Other OT-Related Information Help: OT vs. RN, also where are the OT jobs?

[theone12]

Sorry for the length of this post, but I'd really like some help!

I'm 21, finishing my final year in undergrad (molecular biology major), and made the recent decision that further biology academic work is not for me. I live in Canada and I want to finish my studies here, then move to the US to work (more employment there) and probably settle down there as well.

I'm pretty anxious about graduating but I've narrowed my post-grad choices down to OT and RN (maybe a nursing specialization later in the US), based on informational interviews and a lot of online research. I am applying to both programs at the same school but unsure as to what I would ultimately want, assuming I got into them.

OT: 2 years masters, ~$20k in fees, no pre-reqs (acceptance is 25% marks and 75% interview)
RN: 2 years accelerated BScN, ~$10-20k, finishing pre-reqs this year (acceptance is marks and a written application)

OT PROS
-Patient: I like making an emotional/mental connection with someone to help them accomplish something, rather than just physical like PT. Also more hands-off than RN
-Hours & Stress: great hours, less stressful
-Duties: I like to think I'm slightly creative, and this seems to be a nice way to bring that out if I wanted to
-Status: I like power, knowing I'm not directly underneath a doctor, my duties are specialized

OT CONS
-Boredom with daily duties
-Patient: I don't think I particularly like working with the elderly or children, haven't had much experience with the elderly, and I'm fine with children but not passionate about them. Mental health intrigues me and scares me at the same time.
-Flexibility: I can be indecisive, and I'm afraid that if I end up not liking my OT job, I'll have to continue in a job I hate or re-do school and rack up even more debt

RN PROS
-No boredom with more acute patients
-Skills: I like knowing that my skills are transferable to real life: in an emergency situation (plane crash, outing with friends, zombie apocalypse etc.) I would be an asset and know what to do, versus an OT?
-Chance to work hard: I had a horrible research job where I pushed myself to my limits. I feel like I should work hard while I'm young and then take it easy later.
-Advancement/Flexibility: so many nursing specialities, I can switch departments, I can make more money if I get more degrees
-Security: can work anywhere in the world, lots of nurses needed

RN CONS
-Hours & Stress: I might push myself to unhealthy limits and put my licence on the line, or give up and also put my licence on the line
-Status: Underneath doctors/other healthcare administration who treat you like you're beneath them
-Duties: not enough valuable time with a patient, have to clean up strangers' excrement...

Everyday I change my mind about these two... Money is also a pretty big factor, I don't want to slave away to end up with not much with my pocket. Any insight about these professions would help my decision!

Also, I don't know as much about OT advancements, especially in the US:
-Where do OTs get paid the most?
-What kinds of degrees are available?
-How does the salary compare to RNs?
-Which cities/states have more OT jobs?
-How hard is it to get an OT job if my degree is from Canada?
-How hard is it to get a full-time job after you get your degree? I heard that graduates start off doing part-time work

Edit: I'm considering taking a year off to think about this because I don't want to be in debt for a career that I don't enjoy. Maybe get some more focused volunteering in both professions- in this case, what kind of setting should I do to get a good idea of an OT environment? an outpatient clinic?

I'm going to be reading this forum more, but any directed answers would be much appreciated! Thank you soo much if you read this far!

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[deleted480308]

(Sister runs a therapy clinic)

OT is a good gig, but there is no where to go....you are an OT and that's it

RN allows paths for advancement. You can get an Msn and then go DNP or even CRNA. Lots of different fields as well, private family practice with bankers hours...hospice....er.....pediatric ward....etc

 

[mgeagle]

(Sister runs a therapy clinic)

OT is a good gig, but there is no where to go....you are an OT and that's it

RN allows paths for advancement. You can get an Msn and then go DNP or even CRNA. Lots of different fields as well, private family practice with bankers hours...hospice....er.....pediatric ward....etc

