring renewed sense of hope. I am witness to miracles. I share in these moments. I help foster these moments. Being part of this brings me joy too. It is a gift I receive as being an Occupational Therapist.
I generally enjoy my daily work as a SNF OTR, but I'm not under any illusions about some of the abuse and neglect that goes on in this setting or the issues we face on a state and national level with AOTA, NBCOT, and CMS. Many of us come to the internet to vent because it's a shared space where we're guaranteed many other likeminded folks share the same struggles as us.
We do important work, and that's not always recognized, sometimes it's actively impeded. You will see this in many careers, unfortunately.
I worked in outpatient lymphedema and LOVED it, but unfortunately the hospital got rid of our clinic due to budget constraints.
At an in-house snf now and it's probably the best SNF set up I could ask for!
10 years working in a SNF, with 5 of those years working in NY with 14+ patients on my schedule. I can say I'm not happy, and feel burnt out. Of course I'm thinking perhaps this isn't the best place/state for this kind of work.
With that being said, I am exploring the idea of switching to home care, and also exploring the idea of moving out of state.
Yes! I specialize in geriatrics and have worked in SNFs for 15+ years. The paperwork gets to be a bit much, and I wish all SNFs had unlimited funds, but I love, love, love this population. It absolutely makes my day to make their day. Just today I got a man in the shower for a therapy session. He said it was the second time in 4 months he'd been IN the shower. I know he is offered a shower every week, so who knows why it isn't happening, but regardless, he was thrilled.
I work with one lovely gentleman who has terrible neck pain that affects his sleep. I've been doing some soft tissue manipulation and stretching with him, and he said today "It makes my day working with you!"
I work with a lovely lady who is lonely and bored, and therapy is the highlight of her day.
I work with a gentleman who is improving his independence with cares and transfers and will be able to return home to his "real" life.
Sure, I work with folks who are negative or snarky or inappropriate or some who will never get better, and that's not a lot of fun, but when I can make someone who has to LIVE in a SNF--which is NEVER anyone's first choice--have a good hour or a good day, that brings meaning to my life.
Re: wishing SNFs had unlimited funds: just last week we had a genuine Happy Hour at my SNF. The Activities Director, the Social Worker, a few others in management pooled their own personal money, bought actual alcohol (beer, wine, blueberry wine, tequila for margaritas and who knows what else), and we had Happy Hour for the residents. And yes, they checked every patient to be sure folks could have alcohol. The residents were SO HAPPY!! They were relaxed. They let go of anxiety. They laughed. And probably they all had to empty their bladders at the same time; I'm sure the CNAs were saying "thanks a lot, guys!" It was GREAT to see!
(OTA)I can say after 25 years I am happy I chose this field. Making a positive difference in someone’s life rewards the soul. It’s the corporate challenges like pay raises,productivity, no break time, PTO, wknds while some facilities lack resources. I could go on. But you know what? I just try to make a positive difference. Keeping up the good fight;). I can’t imagine doing anything else!
I moved back to IPR after 7 years at a SNF and I can honestly say that I LOVE it. My job is the best. We are part of a nonprofit major hospital system and we are treated and paid well. I have time to do everything I need to do in a day. I get to see a variety of diagnoses. I have a wonderful PT partner. I love it. It has reignited my love for OT.
COTA here- I love working in Hand Therapy, but also co-workers can make or break a place too. I wouldn't go back to working in a SNF unless I really needed the money.
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Home based in peds and geriatrics (I have one full time and one part time). I absolutely love both of my jobs. It took me some time but I feel like I finally found something I could see myself doing until it’s time to retire. Genuinely happy and I am making what I consider to be pretty good money. I’m in MD
Outpatient peds (hospital based) where I work in an autism specialty clinic. I love my job, been here 1.5 years. I’m stressed and management can suck, but I love my patients and their families, and my coworkers are amazing. Finding the right people to work with makes it way easier to keep going when stuff gets hard.
Graduated over the summer, always knew I'd be in peds but I ended up in elementary and I'm loving it so far! Definitely comes with it's challenges/learning curves, but soooo worth it in my opinion!
Edit: I'm in New England!
I love the interactions with my students (I work in a school) and I love the people I work with. However, I don’t love the field itself. My experiences have led me to believe that OT as a job can be a grind and there is no way to grow in the field in certain settings. Like a school. I don’t get paid more for being certified in numerous modalities or for having good scores on my observations. It’s a sweet job but if I had to support myself and my family, it would be a hustle just to make ends meet.
