Occupational Therapy (Job Shadowing)?

Hi,
I've never shadowed anyone before, but am required to before applying to most occupational therapy programs. Does anyone have an opinion on what setting would give me the best view of the profession? I was looking into hospital as well as a nursing home and children's center.

I also know that I can't pitch in with any direct care, but is there a way to help the therapist while there instead of just standing around and watching the entire time? I need at least 40 hours experience and I'd rather not just stand around the entire time.

All you will be allowed to do is just stand there and watch for any direct care sessions. If for instance, you are observing and exercise group and they are batting a balloon back and forth, they may let you bat the balloon with them, but that would be about it.

As for what area to observe, what area are you interested in? Physical medicine/ Rehab, Psych, school setting, nursing home, sports med, job retraining? OT's work in a huge variety of settings. I started out in Psych and after about a year, I was pretty burnt out. I switched to a Brain Injury unit and loved it. With Brain injury, you focus not only on physical disabilities, but the cognitive retraining as well.

If you shadow at a fairly large hospital, you would have the opportunity to see the different populations there...inpatient, outpatient, psych, and then if they have a specialty unit such as brain injury, spinal cord, ortho, or burns...you have a chance to see that as well.

Good luck