Jenny and Bill, thank you so much for writing this rant. I am a COTA who has worked in pediatrics for 7 years and I just recently moved to?a state where I have found there is not much opportunity for COTA's with pediatric exp. unless it is in the school system and I can not afford to be out of work for three months of the year. So, I went to the contract companies and I am now working in an SNF and I love the clients. And, hate all this paper work and productivity, stuff. Last week I found myself speaking to the regional manager who came in to do an audit on the SNF, and I remember thinking to myself what does any of this have to do with OT or the welfare of my patients. Infact, her visit has managed?to upset my boss who is now a real monster to be around. So now I am pondering the whole field of OT. I moved here to go back to school to be an OTR, but ouch! I have had to do a lot soul searching, still am. I have not written to this list yet so please do not think I am always this bitter, it is just that working with children I could match an activity with the child's personality, there was room for creativity and I just dont see this happening in an SNF (at least not where I am at). It is all?transfer belts and machines, wee haaaa!!! With all this said, I still have to earn a living, and while I am hunting down that just right job, can anyone give me?some?examples of SOAP notes or where I might find some online. Seems mine are not?relaying skilled OT. I wish I had longer to write. You all seem like very nice people so thank you for?letting me share with you. Debbie?
Tnow.com Sent: Sun, 19 Aug 2007 7:31 pm Subject: Re: [OTlist] SNFs Bill, My experience is a mirror reflection of yours. I was so fed up with working my tail off in nursing homes, doing absolutely terrific therapy and spending tons of time thinking out of the box while chasing my tail in circles to meet my quotas that I burned out too. When I finally returned I insisted on working only PRN as a contract therapist (with my OWN contract). I explained that I don't waste a single minute but that I would be billing for all of my time so don't waste it with extra paperwork or cleaning the therapy room unless you want to pay a therapist's wage to have the work done. (Fortunately, my husband has the benefits so I could do this.) We just decided that we were going to do therapy our way (my husband was an OT at the time) and that was the way it was. I talked to administration-types and was very up front with my focus and if my way of doing therapy didn't jive with their ideas, I didn't take the job. I have had to bounce around from time to time as administration changed but in the end, I felt great about sticking to my morals. I often ended up working in high need areas where an OT was hard to find. Once they got me in their facilities, they were thrilled with the patient's progress and the family's satisfaction (as compared with the contract companies who had breezed in and out and left the patients with a sense of "what did I just spend the last hour doing that would help me get better?" I now work in a different field within OT and have only self-induced pressure. I make sure I'm making a profit or breaking even for my employer each month and everyone is happy. The high pressure, money chasing life just wasn't for me. Jenny -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] ************************************************************************************** Enroll in Boston University's post-professional Master of Science for OTs Online. Gain the skills and credentials to propel your career. www.otdegree.com/otn ************************************************************************************** ________________________________________________________________________ Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! - http://mail.aol.com -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] ************************************************************************************** Enroll in Boston University's post-professional Master of Science for OTs Online. Gain the skills and credentials to propel your career. www.otdegree.com/otn **************************************************************************************
