Physical Therapy Majors

Students, who major in Physical Therapy can look forward to a bright future when they start practicing in their chosen profession since Physical therapy is considered to be one of the fastest growing professions in the United States. There has been a lot of growth in the profession since its inception during the end of World War I and with an abundance of employment opportunities along with lucrative starting salaries, a major in Physical Therapy is well worth the investment.

The main role of a physical therapist is that of rehabilitation. Therapists work with physicians and other therapists to rehabilitate people with injuries, those with impairments and those afflicted with diseases to improve motor functions, stimulate muscles and relieve pain. Many therapists focus on rehabilitation following injury although there are Board-certified specializations available in various areas like sports-related physical therapy, pediatrics and orthopedics.

Physical therapists are trained to rehabilitate people through a variety of mediums. They may use heat, electricity, cold, sound and water during treatment sessions depending on the patient's problems. After the clinic session, they prescribe exercise schedules to help condition and strengthen the problem areas to allow for continuous healing in between clinic visits.

Part of a therapist's training includes mastering and passing a national, standardized test before they can get out there and try to establish a practice. In order to practice, a therapist may also need a master's degree or an advanced degree that is beyond a bachelor's degree. Therefore, majoring in PT will definitely require you to stay longer in school.

A master's degree in PT takes at least six years to complete. The programs are split into two parts. The first part consists of a traditional undergraduate program that takes 3-4 years to complete. The second part consists of the Physical Therapy graduate program, which takes three years to complete and includes participating and completing practicum training, which is where you will receive a lot of your first-time exposure to the actual practice of PT.

The training you receive as a Physical Therapy major may take a little more longer than the other degree programs being offered today, however, the resulting career you can build can be extremely rewarding, not just compensation-wise, but also profession-wise.

What Is the Easiest Way to Become an Occupational Therapist?

Preparation needed for the job as an occupational therapist begins before training. Occupational therapists must possess specific personality traits to be successful because effective management of professional careers is often stressful. Occupational therapists must be supportive, understanding, compassionate and insightful. People with career aspirations to become an occupational therapist must also have strong interpersonal skills, as they should be able to inspire respect and trust with their customers. Occupational therapists must also have a strong imagination to help or adjust activities based on customer needs in a variety of settings.

To become an occupational therapist, usually, one should have a college degree and work experience or a master's degree to qualify for a job in a mental home, or in the clinic as well as certification and licensure. Educational training and preparation for a career as an occupational therapist can begin as early as secondary education. Courses such as biology, art, social sciences, chemistry, health, and psychology can provide a solid foundation for building a future and successful professional. In addition, volunteering as a therapy aide or nursing assistant in a variety of organizations or institutions of health care can give students a great opportunity to be accepted into a field to the highest degree.

The growing popularity of occupational therapy as a career has increased the growth rate of occupational therapy schools. It is expected that the demand for occupational therapists will grow significantly in 2018, making more people interested to look at the study of OT to take advantage of the demand for therapists. But before choosing a therapist vocational school, there are some important factors you should keep in mind.

To become an occupational therapist, you are required to complete a higher education in psychology, social work or occupational therapy. These programs are available in technical schools, universities and colleges. In general, you will have two years of tuition, plus some work experience. OT programs at a university can span up to a period of four years, with additional courses available for program expansion to five to six years.

Although states in the United States may vary in relation to the licensing requirements for those who want to practice OT, it is almost mandatory that you pass the exam licensure status in a registered therapist. And so, you should be aware of the requirements to indicate your license. Also, be sure to have both the training and experience, which are needed before you even think of applying. In addition, it is important that you have enough patience and compassion to fill the role. In studying as a great therapist, you would like have a mentor to demonstrate, teach and guide how your personal and professional relationships with patients should be treated.

Doctoral degree programs in OT can make candidates experts in their field. Most doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy offer people the chance to expand, develop and research programs and innovative services in the field of occupational therapy. The National certification exam is offered through the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association, but it depends on the status and needs of the institution. State Departments of Health Board of Occupational Therapy Practice often require additional licensing. The process of becoming a registered occupational can be so extensive and patience and perseverance are ultimately required. The only easy and effective way of becoming an occupational therapist is to get professional education and become certified.

5 Reasons to Become a Respiratory Therapist

If you are in the middle of choosing a career, then you must also be at the receiving end of sometimes-unsolicited advice from friends, family, and well-wishers. Their constant stream of advice may be making the already difficult decision-making process seem a thousand times harder.

Take solace in the fact that you are not alone! At this moment, hundreds and thousands of people are probably in the same quandary as you.

To help you and others who are having trouble deciding on a career, we offer one option to consider: respiratory therapy. Let's look at the top five reasons why you should consider enrolling in a respiratory therapist school.

Reason to become a respiratory therapist #1

Less schooling required: As compared to most other healthcare careers, the training requirements for becoming a respiratory therapist (RT) are much less extensive. A two-year Associate in Respiratory Therapy degree from an accredited university, college, or technical-vocational school is the basic requirement to pursue a career in respiratory therapy.

Respiratory therapist programs usually include courses in life and health sciences such as microbiology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology; topics that deal with respiratory care and management such as pulmonary anatomy and physiology, cardiopulmonary pharmacology, airway management, and ventilation theory; and clinical experience that includes supervised hands-on patient care.

All the U.S. states except Alaska require respiratory therapists to have either the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) or the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) license. For both these credentials, applicants must graduate from an accredited respiratory therapist program and meet other licensure requirements above and beyond the degree.

Reason to become a respiratory therapist #2

Excellent job outlook: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the employment of RTs is expected to grow at a faster-than-average pace for all occupations: 28 percent through 2020.* The growing numbers of elderly folk in the country who are more vulnerable to respiratory ailments, plus an increased awareness of and focus on disease prevention, has led to this growth in the demand for RT.

This means individuals employed as RTs should enjoy excellent employment prospects over the next decade.

