Doris Said:

career help ! please any answers!?

We Answered:

Here are the typical task, but keep in mind you will be working with children.
Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.
Plan, prepare and carry out individually designed programs of physical treatment to maintain, improve or restore physical functioning, alleviate pain and prevent physical dysfunction in patients.
Record prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart or enter information into computer.
Identify and document goals, anticipated progress and plans for reevaluation.
Administer manual exercises, massage or traction to help relieve pain, increase patient strength, or decrease or prevent deformity or crippling.
Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit.
Test and measure patient's strength, motor development and function, sensory perception, functional capacity, and respiratory and circulatory efficiency and record data.
Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.
Confer with the patient, medical practitioners and appropriate others to plan, implement and assess the intervention program.
Review physician's referral and patient's medical records to help determine diagnosis and physical therapy treatment required.

Education:
The most common education is a Master's degree in
Kinesiotherapy/Kinesiotherapist or Physical Therapy/Therapist.

Salary:
U.S. median wages for 2007 are $33.54 hourly and $69,760 annual.
Go to www.bls.gov to state level wagr information.

Pros: Reward in helping others. This job is indemand nationwide.
Cons: Really none

Glen Said:

stress level in nursing?

We Answered:

There are many areas of nursing that have lower areas of stress. But in all areas there may be times of high stress. On a pediatric ward, if a child becomes critical the stress level can be much higher than many areas of the hospital, in many ways just because they are children. By the same token, when kids recover from critical phases, they often recover much more quickly than adults. I have frequently seen children discharged directly from an intensive care setting, where most adults are moved to a step down unit prior to discharge.

Psychiatric nursing is an area where there are often long periods of relatively low stress, yet the stressful periods can be intense.

Each person must choose what they are able to work with.

Many nurses can work in high stress atmospheres like the ER, and then turn the stress off at the end of an 8 hour shift. Others take the stress home with them.

Your personality will drive the specialty.

The advantage in nursing is the number of areas in which you can work. You can work in legal consulting, research or insurance which has stressful periods but is easy to leave at work.

Physical Therapy is also a great career, but has a much more limit scope of career options.

Annette Said:

Do I have the credentials to get into Northeastern / Boston U PT Programs?

We Answered:

You are a solid candidate for both programs.

Luis Said:

pediatric physical therapy questions?

We Answered:

It depends on where you work. If you work in a general out patient clinic, you will treat more injuries such as acl tears, spondololesis, fractures etc.

If you work at a cancer center, you will see all types of tumors and amputees from surgery. NICU therapist see very sick premature infants.

Generally, you will treat genetic disorders, congenital defects, developmental delaxy, dypraxia, developmental coordination disorder, Cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, orthopedic conditions, (Torticolis is huge lately).

On my case load in a public school, I currently treat children with Down Sydrome, autism, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Jra-arthritis, spina bifida, DCD and apraxia, developmental delay, dermatomyositis, TBI, neurofibromatosis, asthma, tourettes, agenisis of the corpus collosum, epilepsy, sensory integration dysfunction, and much much more. Over the years, I have treated just about everything under the sun, some really rare disorders but new ones pop up every year. I have treated 3 kids with ancephalephy (no brain only a brainstem. In peds, you treat children from birth to 21 and adults with developmental disabilitiies. You can work in a variety of facilites including children's hospitals, pediatric rehab or skilled nursing facilities, group homes, special schools, public schools, homecare (early intervention, medically frail or post op), private practice, NICU, and day hab.


I work the school schedule/ I love what I do but it is not for everyone. I could not work with middle age people with back problems. In my opinion, they complain to much but I have friends who do this and hate what I do.

I help children so they can function in the school environment. I order adaptive equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, standers, adapted classroom chairs, and patient lifts. I assist the orthotist when making new braces. I work on a team with speech therapist, OT, social workers, special ed teachers, psy, reg ed, adaptive phys ed teachers and regular ed teachers. I treat children who have a range of cognitive ability from gifted to severely mentally retarded and everything in between.

It can be frustrating when not everyone is on the same page. I certainly do not do the job for the money. I do ok but I could make more working elsewhere. The worst part is when a child dies. I have had a few over the years.

The pro of the job is that it is extremely rewarding. I wish I could share the picture of one of my kids that I took yesterday for his new wheelchair. He giggled and his face lit up and I just wanted to melt. He does not talk but you new he was happy and enjoyed coming to PT.

My advice is to do some volunteering or shadowing with a pediatric therapist. You can go to a children's hospital or local school for special needs. If you go to PT school, you will need the volunteer hours and these therapist generally write your recommendations.

Email me if you have more questions
Best wishes

Leo Said:

What is the salary of a pediatric therapist?

We Answered:

You would have to go to school for a very long time to be a PT, OT, and SLP. (Since you could only bill insurance for one therapy at a time your salary for all 3 would probably not be that much high than a PT.) A PT would make the highest salary but they have to have a doctorate. OTs and SLPs only have to have their masters. If you choose to be an SLP and you are fluent in Spanish you will have the opportunity to make a higher salary. I do not speak Spanish and our clinic has to hire an interpreter or refer the patient elsewhere if they do not speak English. Bilingual SLPs are in high demand but so are OTs and PTs. If you choose this field you will always have a job and it provides high job satisfaction.