Filed in Category Pediatric Clinics
I have worked as PT in outpatient orthopedics for 10 years. Currently, I’m at home caring for my 3 small children, under the age of 4.
Eventually, I’ll need to return to work to help my husband support the family financially. Rather than return to orthopedics, which I like but am not truly passionate about, I’m considering making the change to pediatrics.
I feel that as both a PT and a mom, I’d have so much to offer to children and their families in the area of pediatrics. However, I know that its going to be a challenge to make the switch because I don’t yet have any experience in that area. But I’m willing to do what is needed to be able to cross over into peds.
My first idea is to study up on pediatric PT at home, whenever I have the chance. My next step would be to approach pediatric clinics and offer my services for free in exchange for learning more about pediatrics. I can’t offer a lot of time – maybe 2 mornings a week.
Any more suggestions?
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I have a few suggestions:
Never, EVER offer your services for free! You are a professional, not a gardener.
Unpaid experience is useless to potential employers; they want paid experience.
I recommend taking some continuing education courses in some aspects of peds PT. A Feldenkreis course would be very marketable, even if you don’t become a certified Feldenkreis practitioner.
You do have some experience; you learned peds in PT school, didn’t you?
You can also shadow a pediatric PT for a few weeks without doing any therapy. Remember a hospital or clinic won’t (and shouldn’t) allow you to work on patients due to liability problems unless you are an employee. Never touch a patient you haven’t been hired to treat.
You can probably start with peds doing strictly ortho work, then transition to neuro once you get the hang of it.
You probably won’t have any trouble finding a job, even without peds experience. Hospitals, schools, and clinics are desperate for any and all rehab professionals.
PT is one of the most highly paid jobs now in the USA hospitals. I am surprised that you would even think of gardening work in any capacity . It now requires a 5 year course here in the Philippines PT to graduate . The comes the board review and exam’s . After all of this this , you should be proud to have completed the challenge of success . Pt’s are so critical in most hospitals now , they would surely miss your presence . Nurses are also critical too , especially master nurses MRN’s, This would be a much better transfer . Think this over before giving up your career and all you have learned in doing what you are doing right now . God Bless you …