Understanding if a PT Career is Right for You
There are many reasons to consider pursuing a career as a physical therapist. As our population ages, there’s a growing need for more physical therapists in the workforce. As every profession has pros and cons, I’m going to provide some things you should consider when contemplating a career as a physical therapist.
Exploring a Career in PT: Is it Right for Me?
As a physical therapist, one of the first questions a patient or student will often ask, “Why did you choose physical therapy?” The answers will vary. Many physical therapists were inspired while they were recovering from a sports injury. Others watched a physical therapist assist family members through medical issues toward an improved quality of life. However, the majority come down to one resounding answer- the call to help others. I wanted to help others and teach. I didn’t want to go to school forever, and wanted a career without blood, guts, or needles. Whatever your motivation may be, keep reading below to better understand how to determine if a career in PT is right for you.
Things to Know to Start your PT Career
You’ve finished physical therapy school, passed your board exam, and landed your first job – now what? There are many things new graduates expect from starting their very first job and other things they do not. Today we will look at a few things to know when you start your career as a physical therapist.
New Graduate Mentorship Opportunities and Expectations
What kind of new graduate mentorship opportunities are available at Athletico?
Athletico has developed a best-in-class Clinician Mentoring Program focused on skill development for new graduate clinicians. The PT/PTA mentoring program is about 1 year in length and is available for new graduate PT and PTA clinicians with less than 2 years of experience. The hand therapy mentoring program is about 2 years in length and is available for new graduate hand therapy clinicians who have less than 3 years of experience. Clinicians are paired with a Mentor for an individualized mentorship experience. The program consists of a combination of online eLearning in MedBridge and live clinical mentoring sessions.
8 Lessons I Would Tell My Past Self About Being A Physical Therapist
I still remember the day I sat with my college advisor as he laid out the curriculum plan that would allow me to apply for physical therapy school. It was one of the last pieces of the “figuring out what you want to do with your life” puzzle, and I left his office energized and focused on achieving my goal of becoming a physical therapist (PT).
Mentorship Experience at Athletico
Starting a new role, new job, or new career can be a daunting task. Where do I go on the first day? Who are my co-workers? How will I grow? These are all common thoughts and questions on the first day of a new job. Athletico prides itself on developing its staff and living its core values daily. We have many options and opportunities for newly graduated clinicians and experienced clinicians alike. Athletico has the distinct advantage of having thousands of highly trained and engaged clinical minds to pull from as new employees start their careers with us.
How to Find your Niche as a Physical Therapist
As a new grad, it can be overwhelming to make plans around your career as a PT. Do I want to specialize? Do I want to start a residency? How do I get involved in leadership? It is important to dream, set goals for yourself, and understand all our profession offers. Here are some tips for making your dreams a reality at Athletico.
Clinical Excellence: Celebrating Athletico’s Clinicians to get Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner Certification
Co-Authors: Sarah Dawson, PT, DPT, PRPC, ATC and Hailey Colbert, PT, DPT, PRPC
Our interests in pelvic health started as students and classmates at Governors State University Physical Therapy program in 2015. We had the opportunity to take an elective course and chose to take the pelvic health elective. We learned a base level of pelvic floor anatomy and assessment and treatment techniques in this course. But most of all, we came to appreciate the growing need for providers in this specialization. We learned about the prevalence of incontinence, pelvic pain, prolapse, prostate cancer, and perinatal conditions that required greater expertise than what was covered in physical therapy school.