In terms of patients, the great white is one that seems almost too difficult to handle. In the realm of travel therapy, whether you practice physical therapy or occupational therapy, you will encounter all kinds of personalities. Some patients are easy going and can have a sense of humor about their situation. Others have been through a lot of trauma and as a result can seem standoffish and even aggressive. The way you deal with each type of personality will vary – sometimes you have to use a little tough love, other times you can use the power of laughter to heal. Now imagine that each of those personalities was a different breed of shark. There’s the sleek and cunning tiger shark, the gentle and docile nurse shark and the great white shark with its awesome power. Let’s pair up the sharks with their corresponding patient personalities.
By getting out and facing new trials, you’ll become a better therapist. While some might think of a career in health care as a job that requires stability of location, there are actually many opportunities for travel and adventure. In fact, travel therapists are like the gypsies of the health care world. If you’re interested in becoming a travel therapist, here are few things to know. You get to see the whole country Travel therapists can choose from thousands of opportunities around the country. Spend six weeks in a fast-paced metropolitan area on the east coast, then head south and spend a month in a beach community in Florida.
Turn your bad day around before it gets worse. Take a deep breath – right here – and read on. Bad days happen, and as most nurses can tell you, usually one bad thing tends leads to another like a terrible chain reaction. You spilled your coffee right before you were about to head out the door. Your car didn’t start and you were late to work. A patient yelled at you. Once you’ve acknowledge that you’re going to be in a grumpy mood, you’re probably going to stay in that mood the rest of the day. And there’s nothing worse than the advice, “Don’t worry about it,” or “Just smile!” If you need a practical solution to turn your bad day around before it gets worse, then take a deep breath – right here – and read on:
Add these Physical Therapy blogs to your reading list As a physical therapist, you completed years of training to enter into your profession. But even the most seasoned therapist can benefit from new perspectives. And while continuing education classes and lectures are valuable resources, they tend to be events that you can’t go to just any day you choose. For those times when you have a few minutes to kill and want to catch up on the buzz of your chosen industry, try checking out a blog. These sites offer great insight into what others in your field are doing and talking about, all from the convenience of your computer or mobile device.
Working in occupational therapy, you likely find that even the most motivated patients can lose some of their enthusiasm over time when complications arise or their recovery takes longer than they expected. As their therapist, you can play a critical role in not just their physical progress, but their emotional and mental commitment to continuing to work toward their goal. By finding strategies to encourage patients to keep going when they want to quit, you’ll see better results and likely form a trusting relationship in the process.