Why I Want To Be An Occupational Therapist Essay

535 Words3 Pages

Do you have an interest in a hands on job working with patients with an illness to help them resume meaningful daily tasks and activites? If this seems like something you are interested in, being an Occupational Therepy Assistant may be the most fitting career for you. This is a rewarding career and a great way to make a difference in patients' everyday lives. OTA’s help individuals of all ages, and the practice varies by the individual needs and age. The enjoyment I would receive from seeing people reach goals and overcome unforeseen obstacles, and directly helping people regain independence is why I want to explore the profession of being an Occupational Therapy Assitant (“What Occupational Therapy Aides and Assistants Do”). There are many responsibilities OTA’s have on a typical day and they can vary from day to day or patient to patient. Occupational Therapy Assitants execute the plan created by the Occupational Therapist. Performing cleical tasks such as scheduling appointments, and answering phone calls is another responsibility. Occupational Therapy Assistants do more work directly with the patients, rather than the Occupational Thereapist who does more desk work, creating the plans and prescribing exercises and activities to be completed by the patient. Although the specific treatment varies between each …show more content…

OTA’s need to have physical endurance and be able to assist patients in activitys to help them regain strength. Communication and social skills are imprtant, as they need to be able to hold conversations with their patients and their coworkers. OTA’s also need to encourage patients, and be a postive mentor to them. Compassion is a key value that is necessary for OTA’s, and understanding the patient is going through a difficult time, in order for their patient to have a postive attitude and a want to attend their therapy