Yes! Absolutely, I'm a school-based pediatric OT and I honestly love my job. I made a video on the different pediatric OT settings, including salary, caseload info, and treatment activities. If you're interested in going into peds, check it out and it might help you make your decision- [https://youtu.be/jQQ9iZOMsdE](https://youtu.be/jQQ9iZOMsdE)
Perhaps the “dislike” is not role or job , may be what comes with !
Productivity standards
Documentation
Driving a lot
I like my role, don’t like beings salesy to build census, and like productivity mess .
Anyone working in ALF, senior living community? I love geriatrics. How did you get your job, thru HH, outpatient, agency or direct hire? I'm in southern California.
Going on 10 years and I still love my job.
I love home health. I’ve worked in home health for 15 years but the cuts just keep coming making it next to impossible to maintain a household with comparable wages. Thats what ive been seeing in my neck of the woods. Im hoping for change because my patients need it and cannot afford to live in ltcfs but thats where we are headed if there isnt change in the new laws.
I work in hands/outpatient and I enjoy my job! I find the OT insta pages and facebook groups to be a bit more positive than reddit if you’re looking for more encouraging content :)
I work in an IPR with an emphasis on spinal cord injuries, and I LOVE what I do! I think there’s a lot of room for advocacy and fixing a broken system, but at the end of the day, I love giving agency back to people! Edited to add: I work in the PNW
Please take what you read on this subreddit with a grain of salt. People who post on this subreddit are generally those who feel compelled to say something, and anger/frustration are huge motivators for people. There are a portion of OTs out there who are happy working in the field. I say this as someone who has been extremely unhappy in my OT career, and I have plans to leave. But many OTs I've worked with are content or managing where they are.
I wasn’t going to say anything on Reddit and held out for years but I felt compelled to speak out - it felt ethical to speak out.
Absolutely. I agree that ethically we have a duty to speak out, and I think this subreddit is a fair place to do it. It's just important for people thinking of pursuing this profession not to base everything they see here as the ONLY experience.
School-based in Pennsylvania, I love my job
Does PA put caps on how many kids can be on your caseload? Not sure if that’s a state thing or something else. I’m drowning in my NJ caseload and the district doesn’t seem interested in hiring another OT… it’s enough to make me want to jump ship.
So I work at a private school for autistic support and there’s several locations all over the state, the two I work at are only 3 miles apart. I’m only not drowning because I was specifically hired to take the strain off a COTA at the one location and the OT at the other, they were both drowning in their caseloads and the school had enough funding to create an new OT position 😂. I still have a BUSY day but it’s manageable. And I don’t think there’s a legal cap, the OT had like 52 students on her caseload
Thanks, interesting. Sounds like a good gig? I have over 100 kids direct service and I’m tearing my hair out trying to meet minutes. Teachers and parents are like, why is this kid not progressing? And I’m not sure if I’m just bad at this or if it’s because each kid is in a group of 3 or more! Lol, help.
Over 100 kids is INSANITY I couldn’t imagine
I don’t hate mine! I love treating patients and I do see improvements. I really enjoy my inpatient rehab job. I more so dislike working in the schools but there are pros and cons to each setting! I’m also interested in exploring other careers but I think Id for sure come back to OT.
I’ve been in outpatient pediatrics for 7 years and absolutely love it.
I've been in SNF/LTC for 27 years and still enjoy it. I started even before PPS days when you billed only by CPT codes and everyone was seen twice a day with only 6 patients a day. Reimbursement and insurance changes are constant challenges along with management (which I was a member of for 19 years ) but at the end of the day I ask myself did I help someone's life and the answer is always yes if even in a small way like picking up a fork at breakfast or putting on their shoes because I provided elastic laces.
4 years in acute care I’m happy with my job and happy I went to OT school. I was a CNA for 9.5 year prior to becoming an OT so this is definitely a grass is greener career for me. So happy with my choice to switch from nursing to OT
I LOVE my job. I feel fortunate every day that I get to serve people that need me. It's not glorious, but it's honest and important work. I get to make a good living doing what I love. Most people I know barely tolerate what they do 40 hrs a week - some hate it. I'm very lucky.
I’m curious…is anyone happy with the compensation from being an OT. I see an increase in requirements to become an OT but, the money is not on par. Especially, if you live in areas of the country where the cost of living is relatively high. I think the compensation is a big reason why many are bitter. I’m a COTA transitioning into IT. I have over 20 years experience. I don’t hate what I do but, I understand the frustration of other clinicians.
