Should have been a physical therapist

[Runman1914, MSN, RN]

After more than 10 years on the floors as a RN i have grown very jealous of physical therapist. Wow what a job of leisure!! Don't have to deal with difficult families or doctors. 2 hour lunches. Great money. Work at their own leisurely pace. Can decide whether or not to see patients depending on patient attitude. Only responsible for your own dept. And if any issue at all arises just tell the nurse and walk away.

Wow I should have been a physical therapist!!!

[Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Is it all peaches and cream? I'm sure there are down sides. I'd like to know what they are because the way you described it, I want to be one too!

[daisydoll]

Its never too late to go back to school! I think you can do it in 1 1/2 to 2 years if you have your BSN. But it is demanding and they recommend you don't work while doing the program.

[Runman1914, MSN, RN]

Physical therapist do require more school. But they have zero patient responsiblity compared to a nurse. I promise as God as my witness if i could do it over i would definitely be one!!!!

[Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Physical therapist do require more school. But they have zero patient responsiblity compared to a nurse. I promise as God as my witness if i could do it over i would definitely be one!!!!

Is it too late for you? Why don't you do it??

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

Our PT's work their butts off. I appreciate what they do and don't especially envy their jobs. They're VERY knowledgeable. We have our own dedicated PT/OT staff, though, so I can't speak for the rest of the hospital.

[Runman1914, MSN, RN]

Our PT's work their butts off. I appreciate what they do and don't especially envy their jobs. They're VERY knowledgeable. We have our own dedicated PT/OT staff, though, so I can't speak for the rest of the hospital.

Thats great. I wish i could meet a PT or OT that works that hard. I have worked at several hospitals as a travel nurse. I dont doubt there knowledgeable. Im sure they are. But from my experience they are very non helpful. Often i get blamed by patient, family and doctor when they dont show. I have to call their dept and make sure they are coming. Why i have to do that is beyond me. They are adults.

When they come they put 300 pound patients in the chair and leave them there for me to return to the bed. The PT on my floor often lie to the patient and family. They say they are returning later and never do. The patient and family blame me for this.

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

Wow, PT/OT sees every patient on my floor 5 days/week. I mean, some are better than others, but that's usual.

[Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN]

Physical Therapy at my facility is horrible, sure they walk the patient and what not but they will then sit them in a chair and never return, but they are smart about it.

They will get the patient out at around 1300 and tell the patient to sit for about 2 hours and then they can return to bed but their shift ends at 1500. They truly are clever.

[kasperas, BSN, RN]

I work in administration for physical therapy and am going to nursing school next month. I thought long and hard about whether or not to go to P.T. school or nursing school. I prefer the flexibility of a nursing career over P.T., and also the 3 years less schooling since I have an unrelated bachelors.

Since I work in private practice the P.T.s all work very hard because they are marketing themselves with each and every pt. My boss works 60+ hour weeks. None of them have ever worked in a hospital since school nor do they have any desire to work at one in the future.

[Keepstanding, ASN, RN]

i hear what you are saying.

one thing i have noticed is that everyone's job looks easy, looking from the outside in.

it is rarley the case.

good luck to you !

praiser :heartbeat

[gonzo1, ASN, RN]

I worked as a PTA for 5 years then decided to go to nursing school. I worked way harder as a PTA than as a ER nurse. PTs do have to put up with nasty families. As a matter of fact families hold us responsible for making their loved ones "whole" again. Something that just isn't going to happen after having a stroke from using alchohol, cocaine and cigs for years.

Nursing always called us to help them move patients because we know how and nurses are afraid of moving patients sometimes.

We have to answer to insurance, doctors and families on why patients aren't "getting better"

In outpatient working with workers comps who don't want to get better, who aren't compliant with what they need to get better. With families who can't accept that "grammy" just isn't going to recover this time, from stroke number 5 etc.

And I bet PT is way down with the economy now.

Everything always looks better from the outside looking in. And of course there are lazy PT people, just like lazy nurses, techs etc.

Be careful what you wish for.

I for one am happier with nursing. Many more opportunities and better all around pay.