Nursing vs Occupational Therapy as a career?

[greenykilt]

Hello,

Does anyone have opinons on these two different fields? Has anyone struggled with choosing between them? And if so how did you rationalize one over the other? What are the pros and cons of OT that you see, as a career and as a professional?

Thank You- doing some research and info gathering.

[brina8615]

I am almost done with an Accelerated BSN program now, and I actually started applying for an Occupational therapy program at the same time that I was applying for nursing school. I mainly decided to go with nursing because I was worried about the limited job market of OT. As others have said, with nursing, you have SO many options. Once you enter the field, if you don't like what the patient population/your hours/your environment/etc., there are a million other completely different areas of nursing to try. Once you get your master's in OT, you're options are pretty limited, I believe. Then again, another main reason I didn't go with OT was because I felt I didn't know enough about the field to commitment to a master's program.

[RosePMHNP]

I've definitely struggled with the same decision (for months actually!). I'm currently getting a bachelor's degree, and I reached the fork in the road where I had to declare what major and path I was going to follow. I understand how difficult this decision can be! Ultimately, I chose the BSN after a LOT of research and volunteering/shadowing both fields. BSN truly opens doors to other careers in the healthcare world, and if I decide that nursing isn't for me, I may very well become an OT. Consider what will make YOU personally happy when you decide, and also consider where you are in life and what your goals are. If you are looking for the more comfortable career, OT may be something to consider. But if you want something more versatile and exciting, nursing may be the better path. Either way, you are helping people, and if you can find meaning in that, then you will probably enjoy either career! Good luck!