Any Occupational Therapists on here that have changed career?

[PrancingQueen]

That’s it really, I’m burnt out!

I was combined trained as an OT/PT, one of the last groups to have a combined degree. The course was horrifically hard and it was twice the practicums.

I did a new grad rotation as an OT and the worked in adolescent psych and ortho.

I became extremely bored. The work was so repetitive and in those days you constantly had to explain the your job was not to entertain bored patients.

It really disappointed me after all that training.

I went back to university and got a law degree. That was quite an extreme approach but it did work out. I worked summers and weekends as a physio during law school. And law was much easier.

I bet you could do well locuming at the moment. Everywhere I know is short staffed currently and no locums in sight!

Healthcare is shit at the moment.

Could you take on some private work?

If you like client contact but not the admin, maybe a charity / third sector post? The policies and processes aren’t as restrictive but as with anything it will probably depend on how high up the ladder you go.

Some friends do private insurance work and seem to love it. Not sure how much admin is involved with that?

@PrancingQueen I absolutely love my job and I love working with the kids. I used to hate going to work (management role in community, joint health and social services team) and also felt like all I did was admin and fire fighting. Everyone was stressed out all of the time and the job was no longer about the people but the system.

I would never ever go back, my mental health is so much better, I’m a better parent and I have time to myself again. Take the leap, it’s scary but worth it.

Sorry so late getting back to you all. Many thanks for the replies - some lots of interesting ideas here. Off to do some research x