Reason to become a respiratory therapist #3

Options for professional growth: Once you graduate from respiratory therapist school and get some experience under your belt in direct patient care, you may start thinking about taking the next step in your career path.

Advancement to roles like shift manager, department head, hospital administrator, educational program lead, etc. is possible with experience and additional training. If this is the direction you'd like to grow your career, pursuing an advanced respiratory therapy degree should be a part of your career development plan.

RTs can also explore the option of branching out into business roles with equipment manufacturers, or join the world of research and academics.

Reason to become a respiratory therapist #4

Average income: The Department of Labor reports that the median annual wages of respiratory therapists was $54,280 in May 2010, depending on geographic location, education, and experience.**

The income of a RT also varies with the type of healthcare facility they are employed in. For example, RTs employed with nursing care facilities earned an average annual wage of $57,450, while those working in offices of physicians earned an average of $52,500 per annum (depending on location, education, and experience). ***

Reason to become a respiratory therapist #5

Rewarding work: This may be the most important of all the reasons to consider a career as a RT. At the end of a hard working day, there is nothing quite like the feeling of knowing you have worked to heal your patients, and that's what a career in respiratory therapy promises.

Through all the emergency cases of heart failures and severe asthmatic attacks; the drowning accidents; the heart-wrenching cries of premature infants; and the helplessness of patients on respiratory support equipment, the feeling you're most likely to remember is the joy of seeing them breathe life once again.

Sources:

* bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Respiratory-therapists.htm#tab-6

** bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Respiratory-therapists.htm#tab-5

*** Ibid.

PT School - How To Select A Great Physical Therapy School And Pass The NPTE Without Breaking A Sweat

Healthcare workers are integral in almost any contemporary society, and physical therapists are also a very important members of our health care system today. Physical therapists are professionals in working with patients with movement problems. They help people who are struggling with the movements of their own body due to injuries or illness. No doubt that this occupation is rewarding. This is why lots of physical therapists find total satisfaction not in the amount of money they earn from this career, but in how useful they are to the rehabilitation of their patients. If you think you will also enjoy being a physical therapist, then you'll need to look for a good PT school that should provide you with the knowledge as well as the skills you need with this job.

Opt for an Accredited Physical Therapy School

Even before you think about signing up for a certain PT school, make sure that it is certified by the American Physical Therapy Association or APTA. This is a basic need because for a school to get an accreditation would mean having excellent techniques of training and instruction. APTA has specifications that should be followed by physical therapy universities so that they could become a leading instructional institution. In addition to the quality of the courses and training programs offered, licensed physical therapist schools also make it possible for their students to successfully pass the licensure test.

Select Among the Physical Therapy Colleges with Good Licensure Exam Passing Rate

No physical therapy graduate is able to practice without completing the National Physical Therapy examination. Thus you need to study in a school that may help you succeed in the licensure test. In order to find a physical therapy school that offers the very best training, you could take a look at the list of state examination passers and then determine from what college/university they graduated from. The ideal physical therapist schools or universities should belong to the top 10 or 20 list. Of course, the higher the licensure passing rate, the higher quality of the PT school.

Select a Physical Therapist School with Great Clinical Education Opportunities

Once you become a physical therapist, you'll be spending most of your time interacting with your patients. Consequently, it is essential that you learn firsthand what abilities you'll need to communicate and work effectively with affected individuals. A good physical therapist school will give you several options to undergo practical courses. It is vital that a physical therapist school be connected to different hospitals or medical facilities to ensure that their students will have the chance to do internship with one of these institutions.

How to locate the most notable PT Schools

There are several ways that you can find the best PT schools in the country or in your state. Search the internet and make your search based upon area. Check out the programs provided by each individual college and also the APTA accreditation it has. And remember to verify the school's licensure exam passing rate as well.

Physical Therapy Assistant - A Rewarding Future

A physical therapy assistant is one who assists a physical therapist in providing physical therapy treatment to patients. Physical therapy assistants usually perform physical therapy proceedings as instructed by the senior therapist. They assist the senior therapist in managing conditions such as sprains and fractures, back and neck injuries, burns, arthritis, stroke, amputations, multiple sclerosis, injuries related to sports, birth defects and others. It is the duty of the physical therapy assistant to gather information regarding the patient's response to the treatment and describe the outcome to the supervising therapist.

Physical therapy assistant jobs promise a rewarding future. These jobs are increasing in demand day by day, and physical therapy assistants have excellent career prospects.

Physical therapy assistants are required to have:

o An associate degree from an accredited physical therapist assistant program.

o A valid license proving clinical experience is an added advantage.

Physical therapy assistants work in various healthcare settings such as private hospitals, physical therapy offices, nursing homes, community healthcare centers, home health agencies, rehabilitation centers, industrial health centers, research institutions, and pediatric centers, among others. They are also required in colleges, sport teams and organizations.

By specializing in a particular clinical area, physical therapy assistants can advance their career. They can work as directors in the departments, in areas they are specialized in. They can also advance to administrative positions where they organize all the assistants in a physical therapy organization. Physical therapy assistants can opt for a teaching profession in accredited physical therapist assistant programs. They can take health fitness classes for the public.

The salary of a physical therapy assistant depends on the position, degree of education, years of experience, practice setting and geographic location. To reduce the expense of physical therapy services, assistant therapists are very much required by physical therapists. Due to the increasing demand, physical therapy assistants have a good chance of a rewarding future with high remuneration and benefits.

Sensory Strategies in Autism Education

One of the challenges of educating students with autism spectrum disorders is accommodating their sensory needs. Balancing too little vs. too much input is sometimes beyond educators who do not have the experience of teaching children with autism. The need for this kind of specialized experience is why many parents prefer their children attend a specialized autism school in New York rather than public school.

Too Much Input

Children with autism can be overwhelmed by sensory input. They might be mesmerized by brightly colored objects, run from a room when it gets to loud, or refuse to eat foods with certain textures. An autism school classroom is set up to minimize the amount of extraneous inputs that will distract students.

