r/OccupationalTherapy • • 9h ago

Venting - Advice Wanted Husband’s 6th attempt

7 Upvotes

Not for me but my husband as he doesn’t have Reddit. He just found out he failed his 6th attempt by 6 points. His previous scores have been 417, 448 (this was brutal), 439, 440, 436, and 444. His morale is in the toilet and he’s thinking about not taking it anymore. I’ve never seen someone be so studious about taking an exam. He’s purchased the packets, studied with many different OT’s young and old, completed tutoring lessons on test taking strategies, and just about anything else you can think of.

My heart breaks for him because he was to wait 6 months at this point, and financially it has/will be a strain on us. He knows this and he feels as though he is failing our family (we have a 5 month old) because of his scores. He’s working as a therapy aide and has been for the last 5 years so he’s in the field and surrounded by the practice. I’m just at a loss what to do for him. I’m more looking for support and want to show him that he isn’t alone in this boat and it’s happened to others as well. Thanks all for listening.

*I just posted this in NBCOT exam group so this may look familiar to some. I didn’t realize there was an OT Reddit when I posted.


r/OccupationalTherapy • • 17h ago

Discussion Have you experienced any injuries as an OT?

8 Upvotes

I'm just curious if any of you, throughout your career, suffered an injury as a direct result of being an OT?


r/OccupationalTherapy • • 12h ago

Venting - Advice Wanted Nursing Vs OT

8 Upvotes

Hey, i’m currently in my nursing graduate year and i’m finding that i hate nursing. I know nursing has a lot of job opportunities etc but the level of stress and anxiety i’m dealing with because of the job, i no longer want to pursue it. I have been thinking about applying to OT next year. OT sounds appealing to me because of : no shift work, decent pay, less stress ? , still being able to help people etc. I want to hear from OTs and want to know what their day looks like as an Aus OT. Do you think in comparison, it is a less stressful job ?


r/OccupationalTherapy • • 18h ago

USA How does virtual OT work? (Adult with autism)

3 Upvotes

I’m an autistic adult looking to get some help from an OT. Unfortunately, there are none near me who specialize in autism, take my insurance, AND treat adults. But I did find some from farther away that are licensed in my state, DO treat adults, and take my insurance.

But I’m a bit concerned over whether it would be a waste of time and money. How does OT generally work over zoom? I only had OT a few times as a teenager when I was first diagnosed, and it was HEAVILY based on physicality, especially the evaluation, having me press and pull things, play and climb on equipment, testing my strength, them seeing the clothes I found safe and unsafe, etc.

Obviously as an adult I wouldn’t expect to be playing on a play set (no matter how much I’d love to lol), but I assumed there’d be some amount of them showing me things, pressing things, then physically feeling my body’s reaction to different stimuli, etc.. Am I wrong? Surely these places wouldn’t offer virtual OT if it didn’t work?

I reached out to a few of those virtual ones asking how their virtual visits work, but I’ve been waiting for a response for a week. I thought I’d ask here before I get any hopes up.

As for what I’d hope to work with them on, in case this determines whether virtual could work, my main goals would be for them to help me understand my sensory needs better, and find healthier ways to manage them. Currently I have a lot of chronic health issues that stem from my muscles being constantly clenched, and the clenching is an unconscious response to under/overstimulation. Physical therapy has taught me the tricks to relax the muscles, but they ALWAYS tighten up again because my senses get overwhelmed. My clenching is basically my body’s shell to protect itself from all the bad stimuli around me, I’d really like to work with someone to find or learn about healthier shells!

