Any input is greatly appreciated

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This is my first post, so here it goes! I have been looking on this site for awhile now, and decided to join. It seems that so many people are helpful on here! Im 26 years old, and I have been working as a CNA for 7.5 years. I work with Alzheimer's patients and I love my job, but I cant live off of 11.52 an hour. I have a serious boyfriend and we have been together for 5 years. I want to have children soon, but we have to be more financially stable. I wanted to be a nurse, but I don't want to have children while Im in school, and I would have to get my BSN to have a job in my area. I want to get a degree in something less stressful as well, I was thinking maybe OTA, speech pathology, etc. I have been researching careers in the medical field, but Im sure there are a lot that I have no idea about. If anyone is a OTA I would love to know about the schooling, if you like your job, career outlook etc. I have tons of thoughts running through my head right now so Im sure I will post more questions. I know its my fault for not going to nursing school right out of high school, because now I feel so stuck. I would like 2 children by the time Im 30 (hopefully) and if I peruse BSN I wont have children for a while.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

Well, most of us are nurses or nursing students, so input on "our jobs" will be limited. What about respiratory therapy? There are 2-yr programs for that. SLPs and OTRs are Masters minimum

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

If you have no kids & it's just you & your boyfriend, why don't you move? You could get your ADN, work & have kids sooner than if you did your BSN. Most pre-reqs for the ADN program can be completed online & the RN to BSN is completely online.

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OTA is occupational therapy assistant and is a two year associates degree. Can you get a CNA job at a rehab centre? It would help you to become familiar with the roles of the various allied health team members, so that you can make an informed career choice. Also, if you have rehab experience it may make you more compettive on the job market after graduatation.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

If you enjoy your Alzheimer's patients, why not LPN school? One year, and the long-term care jobs with this patient population are mostly filled by LPNs.

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meanmaryjean- I work at a CBRF and we do not hire LPNs. From what I have heard, LPNs will eventually be faded out because they are not really needed. If you have a nurse and a CNA they can do the job of the LPN. But I did consider that.

OrganizedChaos- My Boyfriend has a daughter here that we get 50/50. So we cant move to far away. He also works on the family farm, and that's his passion.

Dishes- Do you think that OTA will eventually not be needed, or will more schooling be required? I kind of want to choose a career that I wont have to continually go to school for it, I understand there is always things to lean in your career, but I mean like have to go back for a bachelors or masters degree because you cant get hired if you don't.

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I dont see employers eliminating OTA positions in the future, as a staff mix of OTAs/OTs and PTAs/PTs is more cost effective than a straight PT and OT staff. Also, I don't anticipate that there will be studies showing patient safety concerns with OTAs and PTAs, as the patient population they work with are typically disabled, but stable patients. The patient populations that were assessed in the nursing studies that showed lower education in nursing impacted patient outcomes were acute care patients who were medically unstable. Therefore hospital employers can justify hiring all BSN staff for patient safety reasons.

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Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.

Just an FYI speech pathologist as well as most physical therapy programs require a masters or above!!

Annie

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Are you saying that OTA require a masters? Because I have read, occupational therapy assistant can be an associates degree.

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I think there is confusion because not everyone is familiar with OTAs and OTs, you are correct, OTA is a two year associates degree and OT is a masters degree.

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I think there is confusion because not everyone is familiar with OTAs and OTs, you are correct, OTA is a two year associates degree and OT is a masters degree.

Thanks thats what i thought. Do you know what the job out look looks like for OTA? I don't want to go to school for something I can't get a job in.

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You will have to ask the rehab staff in your area, the OTA job market is saturated in my area, that is why I suggested you try and gain expereinces as a CNA at a rehab centre. No matter what career path you choose you may be facing steep competition after you graduate, be prepared by gaining work, volunteer, or research experience ahead of time.

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