Carpet and soft furniture absorb excess noise. If a loud noise is coming, teachers warn the students so they are not startled. Classrooms have fewer bright posters and use shades on the windows to regulate the amount of light. Quiet areas allow students to get away from things when they start to become overwhelmed. Teachers wear less perfume or cologne. These steps allow students to focus on the sensory input that is important without having to filter out irrelevant information.

Too Little Input

At the other end of the spectrum, students with autism may have muted senses so crave strong inputs. They may lick toys, particularly anything with a strong taste such as modeling clay. They constantly touch or even bite themselves. Fidgety students crave the inputs that come from movement.

Autism schools have a variety of strategies to provide inputs in a safe manner that won't interfere with other activities. Weighted vests or textured chairs help students who need strong tactile inputs. Rocking chairs allow a student to move while still paying attention to class. Brightly colored tape helps a student locate the boundaries of a desk or the carpet used for circle time. Through all of this, a structured schedule helps the child with autism function smoothly.

Finding Equilibrium

Balancing the needs of an individual student with the needs of the class is a critical element in creating a plan for educating an autistic child. If Child A needs strong auditory input but Child B is oversensitive to sound, the needs of both children must be met. A solution in this case could be to let Child A use an FM system and headphones so the teacher's voice is louder, being careful of course the student does not turn the volume so high it endangers hearing, while not interfering with Child B.

Accommodation of opposing needs one reason an autism school in New York is better suited for ASD students then public school. These institutions already know strategies that have worked in the past and don't have to experiment to find the right solution.

Occupational Therapy Assistant, The Truth Behind the Fiction

There are currently hundreds if not thousands of articles on the internet about occupational therapy assistants, also known as Ota and Cota. Though there has seemed to be reasonable information on websites, there are also a lot of bad information out there on the web. The purpose of this article is to break down the different sections of a career as COTA and to show true and factual information. This article will cover all aspects from start to finish for a new occupational therapist assistant and will cover topics such as salary, schooling and workplace environment.

Ota Schools

The first area to look at is occupational therapy assistant schools. There are a lot of questions concerning if schooling is even required,and if so can it be taken online if classes are required?

Ota accredited schools and classes are generally found in college campuses in every state, with most courses being found in community colleges. These schools must be acknowledged by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) to earn your degree.

Contrary to rumors, there are no online schools for occupational therapy at this time. The course work is about two years, with the first year being mostly classroom instruction and with the second year having the student do hands on training in a hospital or private care practice. Some of the course work a student will have to take includes pediatrics, gerontology, medical terminology, and physical rehab. There may be other classes required depending on the state and the school.

A person who is seeking a career in the occupational therapy field needs to be wary and keep away from at home course work or promises of schooling that can be done in just a few weeks or months. All states with the exception of Hawaii require a two year degree.

At this point in time, all states that require licensure only require a two year degree. There are many rumors that a Bachelor's degree is needed and this is not true. Though continuing ones education in occupational therapy can lead to a higher salary and other benefits, it is up to each individual at this point in time.

Licensure information.

At the point of graduation a person seeking a career will need to become licensed as an occupational therapist assistant. Licensure is issued by state run boards in each fifty states. Each state has its own rules and regulation that are governed by an occupational therapy board, with some being private and some run by the state exclusively. Though each state is different, there are a number of similarities to obtain licensure which includes the following.

A person seeking an occupational therapy assistant license must be a U.S. citizen, must have a social security number and must have taken and passed appropriate college course work as well as taken and passed the NBCOT exam.

Every state requires a federal background check, but convictions are not necessarily immediate grounds for dismissal. Some states may consider processing an occupational therapy license if a written affidavit is turned in to explain the circumstances of the conviction.Other factors including time and nature of the offense may be reviewed and be considered to grant licensure.

Each state will have an Occupational Therapy Assistant licensure package that will include many forms to fill out. Do not pay for these forms from a third party as they can be accessed online from reputable sites. It is advised to take a very thorough look through the forms before attempting to complete them. There will be official transcripts required; notarized signatures and many states will want you to turn in a fingerprint card which can be completed at a local police station.

COTA Salary.

There are many websites claiming that occupational therapy assistants can make over one hundred thousand dollars a years starting off, and this is simply false information. The median wage for an occupational therapy assistant across all fifty states is approximately thirty six dollars and five cents. The leading states in pay are currently, Texas, California and Nevada.

Though these numbers are averages, as there are different employers within the occupational therapy field, and each employer or setting generally pays different than another. One example is home care health services. These employers generally pay the most while local public schools will not pay as much. In summary, your state, employer and benefits offered will all be greatly different, and in turn each ota salary will be different. There is no guaranteed number for each individual entering the field as a cota.Though there are many in the occupational therapy field making a great salary, the hard work and time involved is not overnight and does take time.

Ota workplace

The next area to consider is the ota workplace environment. There are those who speculate that an ota works in substandard settings while other dream of onsite hair salons and other perks. The truth is just like any other career, each employer will be different and those in occupational therapy can tell you there is no exception with their field as well.

An ota will work with a variety of patients who have needs that are different than from the previous patient. You may be working in a public school with children with physical issue or a hospital treatment facility working with a middle age woman with emotional struggles. Though an occupational therapy assistant has many job skills, some of the basics such as following direction, keeping up to date with the latest technology and implementing and using the technology are just a few examples.

A Cota must also be reasonably physically fit, for there will be many instances of moving patients around, such as from a bed to a wheel chair. There are many job duties including answering phones, checking and mapping out charts of patients and a host of other task. Though the salary can be rewarding the job of an occupational therapist assistant is very demanding.

An occupational therapist assistant job is demanding and there are no shortcuts. Through the two years of attending an accredited school, to taking the NBCOT exam, to finding and starting a career is a long road. The hope is that this article enlightens those who are seeking an education in occupational therapy or looking to continue their education.

