Occupational therapist interested in nursing

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Looking for opinions! I have a bachelors of science majoring in biology ( minoring in chemistry), and a masters of science in occupational therapy. I've been working as an OT in LTC settings mostly, for the last 7 years, with a smattering on acute care units of hospitals. I just found out that there is a fast track RN program that I could complete in 21 months.

I'm interested for a few reasons: 1) I'm passionate about wound care/ pressure ulcer treatment and prevention. Wound care in my current LTC setting is kind of behind the times. I'm in a place where nurses "learned" this year that steristrips aren't best practice for skin tears in elderly clients.. This frustrates me because although I want to help ( and mentioned it when I started working at this site two years ago) truly my knowledge is limited ( I only know bits and pieces beyond my typical scope, and frankly who is going to listen to me anyway??) I feel I could really offer a full package of wound prevention and treatment knowledge with further education. 2) There is a breakdown in communication/ lack of respect at times between nurses and clinicians. Not always, and at times it's veiled, but long story short, it appears OTs " hound" ( albeit politely) nurses with individualized care plans for clients. And, the other side of the coin is that I have witnessed way too many eye rolls of clinicians who feel nurses just " don't care" or " don't pay attention" to proper use of equipment, interventions, etc. I love a multidisciplinary team: this meeting and contribution of different professions actually excites me! I kind of feel if I know of or experience the nursing side of client care, I may be able to bridge that communication gap and help others bridge it too? 3) I've met many great nurses that genuinely care about patients and it shows ( and not all of them are outright "warm and fuzzy", but even though some of them don't have sunny dispositions, their actions show how dedicated they are). I've met other nurses that don't appear as caring and sometimes there actions ( or inaction) make me cringe ( and not regarding anything OT-related). I guess the OT in me wants to figure out a way to " fix" this? Is it even possible? I just don't feel like I'm qualified to pass any sort of judgement until I've been in their shoes, literally. I'm not meaning to be disrespectful here at all, but I have only come across one disgruntled OT in my travels. There has to be a reason for this! I'd love to possibly offer solutions/ explore this more.

Anyway, are these pursuits worth it? I've found forums discussing the jump from nursing to OT, but not the other way around. I'd love to hear some thoughts on the matter!

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FWIW, every time someone starts a thread here about "should I become an RN or an OT?," I always post that, over the many years I've been an RN (in psych, so I've worked with lots of OTs), the OTs I've known have been a lot happier and more satisfied being an OT than most of the RN I've known have been happy and satisfied about being RNs. Have you tried working in other settings? Have you worked in psych or acute rehab? The school system?

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Thank you for the response! The thing is, I do love being an OT, especially within geriatrics ( dementia care, seating assessments, swallowing assessments, pressure ulcer prevention), I'm just wondering if broadening my skill set by becoming formally educated as an RN is a worthwhile enhancement/endeavour. I couldn't see myself switching careers entirely, but potentially melding the two to fit a niche...just not sure exactly what that niche would be or if others would see benefit of it..like you, I've seen postings on people deciding to be a nurse or OT, or planning to go from nursing to OT, but I haven't come across anyone who was an OT and became a nurse/combined the disciplines.

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It's easy to work in the field but it is very hard to change the system in way things are taught and done. In the states my facility was private and had a lot of education sessions weekly regarding wound care and etc... but here it seems everything tied to funding. My hospital only has one wound care specialized nurse out of 400 or so patients due to funding.. and there is wound care education provided but not every place is that lucky as the residential care place I worked at in Canada did not even have a single wound care session for the staff that worked there. To be able to promote the change you kind of have to be a manager, or even be involved in the decision-making group, and I am pretty sure that is not something a regular fresh-out of school bedside nurse can take part of...

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Hmm..thank you for the reply...perhaps better use of my time would be to hone my OT skills further and work towards management. Don't think I'm quite ready for that yet though, I like being on the frontline. Thanks again for your input!

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I know a few RNs who have become OTs. I think quality of life is better as an OT. No nights, little or no weekends. As the other poster said the OTs do seem happier.

I would think you may do well to some continuing education in your field if your wanting more. Going back for your BScN is a big commitment to time and money. In the end you will be at the bottom on seniority, with less pay, worse hours and more debt.

It sounds like you are good at your job, like you care. Your pts need caring and competent OTs too. It can be hard working in LTC to keep current, as in many smaller facilities. You could start a journal club?

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Wow! I love the idea of a journal club!! Fantastic! And maybe we could ask members to each bring articles that relate to their own discipline ( nursing, OT, PT, nutrition, etc.), that they wish other disciplines would know about...that would get us talking too, and could promote a better team mentality. I am so glad you suggested that. Thank you!

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Specializes in geriatrics.

I agree with others. I considered becoming an OT to remove myself from nursing except on a casual basis. There are few jobs in nursing (aside from temp and casual) because everything is tied to funding.

The hours and the pay are much better for OT as well.

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I don't know if you are aware but there is an international interprofessional woundcare course available through IIWCC-CAN and there is an interprofessional organization called the Canadian Association of Wound Care (CAWC) that has a journal, workshops and a conference, consider joining CAWC as a way to start enhancing your woundcare knowledge.

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Thank you! I have been on the sites, but now I will look into joining. They have a great set up in Alberta, wherein OTs and nurses have an opportunity to join a " SWAT" team ( skin wound assessment team) to address wounds in LTC. After education, assignments, testing and onsite evaluation, one can become a team member for a facility. Everything is based on best practice and up to date research. I would have loved to join, unfortunately my mat leave and then move back east prevented this. I thought it was a fantastic way to not only disseminate information, but also quickly address wounds. Right now there is only one wound care doctor and one nurse ( and a second part-time nurse working wound care and ostomy care) for a population of ~136,000. Although we are obviously not entirely destitute and do manage to get by, I have witnessed times when nursing staff on acute care units and in LTC just don't get a response back from the wound care nurses due to their crazy caseload. Anyway, onward and upward in my pursuit for education, but just not as a nurse! í ½í¸Š Thank you again for the advice!

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It sounds like your area could use more nurses who have specialized knowledge in wound, ostomy and continence, in Ontario, many woundcare nurses obtained their specialty education through the CAET: ETNEP program. Is this program promoted to nurses in your area? It is 225 hours and takes nurses who are motivated to do self study and are prepared to travel to placements at their own costs.

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If you are looking for a pressure ulcer best practice guideline that is intended for the interdisciplinary team, look on Registered Nurses of Ontario website and download Assessment and Management of Pressure Injuries for the Interprofessional Team, Third edition (2016).

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