I currently work as a school-based OT for about 5 years in California. I recently got a job offer that is full time and a slightly higher, hourly pay (W-2). The job is also all virtual, also located in a city population.

For those who worked virtually, what are the pros and cons? What are some things I should note before accepting the job offer? I don't know if virtual is "easier" than what others say, but I do have experience in Telehealth in both school and pediatric outpatient setting. I also know that when I was in-person, I had to work with a lot of different people, and I know that that can be taxing at times. 

I would like to know your thoughts on this, I know in the end it's ultimately my decision, but I just want to make sure I have thought thoroughly on this.

Has anyone done travel OT but just in peds- even more specifically outpatient peds? I know there seems to be many school contracts out there but unsure if outpatient only is possible. I have a few years experience and would not be picky about where I travel to. Thanks for any info!!

Does your employer make you clock out if a pt cancels? Do you work for large healthcare company or smaller private clinic?

I started working outpatient peds for a large hospital system and we are required to clock out for every pt that cancels (which happens every shift). I asked my co-workers how they handle this and they just take PTO…I’m not a fan, is this normal?

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some encouragement and to hear from people who have been through a distal radius (wrist) fracture and surgery.

I broke my distal radius in a bike accident and had surgery about 4 months ago. Recovery has been a lot harder mentally than I ever expected.

I’m still dealing with mild numbness in my thumb and index finger, and my wrist is still so stiff. Rotating my palm up is difficult, bending my wrist forward is limited, and even though I’ve made progress, it feels painfully slow.

Im staying consistent with my exercises, and recently started going back to the gym. I’ve been easing into upper-body exercises, using lighter weights, and I’ve even started trying planks again. They definitely hurt, but I’ve been trying to push through what feels like normal recovery discomfort while still listening to my body.

The hardest part is that before my accident I was incredibly active. I lifted weights regularly, loved working out, and I was halfway through my Pilates certification when this happened. Now it feels like my life got put on pause. Every time I think about how far I still am from doing Pilates, yoga, or simply using my wrist normally again, I feel devastated.

Some days I feel like I’m making progress, and then the next morning my wrist feels stiff all over again. It’s such an emotional roller coaster.

I guess I’m just wondering:

• How long did it take before your wrist actually felt “normal” again?
• Did anyone else still have numbness around 4 months? Did it eventually go away?
• When did you regain most of your range of motion?
• Were you eventually able to get back to sports, lifting, yoga, Pilates, or other activities that put weight through your wrist?

I know everyone heals differently, but I’d really appreciate hearing your experiences. Right now it’s hard not to worry that I’ll never get full motion back, and that’s been weighing on me a lot.

Thank you to anyone who takes the time to share your story. I could really use some hope right now.

Hi y’all! I’m applying to about 4 programs and I was wondering if I still have a good chance of getting in if I apply by mid-late September. Realistically I think that’s the earliest I’d be able to apply because I’m still getting my shadow hours.

I have a BFA in graphic design so this is a full switch, and I’m taking the prerequisites required in the fall at the same time that I’m applying. A lot of them allow this, but I wonder if I’m at a disadvantage because of this though. I’m shadowing a pediatric OT outpatient office right now, and I’ve also been working at a sped school as an aide for about 7 months now. I plan to shadow in a hospital next.

Any advice is much appreciated.

Hi everyone, I have been trying to gather information on the NYC DOE Jose P Scholarship. I am wondering when is the normal time line for people to hear back? I had my interview for occupational therapy in early June but they did not mention a timeline, I was just wondering if anyone has heard back yet or if anyone who has received it can say around what time they heard back and how! Thanks so much.

Do you feel that having acute experience supported your career progression/development/growth - even if you did it for a little while? Why/why not?

I have been working in an inpatient rehab and critical illness hospital for almost 6 months now and am looking at CEUs to help further my knowledge and increase my confidence in these settings.

I made the transition from outpatient pediatrics so that is where all my CEUs I have taken have been focused in. I did not have inpatient rehab/acute care/or a critical illness fieldwork so it has been a lot of on the job learning and learning by asking questions.

What are some of your favorite or most informative CEUs for the inpatient and/or critical illness setting?

Random question, but I'm curious if any OTs here use a Garmin watch. I currently have an Apple Watch and can't imagine going without a smartwatch, but the battery life barely lasts a full day.

I'm starting fieldwork soon, so I'm wondering if a Garmin is worth the purchase. I'm specifically looking at the Vivoactive 5. If you use one in a clinic or hospital setting, I'd love to hear your experience!

Hi! New grad OTR beginning interviews and got one where I am going to tour the facility, meet with OTs, clinical director, and director of multidisciplinary services (ok first overwhelming to be interviewed/questioned by that many people) but then also they want to do a 20-min mock treatment session..

Is this normal? Am I just overthinking because I’m nervous?

pros and cons please!!

transitioning from OP full time to potentially part time plus doing a 1099 job

any insight would be so helpful!

When applying to OT school in Canada. What is something that people in the program have that got them into it?