The Mystery Of Chiropractic Care Explained

Chiropractic, also chiropraxis, is derived from the Greek words cheir meaning hand, and practikos meaning to do or efficient. In simpler terms, it means done by hand. Chiropractic care is a therapeutic system based on the belief that physical disorders are a result of a malfunctioning nervous system. It also has as its doctrine that the body is self-healing. Spinal manipulation is the primary treatment that chiropractors employ because it is theorized that the realignment of the spinal cord will restore a person's normal health condition.

According to Chapman-Smith, Chiropractic is classified as complementary and alternative medicine or CAM. It is non pharmaceutical and nonsurgical. However, it should always be kept in mind that it may never replace the benefits of drugs and surgery in cases where these are the most viable options to get well.

Originally, chiropractic has existed in many cultures long before the 19th century, but Daniel D. Palmer, a grocer and a magnetic healer, is famous for the technique. He founded the modern chiropractic theory during the 1890s and a school seven years later. In his theory, Palmer stresses that all communication is directly associated with the spine, and its misalignment can cause physical disorders relating to the spine and other body parts.

After his death, his son B.J. carried on his work. Faculty member from the college he has established were divided over the role of sublaxation in disease. Sublaxation is a descriptive method of identifying and/or describing the signs and symptoms of the spinal column. It is usually a term common to straight chiropractors.

Neuromusculoskeletal disorders often result to low back pain, high blood pressure and headache and in chiropractic; these are treated via manual/physical therapy, exercise programs, diet management and lifestyle counseling. Manual/physical therapy may cause muscle spasms and acute muscular pains, but these go away in a matter of days after therapy and are deemed harmless side effects.

Traditionally, chiropractors aren't recognized by the medical community, but since its practice has been backed up by science, medical associations have come to acknowledge it benefits for ailing patients. Today, chiropractic claims its place in the medical world, although not as solid a background it has in the hospital scene, more doctors refer to this treatment as effective. Also, since it is non pharmaceutical and non surgical, patients or people have become more willing to try its benefits. Chiropractors are usually licensed to do the job. They have gone intense training and have been certified to practice.

Career Possibilities in the Field of Occupational Therapy?

Are you curious about your career possibilities in the field of Occupational Therapy?

Careers in Occupational Therapy are of three selections. The educational and training requirements that you need depend on your chosen career option. If you are not sure about the career differences in this field, read on to get the basic and most important ideas to guide you in your choosing.

What follows are the descriptions that distinguish each career possibility from one another:

Occupational Therapist (OT)

OT's think of treatment strategies to help a person overcome a physical, emotional, psychological or mental disorder, and help them live as normally as possible. They differ from the Psychologists and Psychiatrists in the sense that the they advise the most suitable method for the patient's condition based on the diagnoses of the Psychologists and Psychiatrists. On the other hand, Psychologists and Psychiatrists specialize in diagnosing the patient's condition.

Occupational Therapist have premium salary wages. These salary ranges differ per state, depending on the demand and the median annual salary followed by that particular state. For instance, California employs the highest number of OT's and also give the highest median annual salary. In 2008, the median annual salary for OT's in California is $80,830. Second state that pays the highest is New Jersey with a median annual salary set at $79,620. The states that have the lowest hourly wages include New Hampshire ($26.16) and Maine ($28.72).

Aside from the median salary range per state, another factor to salary difference is the industry where the OT is employed. The different industries that employ occupational therapist and their median annual salary are as follows: Home Health Care Services ($79,110), Employment Services ($78,630), Academic Institutions ($75,260), Nursing Care Facilities ($73,200) and Clinics of Physicians ($71,840).

Occupational Therapist Assistant

OTA's assist the in facilitating everyday treatments. They record the patient's progress and patient's response to the treatment.

Nowadays, the state requires aspirants to attend training and accredited programs offered in Technical Institutions and Occupational Therapy Schools. These include fieldwork to hasten the skills and broaden the knowledge of the students. In some states, passing the licensure test is required before practice. If you are interested to be an OTA, expect a median annual salary of $42,060.

Occupational Therapist Aides (OT Aides)

The job of an Aide is to prepare the materials and equipment needed by the OT and OTA during therapy. OT Aides also do clerical work. If you want to be an Aide, simply finish high school and attend the on-the-job trainings offered by technical schools and colleges as part of their Occupational Therapy Programs. An Aide has a median annual salary of $25,020.

Ballet Strength For Injury Prevention

Ballet injuries are common career ending catastrophes for dancers of all ages. What may seem like a small ache or pain could turn into a serious injury if you are not making the proper adjustments to your technique. There are a lot of solutions offered that just mask the pain. If you do not get to the bottom of the issue that is causing the injury, it could be a life long struggle.

The following are a list of steps you can take to ensure you are doing the right things to prevent career ending injuries.

1.) See a Doctor- I know this may seem like a no brainer, but going to a doctor is one of the most important things you can do if you are experiencing abnormal pain. If you are attending a good ballet school, they should be affiliated with a Sports Medicine department or physical therapist in your city.

2.) Rest- You've heard this one before too. If you are experiencing abnormal pain, you need to stop dancing until you have the issue identified by a physical therapist. I know, you're afraid that you will lose your part to your understudy, but how would if feel if you kept dancing and tore or broke something? Do your career a favor and take a much needed rest.

3.) Therapy- Once you have seen a physical therapist and they have diagnosed the problem, you need to follow through with your treatments. Your physical therapist may have you doing some strange exercises, but if you don't follow through with them the injury will come back.

4.) Investigate- After you are finished with physical therapy and your injury seems to have healed, start investigating your ballet technique. Are you rolling in on your ankles? Are you gripping your hips? You might even want to see a Ballet Strength & Conditioning Coach to help you work on technical weaknesses based on your anatomy and body mechanics. (Keep in mind that these are things that most ballet teachers are not qualified to recommend)

Sometimes your Ballet instructors, though they have your best interest in mind, will continue to tell you to force your turnout, etc so that your body looks aesthetically correct for ballet. While this may look good, it may be doing disastrous things for your body and your career.

Take these simple precautions to prevent long lasting injuries and never be afraid to ask questions.