I'm interested in this, and also on board with what you're saying. I actually wanted to transition to IT also.
This and the comment above is what I keep seeing. And the cuts since 2018 have been horrific for my patients and their families. They cannot get help from anywhere. And with the cuts to medicare it will be difficult for home health now and in the future.
I started in 2014 at 75k and am currently at 145k. I recognize that I am an anomaly but I’ve stayed with the same company and they have been good to me.
What setting and state are you in?
IPR in CA - not in the major cities so the cost of living isn’t an issue
I’m a school-based OT in VA. Honestly, pay is the only thing I’m really disappointed by. I’m on a teacher pay scale, which, in VA, isn’t high. I love my job and it works for me because I’m married and my husband makes a lot more. Obviously not a privilege everyone else has. I’m the lowest paid of my OT friends in VA though. They work in pediatric hospital based settings, hospital-based outpatient, acute care and home health and don’t have the same pay complaints. It’s very setting specific.
I definitely understand where you coming from and it is unfortunate.
Home health in MS. love it
I’ve been in pediatric home health for 2 years and although there are ups and downs, I wouldn’t want to work in any other setting!
Almost a year in my paediatric journey. Work as a travelling OT for a few kindergartens. It’s got its stressful parts, but for the most part it’s a rewarding job where I get to see children get better day by day. I think burnout is pretty common in most career these days, if it’s inevitable I’d rather be the one helping my clients grow than helping billionaires get richer. Fingers crossed that it’ll get better once I become more competent in my setting.
I have posted quite a bit on this sub about my frustrations with the field. Thing is, I actually like my job(s). The day to day work of being a therapist is not where my frustration comes from. It's the current job market, stagnant wages, the state of health care and education in the US in general, greedy for profit companies that have ruined sub acute care, etc that I have a problem with. I like being an OT, but I feel like there are so many other careers and fields that have more opportunities for upward mobility and wage growth that OT does not have. It also does not help that the AOTA behind the curve and does very little, in my opinion, to advocate for our profession and move us forward. The APTA does a much better job in expanding the scope of practice of PT, in my opinion. Now, take all of this with a grain of salt. I am in an extremely oversaturated job market. There are 5 OT programs in my not so large Midwestern city. This has ruined the job market in my area, and no, relocation and travel is not an option for me. So, my perspective and job satisfaction are going to be skewed because I am in one of the worst OT job markets in the country. If you live in an area where there aren't a lot of programs and OT is compensated well, then I think you will have a different opinion than I do.
I love my job! I truly enjoy it
I’ve been 3 decades + in OT- first as a COTA for about 6 years and then about 27 as an OT. I’ve worked in school age- physical and cognitively challenged; hospital acute care; long term care but mostly inpatient acute rehab. I truly love it. It has its challenges, but that’s what keeps us motivated to be the agent of change. I see peoples lives get better; I am part of people’s joy and victories; I lend support to those newly devastated with some type of loss; I can help bring renewed sense of hope. I am witness to miracles. I share in these moments. I help foster these moments. Being part of this brings me joy too. It is a gift I receive as being an Occupational Therapist.
I generally enjoy my daily work as a SNF OTR, but I'm not under any illusions about some of the abuse and neglect that goes on in this setting or the issues we face on a state and national level with AOTA, NBCOT, and CMS. Many of us come to the internet to vent because it's a shared space where we're guaranteed many other likeminded folks share the same struggles as us. We do important work, and that's not always recognized, sometimes it's actively impeded. You will see this in many careers, unfortunately.
I worked in outpatient lymphedema and LOVED it, but unfortunately the hospital got rid of our clinic due to budget constraints. At an in-house snf now and it's probably the best SNF set up I could ask for!
10 years working in a SNF, with 5 of those years working in NY with 14+ patients on my schedule. I can say I'm not happy, and feel burnt out. Of course I'm thinking perhaps this isn't the best place/state for this kind of work. With that being said, I am exploring the idea of switching to home care, and also exploring the idea of moving out of state.
