By Erica Ronchetti

Considering a career as an occupational therapist?  Now’s an excellent time to find an occupational therapy travel job.  Demands for occupational therapists are growing, especially in schools.  Occupational therapists will find many positions in school settings needing to be filled, as there is an ongoing need for occupational therapy professionals to aid children in critical points in their development.  This is the case for children who suffer from a variety of different conditions, such as cerebral palsy, autism, hearing difficulties and vision impairments.  Occupational therapists, both full time and part time can really make a difference in children’s lives.

Skilled occupational therapists work with patients on different computer equipment and programs, instructing them and monitoring their progress.  Many help the children receive therapy on specially built exercise machines or in swimming pools.  Often times children will need to receive rehabilitation tailored for their individual needs, and physical therapists and speech therapists can be of great assistance here, depending on the program.

These occupational therapy programs teach children to communicate in new ways, sometimes through pictures or signs, and sometimes through speech.  Others learn dexterity and control, muscle strength, writing, and speaking.  Occupational therapists can provide children with the care they require that could not ordinarily have been met in other school settings.  Occupational therapists are important teachers preparing children to join other mainstream classrooms.
Traveling occupational therapists fill temporary openings in schools, rehab centers and other facilities. There is a shortage of skilled rehab therapists and sometimes it takes a while to fill a permanent position. In the interim, a traveling  OT can fill the gap.  OT travel jobs are available throughout the country to fill these openings.

Without occupational therapists, patients would need more care later in life and greater levels of support in the future.  Physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech language therapists can truly make a difference people’s lives, and they are in high demand.  To find more about how you can pursue a career in travel occupational therapy, visit http://www.alliedtravelcareers.com/occupationaltherapyjobs.php or fill out our brief application.

Erica Ronchetti is Account Manager for Travel Nurse Source, a recruiting company for traveling nurses.  Travel Nurse Source is affiliated with Allied Travel Careers, a recruiting company for traveling physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech language pathologists.  For more information on what we do, please visit our websites.

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

Occupational therapists promote health and teach people how to stay well and injury-free during their daily lives, from home to work and even during favorite leisure activities. They have the power to bring their patients back into present time, become mindful of their physical movements and use awareness as a tool to prevent injury. Similar to other rehabilitation therapy professions like physical therapy and speech language pathology, occupational therapists turn over a great deal of power to their patients. Under the tutelage of their expert guidance, troubleshooting and coaxing, occupational therapists and traveling occupational therapy professionals traveling the country, make sure that their clients are in the best possible position to live their best possible lives without getting hurt in the process.

At one point in the history of this and other rehab therapy professions, therapists were focused mostly on clients with disabilities and maintaining function in the elderly. Now, occupational therapy jobs, travel therapy jobs, and traveling occupational therapy jobs require therapists to work with children. Obesity in children is leading to conditions such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome and asthma, as the children’s bodies attempt to manage the excess weight.  Occupational therapists play an important role in keeping these young bodies moving and teaching them to live with the daily adjustments needed to accommodate for these conditions.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists occupational therapy as a profession expected to grow rapidly, with the number of working therapists to advance by 23% between 2006 and 2016. Occupational therapists (veterans and new grads alike) with an urge to see America may find a  traveling occupational therapy job to be the perfect escape, especially during the summertime when most destinations seem more vacation than work.

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

It is the perfect blend of fact and fiction. Are older drivers (senior, mature, etc.) more of an on-the-road risk than their younger counterparts? The facts show that, yes, body functions such as reflexes, vision, hearing, flexibility, range of motion and mental acuity naturally decline with age. Research largely supports these facts of life. However, some overactive younger imaginations make all older drivers into highway menaces. Wherever the truth lies in the health spectrum for each senior driver, an event called “CarFit” has been developed by the American Society on Aging and is sponsored by the AAA, AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association. The program assesses and assists older drivers in maintaining their driving health.

Occupational therapists and traveling occupational therapists looking for an opportunity to assist mature drivers play a lead role in CarFit events throughout the country. First, the therapists complete a 12-point checklist that assesses the driver’s overall driving health and identities potential risk factors that may affect driving. Participating occupational therapists then teach older drivers techniques to strengthen their driving abilities such as properly adjusting head restraints and seatbelts, assessing flexibility to turn sideways while backing up, and proper positioning of rear and side view mirrors. Older drivers are also instructed on the proper use of their vehicle’s safety features. Finally, the CarFit occupational therapists refer senior drivers to local fitness, nutrition and other community programs, based on their individual needs.

Traffic and driving demands are steadily increasing due to an increasing population, more driver distractions, faster speeds and other factors that can be daunting to any driver, let alone seniors struggling with declining driving health. Occupational therapists and travel occupational therapists can play a key role in helping their older clients manage these challenges and stay safe on the road.

For more information on CarFit: www.car-fit.org

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

In the past, nursing homes were largely regarded as an elderly person’s final residence. After living a long and independent life and then suffering a debilitating injury or chronic illness that compromises their independence, it was generally accepted that the person would be more than happy to spend the rest of the life in a state of peaceful rest and relaxation, playing cards in the community room and having their every personal needs taken care of. This may all change with the aging baby boomers.