Mothers Going Back To School To Set A Good Example For Their Children

Although the primary goal for enrolling in college is to pursue a college degree, the pursuit can render additional value for mothers returning to school. When moms make the commitment to pursue a college degree, it affords them valuable means to help instill educational principles in their children. As a family leader, a mom becomes a shining example for her children to follow.

Academic success requires motivation. As a student, the opportunities for a mom to encourage her children to strive for academic excellence are countless. As a role model, she can use her own college experience to showcase perseverance, commitment, and success. Children, who witness the success of their mother's academic achievement, are more likely to apply the same characteristics to their own educational objectives.

When moms return to college, it provides a chance for them to bond with their children. Parents should make the best of every opportunity that results in time spent together. Homework can be done together, which strengthen the tie between mother and child. Homework time allows for the parent and child to invest in each other's academic goals.

You may have experienced a time when your child came to you needing help to complete a homework assignment. Unfortunately, due to limited exposure to academics, you were unable to help your child complete his or her assignment. However, moms who return to college can utilize methods and concepts learned in college classes to help their children grow and develop in their studies and achieve academic success.

Moms can set aside reading time whereby both she and the child (children) attend to the reading assignments together. This can easily turn into fun time together, as each can read from his or her assigned textbook and discuss each other's passages. This is an excellent opportunity for mothers to develop their children's reading skills and enhance critical thinking skills by engaging in active discussions and effective communication.

Moms who return to college get a firsthand knowledge as to which subjects and courses are vital for their children to take prior to transitioning into college. As a student, a mother will be able to help her child prepare for foundational subjects like science, math, and English. She will also gain experience as a writer when in college. This will come in handy when critiquing her child's homework, reports, and essay papers.

Many colleges and universities are helping women who return to school by providing daycare services for their children to attend. These services are typically available for primary school age children. While children are on campus, they get a preview into college life, even at an early age. This helps to embed the notion of post-secondary education as an expected component of a child's academic life.

Physical Therapy College

College programs all across the country are including Physical Therapy as part of their course offerings due to an increased demand for physical therapy services. In the United States, the Bureau of Labour Statistics consider PT as the eighth-fastest growing profession in the country and salary.com ranks physical therapy as the 12th best job to have in America. With statistics like these, it is not surprising that colleges will want to offer Physical Therapy in their campuses.

The basis for a career in Physical Therapy is a commitment to academic education. Occupational Handbook 2008-2009 says that the minimum requirement for a career in physical therapy is a master's degree from an accredited Physical Therapy Education Program and a State license. Once you have these prerequisites, you are eligible to be employed as a physical therapist or to set up your own practice.

Some basic courses you need to take include a lot of science courses such as chemistry, biology, mathematics, physics, social sciences and more specific courses in Neuroanatomy, Biomechanics, Examination Techniques, Disease and their Manifestations, Therapeutic Procedures and Human Growth and Development.

The program includes both classroom learning as well as a practicum, which requires you to participate in actual clinic set-ups with many opportunities for you to apply whatever knowledge you have learned in the classroom to patients. You will be under supervision from a practicing physical therapist so this is a great way to learn and acquire some experience prior to graduation.

Some master's programs require students to actively participate and complete a six-week, full time practicum in addition to a couple of eight-week practicums (Northern Illinois University). This is actually a really good way to be eased into what goes on in real-life practice. Some doctorate programs require a minimum of 100 hours practicum with at least 50 hours in an acute care hospital setting before candidates can be accepted into their program (Hunter College).

Physical Therapy also requires the development of interpersonal skills as the therapist needs to interact constantly with patients, their family members and other professionals as well. Being able to establish a positive relationship with the patient early on is a very valuable skill that the therapist needs to take with him throughout his career.

To meet the expected rise in enrollment, colleges are getting ready by having accredited programs already on offer. While some institutions offer a six-year program for high school graduates, others offer two and three-year graduate programs in the master's and doctorate levels. Note that a doctorate degree in physical therapy allows you to practice, diagnose and treat patients without needing a referral from another medical practitioner. This might be something to think about as you plan out your career.

The college where you take your PT education can influence how you turn out as a therapist and how well you run your practice, therefore, it is prudent to do your research well and evaluate all your options before deciding on a course of action.

Physical Therapist Salary And Employment Statistics (Get The Facts)

Today there is a wealth of information available for nearly every profession, in terms of employment potential, job outlook, salary levels, and specific information about where individuals in the field work and what they do. All of this information is available for physical therapy as well, and it can help you gain a better understanding for what the field is all about, and why it has become so popular. Take a look at all of these facts and findings to learn about physical therapy as a career in today's world.

A great place to start is the job outlook and prospects for professionals in the field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS, provides decade-long projections for every industry and field. For physical therapy from 2008 to 2018, there is a projected 30% uptick in jobs. That is obviously a very high rate of growth, and is much quicker than average. When you look at the number of jobs that translates you to, you see a total of more than 56,000 new jobs becoming available.

But it's not enough to know that there will be jobs coming available for these professionals. You also have to know what these jobs actually will be, and what you'll be doing. For physical therapists, 60% of jobs are located in hospitals or health practitioner offices, offering a majority of the employment for licensed, practicing physical therapists.

Even though that's a very high number, it still means that there is another 40% of physical therapists who are plying their trade in other environments. For example, physical therapists work in nursing facilities, outpatient and rehabilitation care centers, adult day care, schools, and of course, private practices, just to name a few other potential options.

Now that you know where you'll be working, in addition to knowing that finding a job should be pretty easy with the right education and full licensure, it's also time to take a look at salary levels. In 2008, the most recent data available as of this time, the median annual salary for physical therapists was $73,000. Taking a closer look, the top 10% earned at least $104,000, while the bottom 10% earned less than $50,000.

Those different environments and settings mentioned above translate to slightly different median salaries. Physical therapists working with home healthcare services average the highest wage, $77,500 annually, while nursing care facilities offered $76,500, and hospitals offered $73,000, for example.