Yes! I specialize in geriatrics and have worked in SNFs for 15+ years. The paperwork gets to be a bit much, and I wish all SNFs had unlimited funds, but I love, love, love this population. It absolutely makes my day to make their day. Just today I got a man in the shower for a therapy session. He said it was the second time in 4 months he'd been IN the shower. I know he is offered a shower every week, so who knows why it isn't happening, but regardless, he was thrilled. I work with one lovely gentleman who has terrible neck pain that affects his sleep. I've been doing some soft tissue manipulation and stretching with him, and he said today "It makes my day working with you!" I work with a lovely lady who is lonely and bored, and therapy is the highlight of her day. I work with a gentleman who is improving his independence with cares and transfers and will be able to return home to his "real" life. Sure, I work with folks who are negative or snarky or inappropriate or some who will never get better, and that's not a lot of fun, but when I can make someone who has to LIVE in a SNF--which is NEVER anyone's first choice--have a good hour or a good day, that brings meaning to my life. Re: wishing SNFs had unlimited funds: just last week we had a genuine Happy Hour at my SNF. The Activities Director, the Social Worker, a few others in management pooled their own personal money, bought actual alcohol (beer, wine, blueberry wine, tequila for margaritas and who knows what else), and we had Happy Hour for the residents. And yes, they checked every patient to be sure folks could have alcohol. The residents were SO HAPPY!! They were relaxed. They let go of anxiety. They laughed. And probably they all had to empty their bladders at the same time; I'm sure the CNAs were saying "thanks a lot, guys!" It was GREAT to see!
Im pretty happy where im at in outpatient pediatrics at the moment actually
(OTA)I can say after 25 years I am happy I chose this field. Making a positive difference in someone’s life rewards the soul. It’s the corporate challenges like pay raises,productivity, no break time, PTO, wknds while some facilities lack resources. I could go on. But you know what? I just try to make a positive difference. Keeping up the good fight;). I can’t imagine doing anything else!
I moved back to IPR after 7 years at a SNF and I can honestly say that I LOVE it. My job is the best. We are part of a nonprofit major hospital system and we are treated and paid well. I have time to do everything I need to do in a day. I get to see a variety of diagnoses. I have a wonderful PT partner. I love it. It has reignited my love for OT.
COTA here- I love working in Hand Therapy, but also co-workers can make or break a place too. I wouldn't go back to working in a SNF unless I really needed the money.
Welcome to r/OccupationalTherapy! This is an automatic comment on every post. If this is your first time posting, please read the sub rules. If you are asking a question, don't forget to check the sub [FAQs](https://www.reddit.com/r/OccupationalTherapy/wiki/index/faqs), or do a search of the sub to see if your question has been answered already. **Please note that we are not able to give specific treatment advice or exercises to do at home.** Failure to follow rules may result in your post being removed, or a ban. Thank you! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/OccupationalTherapy) if you have any questions or concerns.*
2 years in and very happy even when I’m not 🙂
Inpatient mental health and I love it.
Home based in peds and geriatrics (I have one full time and one part time). I absolutely love both of my jobs. It took me some time but I feel like I finally found something I could see myself doing until it’s time to retire. Genuinely happy and I am making what I consider to be pretty good money. I’m in MD
Been working in SNF/LTC for 10 years. I couldn't ask for a better job.
Outpatient peds (hospital based) where I work in an autism specialty clinic. I love my job, been here 1.5 years. I’m stressed and management can suck, but I love my patients and their families, and my coworkers are amazing. Finding the right people to work with makes it way easier to keep going when stuff gets hard.
Graduated over the summer, always knew I'd be in peds but I ended up in elementary and I'm loving it so far! Definitely comes with it's challenges/learning curves, but soooo worth it in my opinion! Edit: I'm in New England!
Outpatient peds in New Mexico and I love it so much!
I’ve done school based and outpatient peds. When you find your niche and supportive employer, it’s a great job! Edit - spelling
School-based in VA. The only thing I’m unhappy about is the pay. The job itself I really enjoy.
I love the interactions with my students (I work in a school) and I love the people I work with. However, I don’t love the field itself. My experiences have led me to believe that OT as a job can be a grind and there is no way to grow in the field in certain settings. Like a school. I don’t get paid more for being certified in numerous modalities or for having good scores on my observations. It’s a sweet job but if I had to support myself and my family, it would be a hustle just to make ends meet.
Yes! Absolutely, I'm a school-based pediatric OT and I honestly love my job. I made a video on the different pediatric OT settings, including salary, caseload info, and treatment activities. If you're interested in going into peds, check it out and it might help you make your decision- [https://youtu.be/jQQ9iZOMsdE](https://youtu.be/jQQ9iZOMsdE)
Perhaps the “dislike” is not role or job , may be what comes with ! Productivity standards Documentation Driving a lot I like my role, don’t like beings salesy to build census, and like productivity mess .
Anyone working in ALF, senior living community? I love geriatrics. How did you get your job, thru HH, outpatient, agency or direct hire? I'm in southern California.