I would beg to differ, there are some different opportunities for an OT just like an RN, sure you would still have the title of OT as this would not change necessarily but just like in Nursing you can find your niche and specialize in differing areas. For example, one hospital I volunteered at had OTs that were hand specialists and worked in a specific hand clinic and ONLY worked with people who had trouble using their hands, fingers, and wrists for whatever reason, they got to make these real cool and creative splints for people so for those who aren't big on the mental health side of OT this an option as the patients going to hand therapy are usually mentally stable people. I met another OT who did the general practice but was also trained in vision therapy and I witnessed her do it and it was AWESOME! There are therapists who are neuro specialists and some who are Industrial OTs that work with ergonomics. Sure you don't necessarily have an official title change like nurses who go different routes do but you can still gain specialized training in a variety of areas in OT that might catch your fancy and can lead to more pay (if that's what you desire).

 

[BowlofSunshine]

(Sister runs a therapy clinic)

OT is a good gig, but there is no where to go....you are an OT and that's it

RN allows paths for advancement. You can get an Msn and then go DNP or even CRNA. Lots of different fields as well, private family practice with bankers hours...hospice....er.....pediatric ward....etc

This is not true. There are just as many specialties in OT as there are for RNs

In OT you can work in Peds, Geriatrics, Mental Health, Physical Dysfunction, Acute Rehab, Long Term Care, Hand Specialist, Burn Specialist, Wound Care, Prosthetics, Assitive Technology, Low Vision, Consulting, Ergonomics in the Workplace, Environmental Mods (think ADA), Home Health, Cardiac, Bariatrics, Driving/Community Mobility, Feeding/EAting/Swallowing Specialist, etc.

 

[lucys1024]

I agree with everyone, I have worked with many OT fields and I know that isn't even half of what I could do. Many of the people I volunteer with at the Children's Hospital are in OT instead of PT bc it is sooo vast. But RN has a lot of options, true. I love OT but I worried about not getting into school so RN was my back up plan, but I scratched it. I don't think I can stomach RN, and during my BS I was a stay at home mom with two boys and a grown man child for a husband. I say this because you are constantly taking care of other people and giving,giving,giving. It is hard to balance, that is why you see those stay at home moms all frazzled. I admire RN because I feel that they are ultimate givers. They cherish and are the ultimate caregivers of patients. For me, that is a lot of work. Like I said constantly going as a stay at home mom/student was enough to make me overwhelmed and with understaffing in the nursing field- I feel that I would become overwhelmed, overworked, stressed, and ultimately I would not take care of myself well. I think it takes two different types of people to be either an RN or OT. I am less a RN type person and more of an OT.
I am not saying you do not give a lot to OT but I think depending on what OT area you go into- you have one on one appointments, you have more say and flex, and for me it just fits my personality more and I would be able to find a better balance.

 

[alansda]

An interesting question between OT and Nursing and one that a career site has analyzed using data from the U.S. Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as well as from a range of other governmental agencies, trade associations and private survey firms. They took into account factors such as the:

• Environment (Physical and Emotional Factors)
• Income (including growth potential)
• Outlook (Employment Growth, Income Growth Potential, and Unemployment)
• Stress (including physical demands, competitiveness, life of another at risk, etc)

Their conclusion was that Occupational Therapy was the #3 best job in all healthcare jobs, behind biomedical engineer and dental hygienist. Taking into account all jobs and not just healthcare, OT still did pretty good at #7. Nursing's high level of stress and work environment contributed to its #55 position.

Using the report above, we can see that OTs get paid a higher salary, have a better work environment and half the stress, and have a better hiring outlook.

Of course this does not mean that if you go into nursing your level of stress will be as high as reported here, but it does provide a way to step back and see what most people's experience is probably like in these fields as compared to other fields.