Once you take a look at all of these statistics and facts for physical therapy, you can begin to understand why the field is emerging right now. There is a very high rate of job growth, a number of different environments and work settings, high salary levels, and much more. The time to become a physical therapist is now, and then you'll be able to take advantage of all of the above for yourself.

Running Smooth: The Importance of Regular Checkups

Everyone who drives is familiar with this situation: you're cruising along and all of a sudden, there's a noise coming from the engine that you haven't heard before, or maybe the feeling in the gas or brake pedal seems a bit off, or there's smoke, or a funny smell. There are many tell-tale signs that your car needs servicing and the best thing to do is to bring it in before the problem escalates. But what is equally important, is to bring your vehicle in for regular checkups and tune-ups even if everything seems to running smoothly. Similar to our own health, we don't always visit doctors when we feel ill, but have regular checkups to mark our physical development and watch for problems. Regularly-scheduled visits to the auto mechanic are just as important for maintaining a healthy engine and a safe ride.

How often you should bring your car in to the garage is based either on elapsed time, or the amount of kilometers driven since your last checkup. Not every aspect of the vehicle will be inspected on every checkup; but there are different recommended tune-up periods for different parts of the car. Knowing which order of priority to give to each part is an essential module in mechanic colleges.

Every Three Months or 8,000KM.

This is the basic checkup. The most important thing here is the engine oil. While one could read engine oil levels themselves and add more oil if needed, with this checkup it is recommended to change the oil and clean the oil filter. It used to be believed that the oil should be replaced twice as much, but today this is seen as unnecessary and wasteful.

Other parts of this checkup will include checking other fluid levels, like brake fluid, washer fluid, and coolant fluid.

Every Six Months or 16,000KM.

All of the previously mentioned checkup points are included here as well. One new aspect is the wheels and the tires. Fist, the alignment is checked and reset. Then, the tire pressure and the depth are checked. Related closely to the wheels is the braking system, which should be thoroughly inspected.

A basic cleaning of some of the engine's components is also done, like the battery and the spark plug wires.

Every Year or 25,000 KM.

This is considered the most important checkup, and it is recommended with new cars to bring the vehicle in to a licensed dealer service shop rather than any garage. The above aspects are checked again. Most parts that are often simply cleaned should be replaced at this point, like the spark plugs and the windshield wipers.

Further cleaning of the engine takes place, like the fuel filtration system, the brake pads, and the radiator. Basic nuts and bolts are checked and tightened as well.

Every car is different and every service shop or garage has varying methods for checking and maintaining a vehicle. Skilled auto technicians are graduating from mechanic programs all the time to work in a variety of shops to guarantee each car is given the service and attention it needs for a long life on the road.

Sensory Issues at School - Get to Know Your Child's Team of Teachers and Aides Early On

The preschool or elementary school child who has sensory processing issues will spend much of her day with one teacher. From year to year, she will work with some of the same teachers and therapists or other professionals (if she receives special education services). However, when getting to know the team that will help your child at school, don't forget to meet and speak to the other adults she'll be interacting with. If your child has had difficulty before with a special class such as physical education or art class, it's a good idea to speak to this specialty teacher at the beginning of the school year to establish ways that he or she can help your child function better in class. If your child is receiving OT services or help on a consultation basis, your OT can help you and the teacher come up with solutions and strategies for helping your child with this particular class and its environment.

As soon as possible, get a hold of the school day schedule for your child and note when particular classes are held. Often, sensory kids have difficulty with transitions, so settling down for a class held after recess, physical education, or lunch time may be difficult. Your child may be able to stay focused and cooperate in computer lab far better if she has some sensory diet activities to help her focus after the intense stimulation of being on the playground. Similarly, she may be fine with physical education first thing in the morning after walking to school or getting a little playground exercise to perk her up, but have difficulty shifting to physical activity after independent reading in a quiet classroom.

If your child will be receiving services from a new therapist, you might ask if she'll be attending the school orientation, where you can talk about what she does in general, or you might ask if you can schedule a conference or talk with her.

Write a letter or have a conversation with her teacher before school starts or shortly afterward. If she's too busy for a conversation, then email her or write her a letter for her to read at her convenience. Although therapists and teachers read IEPs, these legal documents don't always do the best job of communicating how your child actually functions in the school environment.

Of course, some kids with SPD don't have an IEP because they don't receive services. If you feel your child's sensory issues are interfering with her learning and socializing at school, or if you suspect she has a developmental delay or learning disability, you can request an evaluation. It's a good idea to follow up a phone call with a written request sent by certified mail. Keep a copy of the receipt in a file folder where you can keep all your notes on conversations and challenges your child is having, and be sure to follow up to make sure your request doesn't accidentally fall between the cracks. Outside evaluations you have had done privately have to be considered by the school. However, the school may require their own evaluations, done by professionals of their choosing (for example, the OT for the district who would be providing services).

Because the beginning of the school year is a very busy time, be sure to find out from the school team members what's the best way to communicate with them and when they're available for phone calls or meetings. Make notes and keep them in your folder on your child

Be sure to attend parent orientation, which often happens quite soon after school starts. It's good to not only have a sense of what's expected of your child academically but what that individual teacher's policies are regarding behavior, discipline, snacks, and breaks for the class (such as recess times) and for individual students (to go to the bathroom, to regroup in a quiet place, etc.-these are very important for the child with SPD.) Parent orientation often offers a chance for you to meet the specialty teachers as well, and to learn what's new this year, such as a new approach or policies.

Also, if there's a school handbook of policies, read it. In fact, read it or skim it every year if you can, as something may have changed or you may have overlooked something that you need to discuss with the team given your child's challenges. A "zero tolerance" aggression policy isn't going to work with a poorly regulated child who still regresses to biting or hitting when under extreme stress, for instance. A "no sweet treats" policy may make it difficult to give your child the oral comfort of a juice box to suck from or a chewy, sweetened granola bar. Such policies will have to be discussed with the team so that your child won't have such a difficult time following the rules that she ends up in sensory overload.

