Occupational therapy (OT) is a type of physical therapy that enables people with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities to perform everyday activities. Occupational therapy may assist people who have difficulty with activities such as bathing, dressing, grooming, cooking, and working. It also supports people who have trouble with coordination, endurance, and balance. Becoming an occupational therapist can be an engaging career, but many aspiring OTs don’t realize there are travel positions available too, which have their own advantages. If you want to learn more, keep reading to find out what to expect from a career in travel occupational therapy.
What can you expect from a career in travel occupational therapy?
The first thing you should know about working as a healthcare traveler is that it is easier to get new jobs than it has ever been before. When looking for new travel occupational therapist jobs, be sure to check out the staffing and recruitment services that are aimed at travel healthcare workers. You can peruse hundreds of open positions from all over the country in one convenient place, which will make the process of applying for jobs simpler and more efficient. That way, you can minimize downtime and move on to your next assignment as quickly as possible.
Professional development opportunities for traveling OTs are plentiful. As a traveling occupational therapist, you will have the opportunity to gain experience in different settings and environments, allowing you to expand your skill set and knowledge base. Working with new patient populations allows you to learn from the experience as well as hone techniques that may be beneficial in other situations. You also get to network with colleagues around the country who can offer insight into best practices or provide referrals for jobs when applicable.
To truly excel at this career, it is also important for travelers to have excellent communication skills so they can effectively collaborate with colleagues both domestically and abroad. It is also essential that they possess strong problem-solving abilities so they can adapt quickly when faced with new challenges or unfamiliar environments.
What else should you know about working as an occupational therapist?
Now that you know more about what to expect from a career in travel occupational therapy, let’s discuss some other things you should know about working as an occupational therapist. For example, as an OT, you can expect to earn a comfortable salary and have excellent job security. The median salary for an occupational therapist in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is $85,570, which is well above the average for all occupations. Job growth in the field is also projected to be much faster than average.
The truth is that being an occupational therapist is an extremely rewarding career. It is a profession that is dedicated to helping people of all ages improve their quality of life because OTs provide treatments to assist individuals in becoming as independent as possible in their daily activities. When you work as a travel OT, you will also have the satisfaction of knowing that you are a part of the solution to the growing problem of healthcare worker shortages in the United States, so even patients in underserved areas can get the care they need.
As you can see, a career in travel occupational therapy provides an exciting opportunity to make a positive impact on patients’ lives, while exploring different parts of the country. With the right qualifications, experience, and necessary certifications, a career as a travel OT can be a fantastic way to advance your career. You need to understand what a career as an OT will be like so that you can be sure you’re making the right decision. OTs also make respectable salaries and often do deeply meaningful and fulfilling work. Follow the tips in this article and you’ll be on your way to a thriving career in travel occupational therapy.