As for your questions:

-Where do OTs get paid the most?
According to a salary survey : "California's average salaries came out the highest, at just over $88,000. Other states near the top in terms of average salary were Arizona, Texas and Maryland."
-What kinds of degrees are available?
OTA stands for Occupational Therapist Assistant and this is a 2-year associate degree. MOT or MSOT is a Masters-level degree--usually 2 or 2.5 years duration after your bachelors. OTD is a Doctorate-level degree and can be either a 3-year entry-level (you join it right after your bachelors) or a 1 or 1.5 year post-professional degree (you join it after your Masters).
-How does the salary compare to RNs?
From the career site, OTs earn an income of $74,108.00 compared to RNs' income of $66,116.00. This is US overall and can obviously vary across states, setting, and company.
-Which cities/states have more OT jobs?
Not sure, but there is a high demand for OT jobs everywhere you look, just visit job sites like craigslist, indeed, etc and browse around.
-How hard is it to get an OT job if my degree is from Canada?
From what I've seen in job ads, the employer is mostly looking for a licensed therapist, so that means passing the NBCOT and registering with the state licensing board. If you mean from an immigration perspective, then I have also seen job ads that actively recruit foreign-trained OTs and sponsor them with an H-1B visa. I do not have first-hand experience but due to the high demand for therapists I don't think you'll encounter an issue here.
-How hard is it to get a full-time job after you get your degree? I heard that graduates start off doing part-time work
You'll find many students that have not even graduated getting offers for jobs already. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that "Employment of occupational therapists is expected to increase 33 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations"--this is a higher increase than nursing is expected to have.

My recommendation would be for you to continue your volunteering in areas of OT that you have not been exposed to or have little knowledge. @BowlofSunshine and @mgeagle have made great comments in regards to this. The field is so broad that I'm not afraid to get "bored" since I could simply switch companies, states, or even practice areas completely--the demand is great that it offers career flexibility

 

[Kidamnesiac]

I don't mean to assume anything about who you are, and I might be drawing an unnecessary conclusion about OT, but one aspect of OT that I'm very exited about is the empathy shown in the field. Unlike many professions, especially in healthcare, the OT community hasn't seemed competitive at all to me. Rather, people are comfortable with who they are, and don't really worry about comparing themselves with other professionals, unlike most other healthcare professions. I imagine that appeals to some (like me) and does not appeal to others (who like competition and want to climb the ladder, so to speak). I don't know if that helps you, but it's one of the most unique and appealing aspects of the field to me.

 

[alg5443]

I think just from reading your post that you seem more interested in the RN position. Just a general feeling I get from reading the information, but that may be because you haven't shadowed in different areas in OT! I like OT because like you said it's creative. I don't feel like OT can get boring unless you let it get boring. There is always room to read up on new evidence based treatments or to be creative with patients to tailor their treatments to their interests. I think OT becomes boring when an OT gets into a routine and does the same therapy over and over again. I found this blog to be really cool and helpful: http://theanonymousot.com/ It's a pediatric OT blog and she gives some pretty good insights on the average day of being an OT. Also check out the Pinned on Pinterest section, it's an example of how to keep OT exciting.
I also shadowed a hand therapist and in regards to how you don't particularly like working with the elderly or children, this may be a good area to check out. The hand therapist I shadowed worked with people ranging in age from 10-92. It was more relaxed(she had her own clinic) and you really get to know your patients. The therapist would be able to talk about their recent life happenings with them and such. Also the CHT always made different splints that she would customize for her patients and I thought that was really interesting. It's a really cool specialty that would provide you with the challenge that you feel you need in OT as it is an area you need to move up into. You have to get many many hours in upper rehab and take another exam to be a CHT.
I also feel like an OT's skills are transferable in real life. Maybe not in an emergency situation like you are saying, but I definitely anticipate relatives and friends asking about certain problems going on with them. Do you feel you need that rush of an emergency situation? If so maybe RN is the right area for you.
In addition, OTs are also needed around the world. I know the CHT I shadowed did work in Haiti! There is definitely opportunity to travel if you search for it.
Overall, I think it comes down to shadowing and really thinking about what you want. Both OT and RN are wonderful fields in healthcare and I don't think you can go wrong. Ultimately I think it's all in what you make it. I know both miserable OTs and RNs, but it all depends on what you truly love to do and what you are willing to put into your career to keep it upbeat and exciting. I think you should really think about everything and put in time shadowing the many areas of OT and RN. Hope this helps and good luck!