Be open minded and positive about your child's experience this year but at the same time, pay attention to warning signs that some policy or procedure may pose a problem. Discuss it with your child if appropriate. Then talk to the teacher. No one wants the school year to start with your child coming home with a long face or detention slip because he wasn't able to conform to the expectations. By getting to know the team and helping them get to know your child, you can help your child to have an easier, more pleasant transition to the new school year.
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copyright (c) 2012 Nancy Peske

Can a Bachelor Degree in Psychology Lead to Occupational Therapy Jobs?

College students who have an idea of what they would like to do someday often know exactly what major to choose. However, some struggle because they do not know what career path they want when they enter school. Guidance counselors will often direct them to a "neutral" major that can lead to any different careers. One of these is psychology.
 
If you have a bachelor's degree in psychology, could you purse a career in occupational therapy? The answer is yes, but you will need further training and certification.
 
What Is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy is a line of work wherein a therapist helps patients with their everyday tasks. These patients suffer from a disabling condition, such as a developmental delay, physical disability, mental handicap, or emotional problem. This can be something the patient is born with, such as mental retardation, or it could be a result of an accident or the natural aging process.
 
Occupational therapists help patients develop or improve motor skills and reasoning abilities. If some of these functions are lost, the therapist will work with the patient to compensate for this. The end goal is for the patient to be able to live a productive and satisfying life as independently as the disability allows.
 
Because occupational therapists are working with emotionally or developmentally disabled individuals, a degree in psychology can help. The therapist needs to be able to help the patient deal with his or her emotions, learn cognitive skills, and create helps that will make functioning in the day-to-day world more possible. Psychological training helps with all of these tasks.
 
Educational Requirements for Occupational Therapists
 
Occupational therapy is a highly specialized field, and as such therapists must have at least a master's degree in the field. The degree must come from an accredited school, and the program must include at least six months of fieldwork under a supervisor.
 
Students who are interested in this line of work often wonder what undergraduate program to pursue. In high school they should take as many advanced courses as possible, although math is not especially important. Undergraduate degrees can be in fields like biology, sociology, anthropology, general liberal arts, and, of course, psychology. Psychology as a bachelor's degree program provides an excellent base for further study in occupational therapy.
 
Part of the reason that a degree in psychology works so well is the fact that occupational therapists must understand how to work with people. Psychology training provides a good foundation for this. They also must be able to read their patients, even when their patients are not clearly vocalizing their needs or wants. They need to be able to see how different tasks are affecting their patients emotionally and psychologically, and a degree in psychology makes this much easier to do.
 
Licensure Requirements
 
All states require occupational therapists to receive a license. The requirements for licensure are completion of a master's program from an accredited school and the successful completion of the national certification exam. Again, a degree in psychology works well into these requirements. All in all, of the undergraduate degrees that work for this career path, a degree in psychology seems to be one of the best fits.

What Does A Teaching Assistant Do? A Job Description

A teaching assistant, or teacher's aide, provides support for certified teachers. Although a teaching assistant's responsibilities vary greatly from school to school, the majority of teaching assistants work at least in part with students who have special needs and thus require more individualized attention. This individualized attention may include working one-on-one with a particular student, making sure several students are receiving their required services, and/or providing support to students to make sure they are able to succeed in their classes. The students may have a learning disability, an emotional disability, a behavioral disability, a physical disability, or they may be diagnosed with a condition such as ADHD or autism.

In addition to providing support to students with special needs, a teacher's aide may also assist the certified teacher with various classroom-related tasks, such as grading assignments, entering scores into the grade book, monitoring students, and/or teaching parts of a lesson. Basically, the teacher's aide provides the certified teacher with an extra set of hands and eyes in the classroom, which will allow the certified teacher to better reach all of the students in the class. Typically, classrooms that utilize a teaching assistant contain students who require more attention, so the extra help that a TA provides in these classrooms is invaluable, both to the teacher and to the students being served in the classroom.

TAs may also be called upon to perform a variety of other supervisory tasks, such as supervising the cafeteria, hallways, and/or outside activities. When supervising, teaching assistants will make sure students are following school expectations in these locations. Teaching assistants are valuable to a school because they have the flexibility to perform many tasks that certified teachers may not be free to perform. They perform many of the behind-the-scenes tasks that allow the school to run smoothly.

The teacher's aide position is a great position for three primary reasons. First, it is very satisfying to develop relationships with students, to serve them, and to help them be more prepared for the future. Second, because it is a non-certified position, the responsibilities are less than that of a certified teacher, which allows the teacher's aide to devote more energy to his or her life outside of the job, such as to family, friends, and hobbies. Third, the salary for this position is quite competitive.

Being a teacher's aide means having an exciting and fulfilling job that will make a significant difference in the lives of the children you serve.

Nursing Program Versus Pharmacy Technician Program

Knowing that you want to pursue a healthcare career, but not exactly which kind, can be uncomfortable. Should you apply to medical school or dental school? A physical therapy program or a speech pathology program? Or, as we will discuss here, a pharmacy technician program or a nursing degree.

At first glance, these two programs may not sound like they have a lot in common. After all:

- a graduate of a nursing program can expect to earn a higher salary than a graduate of a pharmacy program.

- training to work in a pharmacy as a technician takes less time than training to become a nurse.

- graduates of a pharmacy technician program can find work in a supermarket, drugstore, or hospital pharmacy, but nurses are more likely to work in an a hospital or clinical setting, or in a private home.

- Becoming a nurse can mean embarking on a path of lifelong learning. Many nurses return to school after graduation to pursue such specializations as newborn nursing or palliative care; to learn about new developments in the field; and, to qualify for better paid positions.

But, a pharmacy technician program also has some fairly significant overlap with a nursing program in that both programs attract people who:

- want to help others - These are both caring professions. If you prefer the idea of chatting with a customer across the counter, opt for a pharmacy technician program. If you like the idea of participating more directly in the hour-to-hour care of a patient, opt for nursing.

- who are willing to work irregular (i.e., not 9 to 5) hours.

