Those in occupational therapy jobs have a unique role in the healthcare industry. Their holistic approach to treatment requires knowledge of not only the biological components of a person’s well-being but also the patient’s emotional and social needs. Such an extraordinary job requires an extra special person. Do you have what it takes to be a successful OT?
1. Empathetic
Merriam-Webster defines empathy as the ability to experience another person’s thoughts and feelings vicariously. Empathetic individuals have an innate ability to relate to other people, which is a crucial attribute for OTs. Professionals in this field help patients facing challenges like disabilities and diseases that hinder them from completing everyday activities. OTs must be able to get inside the heads of their patients, see their daily obstacles and feel the same emotions to develop a treatment plan that truly targets their needs and provide the necessary emotional support.
While many folks have a knack for empathy, there are ways people can further develop this skill, too. TIME magazine suggested practicing listening – tuning into a person’s feelings and needs. OTs aiming to be more empathetic must also actively work against prejudices and judgments.
2. Goal-oriented
Goal setting is a key component of any successful individual, and it’s a tool OTs use in every treatment plan. According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, OTs work with patients and their families to set benchmarks based on the client’s current abilities and lifestyle. There is, however, an art to this process, which is often developed over a lifetime of setting goals.
First, choose goals that are meaningful. For instance, if a patient has a disability limiting his or her upper body movement, you want to focus efforts on this area. Similarly, if your patient has trouble with mobility and his daughter is getting married, you may set a goal for him to walk her down the aisle on the wedding day. Additionally, ensure goals are specific and measurable. You would list something like “increase arm curls to five sets of 10 repetitions with 10-pound weights by the end of three weeks” rather than something generic like “increased upper body strength.” Finally, as goal-oriented individuals know, it’s important to check progress and readjust success pathways accordingly.
3. Nurturing
Treatment plans require a combination of tactics, from exercises to emotional support. As an OT, being a nurturer means you naturally take a holistic view that shows what it takes to create an environment that meets all of these requirements. You bring a positive attitude to each appointment, have the appropriate equipment on hand, use encouraging words to keep patients motivated and develop treatment plans that cater to the client’s personality and specific needs.
4. Good communicator
Communication is an essential component of any job in healthcare, but because OTs work so closely with patients, leveraging this skill is of the utmost importance. They must convey the patient’s progress both to the individual and his or her family, shaping the information in a way that helps all parties feel involved in the process.
On the other side, they must be active listeners, not just hearing what a patient says but reading his or her body language to interpret the client’s emotions and physical comfort. For instance, a good communicator can tell that a normally talkative patient who’s now quiet may be having a rough day. Because of this, the OT may be extra encouraging or adjust the activities to make them less challenging.
5. Loves to travel
This characteristic isn’t a total necessity, but OTs who enjoy traveling have opportunities to work in travel occupational therapy jobs. Fortunately for OTs, they can take assignments as soon as they graduate from school, so nothing is holding them back from enjoying this exciting career path.