 

[coolrunnins]

Again this isn't going to be mid blowing new advice based on whats already been written but here are my two cents (take it or don't but I'd rather have someone give me advice and let me decide what to do with it than not tell me)

I am switching from a career in business consulting (federal intelligence as well as federal healthcare) to go into the field of Occupational Therapy. I have many people as me why because frankly most people are averse to uprooting themselves and pursuing the unknown in life, its scary and easier not to do so. Also, the salary I might be capable of reaching if I were to stay in consulting is much higher than I could safely assume to ever make in OT.

My point being, people choose fields for many different reasons. Life is about choices and thank goodness most of us have a choice about what we want to pursue for our careers! As I have learned, money didn't make me happy and working hands on with patients will. I have also learned to not be naive to the fact that every profession EVERY SINGLE ONE has positives and negatives. No well respected job is without something tedious, boring, frustrating, tiresome etc...Whether you decide to be an RN, OT or go another direction remember that you should pick the profession that has the MOST positives in your opinion and the LEAST negatives. Or one which the positives will outweigh most if not all the negatives you might encounter. I don't mind paperwork if my stress level is lower and I am not working 70 hours a week plus Sunday nights.

Sorry if this was too much sharing but I really appreciated what some wise folks taught me earlier on and hope to share what I've come to recognize as vital to feeling successful in your career.

 

[theone12]

Wow I didn't expect this much help!

@mgeagle and @BowlofSunshine: thank you for your clarification OT specializations
@lucys1024: I guess this confusion stems from the fact that I haven't worked much or had experiences in either so I'm not sure whether I'm an RN or OT person.
@alansda: That was a lot of helpful information, thank you! I was also wondering where can I find info breaking OT salaries down by specialization - salaries of hand therapy vs ergonomics in the workplace for example?
@Kidamnesiac: I think I like competition, and yet I like feeling separate and independent from the rest of the healthcare professionals.. but I have to compromise some things I guess!
@alg5443: That's a very interesting blog! I do like adrenaline rushes, but I imagine that doing that everyday will become stressful. Volunteering is probably the best thing to do.
@coolrunnins: I appreciate the advice and I am definitely attempting to minimize cons in my career.

On a side note, I did a few personality and work preference tests suggested by my career counsellor, and OT came up way above RN in terms of compatibility (99.5%, my third highest score vs. 94.0%), wondering if that means anything, haha.

Also, anyone can answer the question: Which fields in OT have the highest salaries? Can anyone provide me a link which breaks salary down by specialization? I don't know why but ergonomics in the workplace actually interests me, but I don't know if they get paid enough. I value job security and financial stability quite a bit.

 

[mgeagle]

Wow I didn't expect this much help!

@mgeagle and @BowlofSunshine: thank you for your clarification OT specializations
@lucys1024: I guess this confusion stems from the fact that I haven't worked much or had experiences in either so I'm not sure whether I'm an RN or OT person.
@alansda: That was a lot of helpful information, thank you! I was also wondering where can I find info breaking OT salaries down by specialization - salaries of hand therapy vs ergonomics in the workplace for example?
@Kidamnesiac: I think I like competition, and yet I like feeling separate and independent from the rest of the healthcare professionals.. but I have to compromise some things I guess!
@alg5443: That's a very interesting blog! I do like adrenaline rushes, but I imagine that doing that everyday will become stressful. Volunteering is probably the best thing to do.
@coolrunnins: I appreciate the advice and I am definitely attempting to minimize cons in my career.

On a side note, I did a few personality and work preference tests suggested by my career counsellor, and OT came up way above RN in terms of compatibility (99.5%, my third highest score vs. 94.0%), wondering if that means anything, haha.

Also, anyone can answer the question: Which fields in OT have the highest salaries? Can anyone provide me a link which breaks salary down by specialization? I don't know why but ergonomics in the workplace actually interests me, but I don't know if they get paid enough. I value job security and financial stability quite a bit.