Aging members of the baby boomer population notoriously relish their independence, freedom and resilience. This will likely extend to their attitude on illness, injury and their expectations for recovery.  Add to the mix the fact that seniors in this demographic are working longer and therefore are most likely transitioning directly from an active work and personal life directly to injury and illness, with no traditional retirement hiatus in between.  Occupational therapists and traveling occupational therapists already working with this age group are probably seeing their patients’ distinct unwillingness to rest or relax after suffering a health setback – no matter how severe.  In fact, occupational therapy is a hot service item in nursing homes for patients who, rather than settling into the role of “nursing home resident” are using the facilities as temporary rehabilitation pit stops between injury and recovery.

Consider that as of 2008 there were 78 million baby boomers, well over 4000 long term care facilities such as nursing homes and 1.4 million residents in those facilities. As patients in this demographic start seeking out occupational therapy versus bingo on a regular basis, the demand for occupational therapists and travel occupational therapists may increase even more than already predicted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (23 percent by 2016).

Additional Sources Used: U.S. Census Bureau

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

A friend of mine was proudly telling me about her daughter’s beautiful penmanship today. It took me a few seconds to realize that she meant handwriting. Was she referring to the same carefully drawn cursive letters that we all learned in grammar school? I will admit that my ability to pen an old-fashioned, handwritten letter has gone the way of my algebra and geometry skills over the years. I don’t feel too bad about that since ergonomic computer keyboards, cell phone texting, and other handheld ways of communicating seem to have replaced the lost art of handwriting.

Fortunately, occupational therapists and traveling occupational therapists are continuing to teach children this important life skill. Occupational therapy is especially valuable for children who are having trouble learning proper handwriting through their traditional childhood education. Occupational therapists can pick up where teachers leave off, using a variety of creative, sensory, gross and fine motor brain activities to retrain the child’s brain.

Handwriting ability derives from the speech center in the parietal lobe of the brain (mostly the left side). This means that for individuals who have suffered a stroke or other brain injury affecting speech, the ability to write also suffers. In fact, many occupational therapists and other caregivers are able to detect deteriorating mental functions based on changes in an individual’s handwriting.

As much as I joke about handwriting being a “lost art” I am well aware that it is a significant form of communication and a telling reflection of the mental and psychological happenings within the brain. Occupational therapists and traveling occupational therapists are lucky to have the opportunity to work with children who need a little help opening this window into their mind.

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

We continue to celebrate Occupational Therapy Month and honor occupational therapists and travel occupational therapists for their work in maximizing life’s daily potential for all types of patients. To accomplish this, occupational therapists address all aspects of the individual – physical, psychological, emotional and social. Therefore, OT services are particularly valuable to individuals being treated for addiction.

Creative but extremely effective therapeutic occupational therapy approaches such as art therapy are frequently used with patients in treatment for addiction. One of the goals of art therapy for these individuals is, through targeted arts and crafts and creative writing activities, to assist the occupational therapist in understanding some of the deeper motivations, psychology and history behind the addictive behaviors. A project by occupational therapy students in Scotland, also found success treating individuals experiencing addition by teaching them the skills needed to adapt and cope with daily life.

The path to, effects of and recovery from addiction is deeply personal and unique to each individual who experiences it. Occupational therapists and other healthcare professionals who choose to work in this area of rehabilitation are often personally motivated by the stories of recovering addicts or in some cases the stories of family members, friends or even their own personal success stories.

Are you an occupational therapist who wants to enjoy the excitement and challenges of a travel health career while specializing in addiction therapy? Visit our “apply now” page and speak with a recruiter about assignments in addiction medicine. Addiction is a steadily growing area of healthcare with a big demand for treatments that work. Occupational therapists and travel occupational therapists are needed more and more to meet this demand.

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

The American Occupational Therapy Association has designated April as Occupational Therapy month, so it seems only fitting to honor the occupational therapy assistants and the traveling occupational therapy assistants who are a big reason that occupational therapy works. In return, the occupational therapy assistant with aspirations to become a therapist is in a beneficial position to learn the profession from the ground up.

FAQ:

Q: How long do I have to go to school to become an occupational therapy assistant?
A: You can earn an Occupational Therapy Assistant Associated of Applied Science in a 2 year program found at community colleges and technical schools. Another option is earning a 1-year certificate from an accredited academic institution. Both programs have required, supervised work in the field and must pass a licensing exam prior to practicing.

Q: What is the basic job description?
A: You will work with developmentally and physically challenged patients under the supervision of the OT, on exercises such as muscle strengthening, work and societal skills and chart patient progress.

Q: Where will I work?
A: OT assistant opportunities are pretty evenly divided between hospital, OT office, residential care and other settings such as the workplace and long term care facilities.

Q: How much can I expect to make?
A: The current average salary for an OT assistant is $51,000.

Q: What are the career opportunities like?
A: Excellent! Better than in most other fields, actually. Employment opportunities are projected to increase by a whopping 25 percent by 2016.

If this sounds like the career opportunity you’ve been looking for, start calling your local schools or research programs online. Add a love of seeing the country and gaining experience in a variety of clinical settings, and perhaps a career as a traveling occupational therapy assistant is what you’ve been searching for. The sky’s the limit!

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.