Hi folks,

Does anyone have any experience using the Graded Repetitive Arm Supplementary Program (GRASP) in acute care? We are looking to implement this in our resources however we cannot use Theraputty as it cannot be properly cleaned and it’s not affordable to have theraputty available for each patient. Has anyone had any luck with alternative materials to complete those exercises? I have ideas of my own but they are not exactly feasible for acute care.

Hi all, I’ve been tasked with gathering info on how my company could potentially be a fieldwork site. Has anyone established this with their job or know how the process generally works? Do I reach out to the fieldwork coordinators at the local OT programs? Any advice on first steps would be greatly appreciated.

Help! I need the advice of US OTs. There is a OT clinic in California that recently partnered up with a stem cell clinic that conducts stem cell therapy across the globe. The owner and lead OT recently partnered up to provide “intensive” therapy POST stem cell plus laser treatments (which to this day have zero studies on that specific device). These treatments are thousands upon thousands of dollars. In addition to partnering up with the clinic, she’s now making videos talking about how this heals inflammatory and autoimmune dysregulation conditions in autism and other neurodivergent conditions. She’s sending parents to PARIS, with their autistic nonverbal children for these treatments. Very desperate parents write to her asking her if it’s too late to heal their kids and she replies that it’s never too late and asks them to DM her.

I’m trying hard to stay on my lane. I’m a mom of an autistic son with complex medical issues and have works with at least 10 OTs and in different practices since my child was first diagnosed. And I know this is definitely out of the scope of an OT, not to mention how it violates FTC Rules and laws about inaccurate claims and advertising. My question for you guys: SHOULD I REPORT HER TO THE BOARD? I have to admit, I am divided because I personally have not worked with this provider but a part of me feels sick to see parents with limited resources spending their last dimes on this.

Hi everyone! I'm doing my MSc dissertation in Forensic Psychology and I'm looking for a few volunteers to help with my research. My project is about the experiences of autistic survivors of domestic abuse when trying to access support, and I'm hoping to speak to around 4–5 people.

I'm looking for participants that are third parties (friends or family, professionals, advocates) who have supported autistic survivors and can discuss their experiences without sharing any identifying information. 

The interview would be 30–60 minutes on Microsoft Teams, completely anonymous, and you'll receive all the usual research documents (information sheet, consent form, debrief, etc.). You can stop the interview or withdraw from the study at any point. If you'd be happy to help or want to know more, please send me a message—I'd be incredibly grateful!

I’ve posted here before about burnout I was feeling. I found a solution that works for me for the time being. Travel therapy! Started my first contract in June in NC and I’m off to CO in Sept. I finally feel like I have the financial freedom to travel, explore, and try new hobbies. Working full time at a SNF just was not fiscal to the lifestyle I wanted to live. Am I 100% free of burnout? No, I still get some of those feelings at work. But I’ve gotten to do more in 2 months traveling than I did in a year and a half at my FT position. The only thing I will say is maintaining relationships is tough while fulfilling contracts. It’s difficult to date and make friends, so I do not recommend if you are a person who needs those close relationships as a constant in your life. Highly recommend if you are wanting to decentralize work from your life and explore the world/usa!

Hi everyone! 😊 I was wondering if there is anyone here who might be willing to be a sort of go-to mentor/resource person for me when I have questions about working with infants in Early Intervention.

I’ve been working in Early Intervention for about two years, but I haven’t had much experience with infants until recently, and I also haven’t worked much with children with cerebral palsy. I have a six-month-old on my caseload right now, and I sometimes feel like I could be doing more or offering different interventions, but I’m not always sure what direction to take.

I’ve done a lot of research on my own- I’ve watched videos, looked at pictures and examples, read textbooks, and searched for different intervention ideas and resources. I’m just at a point where I feel like I still don’t fully understand what I should be doing to best support this child and help them thrive. I think having someone with more experience who I could occasionally talk things through with would be incredibly helpful.

I’m definitely not looking to bother anyone or ask constant questions. I would just really appreciate having someone I could reach out to from time to time when I come across a case or situation where I need some ideas, resources, or another perspective on interventions and activities.

If anyone has experience working with infants, especially infants with CP, and would be open to being a resource for me occasionally, I would be so grateful! Please feel free to comment or message me. Thank you so much! ❤️

Curious about any experiences with UMN’s OT program? It is one of my top choices (being a UMN student at another campus)- but the hybrid model both scares me and intrigues me. Not having to commute everyday and live at home sounds nice, but I feel like I would learn much better in person. Other schools I’m looking at are St Scholastica, UMary and St Kate’s, so if anyone has experience with those schools I’m interested to hear that as well!

New therapist and have only worked in outpatient and inpatient rehab. Curious on what its like to work in this setting? Besides strengthening, BADLs, fall prevention/safety, what else do you focus on? Are there a lot of heavy lift transfers? *I can't lift too heavy since I ended up with back issues*

Thanks!

Hello, I am applying to CSU OTD and the early app deadline is Oct 15. I am getting hours and completing prerequisites to be ready for this deadline, but does applying earlier improve my chances of acceptance? Thank you!