In terms of job security I wouldn't worry very much as OTs are in such demand in ANY specialization that you need not worry about you losing your job. As far as pay I would ask you to add focus to more of the demographic side of things as well rather than just the specialization, where you live and who you work far will dictate your pay quite a bit, where do you see yourself living when you finish school? Hand therapy is one the more higher paying specializations because there aren't very many in the US and they are heavily needed........... you have to undergo some rigorous training after you have been a practicing OT for at least 5 years but if you work hard you will be making at least $80,000, its hard to find salaries for the other specific specializations but in terms of work setting, people who work in SNFs tend to get paid more than in other settings........ Concerning ergonomics I did not find specific pay but I found articles discussing how this is a GROWING area in OT and more are becoming specialized in this area if that puts your mind at ease. Honestly just focus on finding out what you like cause you will have a job and good pay....... a specialization is something you have to REALLY want to do because they require intense training. I value job security and financial stability as well but I would rather take less pay and do something I love than have more pay and be miserable.

 

[theone12]

Thanks again @mgeagle! After some volunteering I will hopefully determine if OT is the right field for me, and worry about specializations later.

Also, I'm wondering how hands-on you have to be as an OT... Can anyone comment on this? I don't mind touching people, but in terms of cleaning butts/giving baths, anything dealing with excrement- do OTs do this? Or is it primarily given to nurses, and OTs are just supervisory in their therapy?

 

[mgeagle]

Thanks again @mgeagle! After some volunteering I will hopefully determine if OT is the right field for me, and worry about specializations later.

Also, I'm wondering how hands-on you have to be as an OT... Can anyone comment on this? I don't mind touching people, but in terms of cleaning butts/giving baths, anything dealing with excrement- do OTs do this? Or is it primarily given to nurses, and OTs are just supervisory in their therapy?

This is a great question! It depends on the setting, I volunteered at a SNF and some of the OTs there did have to aid in baths and other personal hygiene because part of OT therapy is enabling individuals to do everyday activities and bathing is one of them. Several of their patients could not fully bathe themselves at first strike in their OT session to learn how to do so so they no doubt needed assistance........ which came from the OT.

 

[lucys1024]

This is all I could find... http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-therapists.htm#tab-5 and http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=School-Based_Occupational_Therapist/Salary

I guess what I meant by what kind of person you are determining RN or OT is based off ur personality now. RN would be very stressful for me. Being pulled in many different directions and going a million miles a min. (of course depending on your job). But I think if OT is what you scored, than they probably pulled in ur personality. Just keep that in mind- pick a job that is good based off who you are. Not what you think the money will be or job market. Both these careers are good in those departments. And BOTH jobs have burnout.

 

[alg5443]

Here's a good site for OT salaries in different specialties! I'm not sure how accurate it is but you can type in different locations and I've found it helpful for an idea of what the different areas of OT pay.
http://www.indeed.com/salary/Occupational-Therapist.html

 

[mgeagle]

Here's a good site for OT salaries in different specialties! I'm not sure how accurate it is but you can type in different locations and I've found it helpful for an idea of what the different areas of OT pay.
http://www.indeed.com/salary/Occupational-Therapist.html

I saw this website as well and did some research...... it's not very accurate.

 

[peachiepizzazz]

I saw this website as well and did some research...... it's not very accurate.

I'm agreeing with this statement. At first I saw these numbers and then people started telling me indeed is not really a real representation of anything, salary-wise, so I started typing in other professions to get a gage on things. Let's just say I'm pretty sure "bum" should not return a salary of $87,000...hah too bad! I'd be interested to find out where they get their numbers from...

 

[mgeagle]

I'm agreeing with this statement. At first I saw these numbers and then people started telling me indeed is not really a real representation of anything, salary-wise, so I started typing in other professions to get a gage on things. Let's just say I'm pretty sure "bum" should not return a salary of $87,000...hah too bad! I'd be interested to find out where they get their numbers from...

WOW!! Well they are "indeed" incorrect with their findings and should either become more legitimate or be taken off the internet.

 

[alg5443]

Oops, okay, sorry guys. Disregard that post then! Although, I do think their numbers are off, I think the trends are pretty accurate; travel, home health, SNF, and hand therapy tend to make the most money, but I'm sure it all depends on your experience, your location, ect.