What are smart goals in occupational therapy?

SMART is an acronym for guiding someone how to write a goal. It stands for: S – SPECIFIC: what, why and how are you going to do it. M – MEASURABLE: evidence that the goal will be achieved ie data collection. A – ATTAINABLE: goal needs to be challenging but reachable.

What is the goal of an occupational therapist?

Occupational therapy is a health-related profession using selected activity to prevent and overcome many physical, emotional or social disabilities in people of all ages. The objective is to promote, maintain and/or restore functional independence in daily living skills.

How do you write occupational therapy goals?

Let’s dig into why OT goal writing can be challenging:

SMART: Significant, Measurable, Achievable, Relates to person, Time based.
RHUMBA: Relevant, How long, Understandable, Measurable, Behavioral, Achievable.
COAST (my all time fav): Client, Occupation, Assist level, Specific, Time bound.

Do OTs or PTS make more money?

In 2017, occupational therapists earned slightly less than physical therapists at a mean $40.69 per hour, or $84,640 per year. Their pay could fall below $26.23 per hour, or $54,560 per year, or reach above $57.91 per hour, or $120,440 per year.

How many years of school is an occupational therapist?

A long time! In most cases, you’ll need to complete an undergraduate degree (four years, unless you graduate early or pursue an accelerated program), and then you’ll be in occupational therapy school anywhere from two to three years.

How hard is it to get into OT school?

First, getting into an OT program is difficult. Competition is fierce, and most who apply for such programs do not get into them the first time they apply. While there are over 300 OT and OTA programs in the United States, only an average of 15–20 students are chosen for each program.

Do occupational therapists make more than nurses?

However, OTs have a salary in many settings such as a hospital, where RNs do not. RNs can work overtime and get time and 1/2 and make $100,000 if they work overtime a lot. OTs can also make more by working in contract positions on top of their regular job, or in private practice. It all depends.

What is the highest paid occupational therapist?

Overall Highest Paid Occupational Therapy Positions

“Child Day Care Services” – $108,650.
Management of Companies and Enterprises – $101,540.
Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities – $93,870.
Nursing and Skilled Nursing Facilities – $90,660.
Home Health Services – $90,480.

How can an ot make more money?

5 Surprisingly Easy Ways To Make Extra Money After OT School

Work Multiple PRN Jobs Instead of One Full-time Position. This has been the best choice I made after OT school.
Rent Out a Room on Airbnb. A lot of people I know think this is a crazy idea.
Babysit.
Build Niche Websites.
Find a Product to Sell an Amazon.

How many hours does an occupational therapist work a day?

Working Conditions Occupational therapists in hospitals and other health care and community settings usually work a 40-hour week. They spend a great many of those hours on their feet while working with patients. Occupational therapists who work in schools may need to stay after school for meetings or other activities.

What skills does an occupational therapist need?

Occupational therapists should also possess the following specific qualities:

Communication skills. Occupational therapists must be able to listen attentively to what patients tell them and be able to explain what they want their patients to do.
Compassion.
Flexibility.
Interpersonal skills.
Patience.
Writing skills.

What does an occupational therapist do on a daily basis?

Occupational therapists treat injured, ill, or disabled patients through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. They help these patients develop, recover, improve, as well as maintain the skills needed for daily living and working.

What are the roles and responsibilities of a occupational therapist?

take a ‘whole person’ approach to each patient’s physical and mental wellbeing by considering all their needs – physical, social, psychological and environmental. assess, plan, implement and evaluate treatment plans in hospital and community settings. establish realistic goals with the patient with meaningful outcomes.

What to Know Before becoming an occupational therapist?

7 Things I Wish I Knew Before Becoming an Occupational Therapist

Being an occupational therapist can be stressful.
Becoming an occupational therapist is expensive.
Some big cities are already saturated with OTs and COTAs.
Getting into occupational therapy school is hard.
After graduating, you might not get to work in your dream setting right away.

What is the education required for an occupational therapist?

Master’s degree

Can you be an OT with a bachelor’s degree?

There isn’t any particular undergraduate degree that you must earn before earning your MS in OT; nearly any bachelor’s degree can suffice.

How much does an occupational therapist make in a hospital?

As of Mar 24, 2021, the average annual pay for an Acute Care Hospital Outpatient Occupational Therapist in the United States is $88,980 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $42.78 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,711/week or $7,415/month.

Is Occupational Therapy in demand?

In California, the number of Occupational Therapists is expected to grow much faster than average growth rate for all occupations. Jobs for Occupational Therapists are expected to increase by 24.8 percent, or 2,800 jobs between 2016 and 2026.

Is occupational therapy a stressful job?

There is often a combination of stressful, draining times and exciting, fulfilling times while working as an occupational therapy practitioner.

Is occupational therapy a stable job?

OT Has a Positive Job Outlook The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipates that employment for the profession will grow by 32% between 2019 and 2029. With so many different practice areas and occupational therapy settings, the demand for well-rounded OTAs will continue to grow.

Is it hard to get a job as an occupational therapist?

Occupational therapists are versatile and can work in so many different settings, and the jobs are out there. However, as a new occupational therapy grad, you may have found that finding an OT job is harder than you thought. OTs are usually in high demand depending on the city’s job market.

How much do occupational therapists make starting out?

According to the AOTA, a new grad OT will earn a median salary of $59,000 per year. However, you can certainly make more if you choose a setting like SNF or Home Health, or especially if you opt to spend some time as a travel OT, which we’ll discuss more below.

What do you do if you don’t get into OT school?

What To Do If You Didn’t Get Into OT School

It’s okay to be upset.
Many people get into OT school on the second (even third) application process.
Look at your application and find room for improvement.
Take the next year to really beef up your application.
Budget for increased applications for next year.