- can pass a criminal background check with flying colours.

- have good communication skills.

- are prepared to observe a code of ethics.

- are organized.

- are responsible.

In fact, some people leave nursing to pursue a pharmacy technician program, and vice versa. In a nutshell, nursing pays better, but can be more stressful. But nurses who switch to working in a pharmacy should be forewarned that they may find it difficult to resist the urge to share their past professional knowledge with clients, who must legally be referred to the pharmacist for medical information of this kind.

A pharmacy technician program, like a nursing program, prepares students for a career that is:

- based on science

- but geared towards patients or clients

Like nurses, grads of pharmacy technician programs must be prepared to work long hours on their feet. They must be alert for signs of drug-seeking behavior in clients.

Like graduates of a nursing program, pharmacy technicians should be able to secure employment fairly easily. So no matter what you decide, you should be able to start earning shortly after graduation.

Six Tips to Keeping School Grades Up - My Child's Serious Illness

Children who are going through medical procedures and dealing with chronic diseases want to be the same as their peers. That means doing what their peers are doing and going to school. Keeping your child's grades up is an important goal so that your child will not fall behind in school. It is devastating for a child to undergo a medical treatment and also to have to repeat a year in school.

1. To keep in touch with your child's school, talk with the school principal, secretary, teacher, counselor and any other professionals involved in your child's life. Let them know what is happening and how they can keep you in touch with school life. The more people that understand your situation and know how to help your child, the better it is for your kid.

2. At school you can have a primary contact person who understands the child's illness and is sensitive to his/her needs. Often the school nurse is the contact person but it can be any staff member.

3. The challenges that a child may face could be physical, cognitive, social, or academic. The support group that a child has is important to a child's success. The support group would include the school team, medical team, family and friends.

4. The school health plan is crucial as it describes the chronic illness or disability and lists medications given at school. It outlines medical procedures and describes accommodations that are needed for the success at school. The school health plan can be a 504 Plan or an IEP. The 504 is a civil rights statue that prohibits discrimination based upon disability. It is a written plan for students with disabilities requiring only reasonable accommodation. The 504 refers to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The IEP is a more legal document that sets out the duties and responsibilities of the school. Individual Education Program in a federal law IDEA 2004 which is Individual with Disabilities Educaton Improvement Act. It provides funding for special education.

5. The first step parents need to take is to request a Child Study Team Meeting to decide if the child is eligible for an educational plan. That is an IEP or 504 Plan. Have every conversation and discussion in writing so that you can document it later if necessary. Anyone who works with the child in the school setting along with the parent can be a part of the Child Study Team. Some parts of the country will call this team a different name ie., Student Success Team.

6. The Child Study Team or Student Success Team will decide if any of the following evaluations are needed-- medical, psychological, educational, social history, speech/language, occupational therapy and physical therapy. Accommodations can then be made that the child needs to succeed at school. Examples include the following

•Student excused from testing at P.E.
•Student allowed extra time for test taking or homework
•Student be given an extra set of books
•Student given bathroom, clinic or other passes as needed
•Student granted a rest period during the day
•Student assigned a buddy to help take notes or write if necessary.

Taking these steps will ensure that your child gets what they need in terms of help at school and this in turn increases the overall recovery.

Careers With a Respiratory Therapy Degree

Are you consumed by a passion to help people? Do you thrive for working under pressure? Do emergency situations bring out the best in you? Do you get an adrenalin rush every time you think about a "code blue" call? Do you want to be at the forefront of using cutting edge technology for the delivery of health care?

If your response to all the above questions is yes, then you are an ideal fit for the role of a Respiratory Therapist.

Respiratory Therapists (RTs) are also known as Respiratory Care Practitioners. They evaluate, treat, and provide care to patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders. Their work involves practicing under the supervision or direction of doctors. They also work closely and often supervise respiratory therapy technicians.

What does an RT do?

The American Association of Respiratory Care describes a day in the life of a Respiratory Therapist including activities like:

1. Diagnosing lung and breathing disorders.
2. Recommending treatments for respiratory disorders.
3. Conducting chest examinations on patients.
4. Analyzing breath, tissue, and blood samples of patients.
5. Managing ventilators and artificial airway devices for patients.
6. Educating patients and their families about lung diseases.

Respiratory Therapists provide care to patients ranging from premature babies with under developed lungs to older people suffering from lung diseases. They also respond to emergency situations like heart attacks, strokes, or shock.

How do I become an RT?

The minimum qualification to become a Respiratory Therapist is an associate respiratory therapy degree. Although an associate's degree in respiratory therapy may be enough to enter the profession, RTs need to earn a bachelor's or master's degree in respiratory therapy for career advancement.

In addition to the degree, all U.S. states except Alaska and Hawaii require RTs to have a valid license from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). The board confers the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential to students who graduate from entry-level or advanced respiratory therapy program and pass a licensure exam.

CRTs that complete advanced respiratory therapy programs and pass two separate exams are eligible for a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) certificate from NBRC. However, students must ensure before enrolling in a respiratory therapy program that it is accredited by a recognized accrediting body like the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) or Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).

What Will I Learn?

As part of their education, students of a respiratory therapy degree learn topics such as cardiac & renal anatomy & physiology, cardiopulmonary pharmacology, pulmonary anatomy & physiology, pulmonary function testing, respiratory care protocols, polysomnography, and many more.

In addition to these clinical concepts, respiratory therapy graduates also learn management principles that respiratory care practitioners need to perform supervisory roles. These subject areas include management planning, psychology of motivation, business law, organization design and change, etc.

At the end of their program, graduates have the skills and knowledge to meet the everyday challenges that the work of an RT throws up - be it at a hospital treating patients with chronic breathing problems or responding to emergencies or at a patient's home providing preventive care.

If you want to stand shoulder to shoulder with the best brains in medical science and assist them in the delivery of health care, if you want a career that is both fulfilling and rewarding, and if you want a job with multiple advancement opportunities, then respiratory therapy is just what the doctor ordered for you!