Oh also, would having an in-person evaluation but then only virtual follow-ups be better? I might be able to swing getting to these offices once, I just couldn’t go IRL regularly


r/OccupationalTherapy • • 20h ago

fieldwork Fieldwork Lvl 2 in Sacramento CA

3 Upvotes

Hello! I’m looking for sites where people have been placed for a psychosocial FW II in Sacramento, CA that are not peds related. My fieldwork coordinator has asked me for site leads and honestly, I’m not super familiar with the area. I’m wondering where other students from that area have been placed? I don’t have many peers in my cohort in the Sac area, and those who are have been placed in peds clinics. I’d really like the mental health experience, and I’ve googled mental health treatment centers but it’s hard to find out whether they have OT services or not :’) Since this is for my Lvl II, my fieldwork coordinator is really supposed to find this placement for me— so I’m not contacting anyone, just looking for names of facilities to float his way.
TIA!


r/OccupationalTherapy • • 22h ago

Home Care grab bars and orientation

2 Upvotes

Hi OTs, what do you typically recommend for grab bars beside a toilet or for getting on/off a bath seat?

Horizontal, diagonal, or L shape?

And what size?

I know it depends on the client etc but im always second guessing myself and its driving me crazy.

Thanks for your help!


r/OccupationalTherapy • • 22h ago

Venting - Advice Wanted Anything worth trying?

3 Upvotes

Hi I’m looking into bridging my OTA to MOT! I graduated this may and feel passionate enough to continue my education into masters..the only issues I’m having is the cost of tuition 😭 I will be graduating with about 20 thousand for OTA and looking into some bridge programs in Ohio… any advice on how I can’t lower the cost in anyway? I’m willing to do anything to not be so much in debt 😭 also I heard it’s hard to get any scholarships for grad school? Anything anyone has done or applied/ worked that could help let me know!! Thank you.


r/OccupationalTherapy • • 1h ago

USA OT moms

• Upvotes

I am a new mom and wondering if anyone in the ot world can help shed some light on flexible jobs you’ve had that let you spend more time with your kids.

My baby (6 months now) is my whole world and I’m having the hardest time picturing going back to work and leaving her at a daycare most days. I work in school based ot so I have the summers, but I was wondering if there are any other OTs out there that were able to find that unicorn position balancing wanting to have a job but also be home with your child (bonus points if peds) 🫶🏼


r/OccupationalTherapy • • 23h ago

Peds Autistic and nonverbal student with total blindness.

13 Upvotes

I have worked in a middle school for Autistic children for a few years and I have had students with low vision, but I now have a student who has total blindness. My own experience tells me work on tactile discrimination, fine motor skills, and proprioceptive activities, but the student throws everything he gets his hands on. He does not wait for instruction and it does not matter what it is. I believe he likes to hear the items when they hit the floor. He loves music. He has no OT goals in his IEP and hasn't had an OT in school for years. I want to call his parents, but I feel like if I call now I'll just make a fool of myself, since I cannot think of what to do. His last session was a fiasco. I tried to have him push buttons through a hole, put large beads on a pipe cleaner, squeeze clothespins. However, it was all hand over hand and most of that was just trying to keep him from throwing items. He also has no grading of movements and no spatial awareness of his body most likely because he is blind. I have access to a small sensory room with a tunnel, swing, and various exercise balls. I would love some ideas on treatment and activities.


r/OccupationalTherapy • • 3h ago

Discussion How do you afford rent and food in OT school?

10 Upvotes

Hi all! I am a current junior in undergrad and hope to go to OT school. I work a part time job right now and it already is hard to manage while I'm taking one difficult class with other easier general education classes. Is it normal to work during OT school while taking several difficult classes all in one semester? Do most people just save up money before school specifically allocated for rent/groceries?


r/OccupationalTherapy • • 7h ago

Discussion Treating a kid who constantly elopes by myself

3 Upvotes

I have a new kid on my schedule who is nonverbal, has autism, does not follow 1-step instructions or engage in any joint attention tasks, and is almost 7. I did his evaluation and he spent the whole thing trying to walk out the door and open the windows. Now he's going on my schedule and I'm worried to treat him solo. Is it reasonable to request the parent come back with me for safety reasons? Any other tips for making sure this kid stays safe?