Fieldwork Blues

That time is upon us now where students are out in the community getting trained to become full-fledged practitioners. Getting these placements are getting harder and harder for those working to place them. It’s a scramble to get agreements and contracts signed and takes an enormous amount of time and effort.

It doesn’t help when the incentive for taking student is just not there. Seasoned therapists don’t get paid any extra to train someone and as we all know, a good experience takes time.

While we can lament about the state of the situation, what if we take a closer look at how we can work to change this. We can start by asking a lot of questions of the potential FW instructors and of the students.

OTPs in the field are hesitant to take on a student given that it requires 12 weeks of full time work and extra time to orient and train. It could potentially add on more hours in a day to do this that is not paid.

Students who have very little to no work experience will definitely need much more time to train to reach the caseload goals by the timelines schools want. Many times we practitioners don’t have the opportunity to meet this person either to see if it is a match. Sometimes we get unpleasant experience that leads us to not want another student again.

Let’s be clear that losing personal time is a big barrier and not having a good match is an issue. Yes, OTPs will get CE credits but is that time really worth it?

Well, the consequence of not taking students means we have a weakening of the profession when seasoned OTPs do not pass on their wealth of knowledge and skills to the next generation of professionals. Knowledge loss is not what our communities need as the demand for our services increases. We need to be at the table to sustain our profession front and center.

Students who are in need of training must also take professional responsibility for their own learning. Get out and join your state association and learn who may be your future FW educator and network BEFORE you need to get a job. By volunteering at community service events or joining the OTAH Community Hubs, you have opportunities to learn and grow as a professional. It also demonstrates to seasoned OTs that you’re willing to do a good job in the field and gives us confidence on your ability to learn. You are in charge of your future!

OTPs should be front and center for guiding care and policy and we all as practitioners have to be actively involved in the process. Get active now and help our communities get the best care possible from our skillsets. I hope that there is a passing of knowledge continues in our OT world.

-Joni, President

jonikamiya@gmail.com