Life Update for occupational therapy assistant

[@jessicaj.5429]

You're literally the only person I can find that shares in depth details about this profession 2022-2023. I'm strongly considering ota. Thank you

[@meekazanielle]

Thank you !

[@japanohkittyhghkg8765]

Search for Mrs or Ms OTA on here .

[@rexwilliams4975]

You're dealing with a lot. I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum in that I love OTA and my wife and,I are COTAs. I PRN at her full time job and she's a PRN at mine. We also PRN at 2 other facilities when needed and the furthest facility is 10 miles away so we both work very close to home. We both work in SNFs (higher pay) and outpatient and I recently had to quit my home health job because I just didn't have the time PLUS I hate fighting traffic. My wife and I may start a KZbin channel relaying our experiences but since we both work so much, we tend to get out and enjoy life on our free time. I do hope you find what's right for and and what will make you happy and keep you fulfilled!

[@meekazanielle]

Thank you, there’s a lot of both experience and new therapist that don’t like the direction that the field is going. I and some other therapist that I have spoken to believe that the field needs a Union. How many years of experience do you and your wife have?

[@rexwilliams4975]

@Meeka Zanielle I have 2 1/2, she has 4, but I built up a lot of contacts in the field as a therapy aid in an outpatient setting and then a SNF. I got my certification and became the Activities Director there, and once she got her license, I helped her get a job at the same facility. Then I went to school for OTA and when I got my license, got a P/T job at a SNF my wife was PRN at that turned F/T after the first month there. The SNF I worked at as Activities Director (where my wife is F/T) hired me PRN. So, some days, we'll overlap at one of the facilities and get to hang out for a little bit. Plus, I work Saturdays at the Inpatient Rehab where I did my clinicals. We try to have at least one full weekend off a month for short getaways and to reset/recharge. Don't know how a Union would work in our field because I know many aren't as lucky as my wife and I were to have F/T and PRN jobs so close to home; a couple of my classmates are still looking for F/T positions and there are 2 colleges + Keiser (we both went there) in our area that are graduating COTAs all the time so companies wouldn't have a shortage of 'bodies to fill positions'. Still, it's something to be looked into and weigh out the pros and cons.

[@grethelgarcia2309]

​@@rexwilliams4975 please make videos about your experience

[@apollooff320]

I’m a PTA and I had an interview at a SNF and the place looked horrible and they looked under staff compared to the SNF I had one of my clinicals at.They offered me $52,000 starting off as a new grad. I didn’t take the offer and took a job at a hospital that paid more and offered better benefits. The hospital is where I belong since I like staying busy.

[@meekazanielle]

That’s shocking that the hospital offered you more over a SNF but that’s good. I know a few therapist that are leaving SNF and going to the hospital. The hospital you will be busy and overall a better environment. Congratulations and good luck !

[@Loveismylanguage3]

Love those scriptures in the background. Actual my favorite. Scripture. Gives me hope ❤

[@WhatSaySaw]

Proud of you for going after what you want and for stepping out on faith. ❤

[@badkawaiikitty]

I was a hair away from starting school in OTA. Decided on nursing at the last minute despite my intense passion because of the issues addressed here in your video! 1. Patients don't receive the complete proper care they need due to insurance & hospital or clinic policies. 2. OTA is only as good for those wanting a career in OT. 3. We do all the work and the OT makes all the money, so unfair and said I just couldn't do it to myself. Not gone lie though, I still think about it from time to time despite the cons.

[@meekazanielle]

Yes it’s sad, I still think about the “what if” I stuck with nursing. But I believe everything happens in life for a reason.

[@nastashavaldez702]

That’s so exciting tell us more about health informatics!

[@meekazanielle]

Thanks for watching and I will be posting about my journey in health informatics

[@cw1804]

Omg I feel the same way. I studied so hard to pass the expensive boards and have been doing it 3 years but it feels like everything is so productivity driven and insurance pushes d/c really fast in some cases. Then it’s like how can we give good one on one care. I work prn in alot of places as well but have been afraid of home health lol. But burnout does seem to kick in with some settings so Thankyou for this video. I too have been looking into other fast certifications. Travel seems cool but they are so far off and in smaller towns. Thanks again. & good luck to you

[@meekazanielle]

Thank you for your perspective on things. I thought about travel but I would hate to have to work 13 weeks at a facility that is horrible. I’m just sticking to PRN for now until I find something else.

[@ellysiaroy5496]

Thank you for the information Meeka! I’m an aspiring OTA. Good luck to you :)

[@meekazanielle]

Thank you & good luck to you as well

[@Tyzhane014]

So glad that I came across this video! I have been a COTA since 2021 and so burnt out already. I am currently doing home health Peds and while the pay is good, I feel like overworked and to say that home health jobs “provides more freedom” I feel like I am losing it. I will literally start a day at 10 am and get home from seeing people at like 8:30 pm with min breaks in between. Like how do I have time for myself to get anything done with those types of hours. Heavily thinking about getting out of the profession

[@meekazanielle]

Oh wow & im “supposed “ to be doing home health too. I thought it would be better than SNF but I’ve been hearing that it’s not that great either. What other settings have you worked in?

[@Tyzhane014]

@@meekazanielle home health I can honestly say I make a lot of money but that’s probably the only pro for me. I have to deal with rude parents sometimes, the long hours when you take on after school kids it’s all around a mess right now and I am going to see about another setting but planning on going back to school next year. Home health has been my only job since getting out of school but I did complete a fieldwork in a SNF. Even with a SNF I saw so many things that I didn’t really care for like how they would pick up random people to be on therapy that didn’t need it all because the census was low or people that were recently discharged. I truly liked the SNF environment more than working with kids but honestly I don’t know where to go from here.

[@meekazanielle]

@@Tyzhane014 when I first started working in the SNF setting, I thought I would like it but I don’t honestly. The burnout of working in a SNF is real.

[@xavianhargrove5964]

Thanks for the info! What job were you able to have while you were in your OTA program? I’m in the mist of looking for one now that would be beneficial.

[@meekazanielle]

You’re welcome ! While I was in the program, I had an office job working with health insurance. I had been with the company for 2 years and they allowed me to switch to “ flex” where I didn’t have a set schedule but I just couldn’t go over 28 hours week

[@beinghabiba.a7406]

hey girl. Can you tell me more about what are the cons of working in SNF, I'm about to start in an SNF and I'm just scared

[@vanessarussell3493]

Thanks for your video, love it.

[@meekazanielle]

Thank you so much and thanks for supporting me❤️

[@kamilaspencer606]

Hey- which tools do you recommend for passing the nbcot for cota?

[@meekazanielle]

Hi the COTA purple book and purchase the study tools from the NBCOT website.

[@ShondaB83]

Can you share the pay scales you have received since becoming a licensed OTA?

[@meekazanielle]

It would vary from state to state but I wouldn’t accept anything that is under $28 as a new grad but for someone under 5 years of experience you should be getting something within the low $30s. Always try to advocate for higher pay because in this field there is no telling when you get a raise in certain settings

[@ShondaB83]

@@meekazanielle thank you for sharing your life with us and being open and honest when we ask you questions. 😊

[@jasminerodriguez4434]

Can you pursue this career in your 40s?

[@meekazanielle]

Hello, yes you can. I have worked with a few people who have just started and are in their late 40s and early 50s but it is a lot on your body.

[@jasminerodriguez4434]

@@meekazanielle i wanted to go into pediatric OTA because I love working with children and have worked as a paraprofessional for many years. Is the physical demand the same in Pediatrics?

[@meekazanielle]

Not as demanding because they’re babies and children so they aren’t heavy. But you may be required to be do treatments on the floor depending on the child needs

[@fernandoxmolina7470]

Does your employer make you go through drug testing?

[@zuffin1864]

If you are a woman of faith, I suggest you listen closely to any elders at your church you think could give you some good insight. A lot of young people around me don't want to go to some churches because they are "too old", but if they have a good lead pastor and members, they may have wisdom we would have never thought of.

[@MrJbee1982]

I had high hopes for the OTA profession and it TRULY disappointed.The career is not worth it and they hook studentsin with their falsehoods. The pay is not great and the hours they give you are HORRIBLE because it's all about money. Your hours are constantly being cut so you never make any money. Your workloads are too much and impossible. It's all the same, or way worse anywhere you work. Look elsewhere for a career you're welcome

[@kendallreeves3693]

Can you further clarify what you mean

[@cavewater7220]

Hello what state are u from?? And how long have you been doing OTA