W8 Career Navigation

 

 

This is a sample page PARTIALLY completed. What you will see in the sample:

• Step 5: Research for ONE occupation, copied and pasted, highlighted for important facts.
• Step 4: Summary notes for one bulleted item based on the highlighted areas in Step 5 (See Final Directions in next section).

 

 

---

Final Directions:

 

What should be on your final page in order from top to bottom -- you did these in reverse order, starting with number five (5):

1. Final Essay: A Day in the Life

(Directions: A Day in My Life: Write a story or diary/journal entry (A Day in My Life) about your day at work, from breakfast to bedtime. What kind of education did you need? What would you do? With whom would you work? In what setting? What tools/equipment would you use? What projects would you work on? What salary would you hope to make now and in the future at this job? How do you increase your pay? Use the sample story provided to you as an example. (Handout and models provided.)

2. Picture of your Artwork (based on your sketch)

3. Summary Essay from notes and interview

(Directions: Summarize in essay: Use your notes to write an essay explaining the job. Who do you know in that kind of job? What is a day like in that line of work? What do people in this career think about while they do their job? What skills are necessary? What is needed for occupation preparation? What are the responsibilities, challenges, and rewards in that profession?)

4. Summary Notes of each bulleted section below on one occupation:

(Directions: Review, by writing notes, what you learned about one occupation from the Occupational Handbook in your own words:)

• Occupation: _____________________________
• Future Outlook (Job Outlook; Employment) 
• Basic job description (include work hours and if self-employed, employee, contract, etc.; Significant Points; Nature of the Work; Working Conditions)
• Tools/Equipment:
• Income Range (Earnings)
• Education/training (Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement)
• Skills needed (Nature of the Work; Working Conditions)

5. Research three occupations using the outlines below; you may copy/paste the facts from the handbook into the appropriate areas. Highlight the important facts you need for your essay. Rewrite the facts in your own words using the bullet items (see step 4).

---

---

 

 

Shee's Career Choices Sample

 

Review, by writing notes, what you learned about one occupation from the Occupational Handbook in your own words:

• Occupation: Physical Therapist
• Future Outlook (Job Outlook; Employment):

Because of the growing number of elderly, the prospect for employment is improving. The baby-boomers are getting older, and their bodies need help to prevent injuries. Physical therapy programs help.  Also, regulations are changing on reimbursement so more work is available. In addition, newer techniques in the medical field provide help for trauma and newborn needs, so physical therapists have another group of patients to work with due to new technology and methods. Finally, the Individuals with Disabilities Act demands help for challenged persons in schools, so that is also an area open to PT.s However, most PT's work in hospitals or health care offices. 

 

• Basic job description (include work hours and if self-employed, employee, contract, etc.; Significant Points; Nature of the Work; Working Conditions)
• Tools/Equipment:
• Income Range (Earnings)
• Education/training (Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement)
• Skills needed (Nature of the Work; Working Conditions)

---

Choice # One for Physical Therapist

 

Occupation:   Physical Therapist

Source: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos080.htm

 

Future Outlook (Job Outlook; Employment):

 

Physical therapists held about 185,500 jobs in 2008. The number of physical therapist jobs is probably greater than the number of practicing physical therapists, because some physical therapists work part time, holding two or more jobs. For example, some may work in a private practice, but also work part time in another healthcare facility.

About 60 percent of physical therapists worked in hospitals or in offices of other health practitioners. Other jobs were in the home healthcare services industry, nursing care facilities, outpatient care centers, and offices of physicians. Some physical therapists were self-employed in private practices, seeing individual patients and contracting to provide services in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing care facilities, home healthcare agencies, adult day care programs, and schools. Physical therapists also teach in academic institutions and conduct research.

 

 

Employment change. Employment of physical therapists is expected to grow by 30 percent from 2008 to 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations. Changes to restrictions on reimbursement for physical therapy services by third-party payers will increase patient access to services and, thus, increase demand. The increasing elderly population will drive growth in the demand for physical therapy services. The elderly population is particularly vulnerable to chronic and debilitating conditions that require therapeutic services. Also, the baby-boom generation is entering the prime age for heart attacks and strokes, increasing the demand for cardiac and physical rehabilitation. Medical and technological developments will permit a greater percentage of trauma victims and newborns with birth defects to survive, creating additional demand for rehabilitative care. In addition, growth may result from advances in medical technology and the use of evidence-base practices, which could permit the treatment of an increasing number of disabling conditions that were untreatable in the past.

In addition, the federally mandated Individuals with Disabilities Education Act guarantees that students have access to services from physical therapists and other therapeutic and rehabilitative services. Demand for physical therapists will continue in schools.

Job prospects. Job opportunities will be good for licensed physical therapists in all settings. Job opportunities should be particularly good in acute hospital, skilled nursing, and orthopedic settings, where the elderly are most often treated. Job prospects should be especially favorable in rural areas as many physical therapists tend to cluster in highly populated urban and suburban areas.

 

 

Work environment

 

Basic job description (include work hours and if self-employed, employee, contract, etc.; Significant Points; Nature of the Work; Working Conditions)

 

 

Physical therapists, sometimes referred to as simply PTs, are healthcare professionals who diagnose and treat individuals of all ages, from newborns to the very oldest, who have medical problems or other health-related conditions, illnesses, or injuries that limits their abilities to move and perform functional activities as well as they would like in their daily lives. Physical therapists examine each individual and develop a plan using treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability. In addition, PTs work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness and wellness-oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles.

Physical therapists provide care to people of all ages who have functional problems resulting from, for example, back and neck injuries, sprains/strains and fractures, arthritis, burns, amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, conditions such as cerebral palsy and spina bifida, and injuries related to work and sports. Physical therapy care and services are provided by physical therapists and physical therapist assistants who work under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist. Physical therapists evaluate and diagnose movement dysfunction and use interventions to treat patient/clients. Interventions may include therapeutic exercise, functional training, manual therapy techniques, assistive and adaptive devices and equipment, and physical agents and electrotherapeutic modalities.

Physical therapists often consult and practice with a variety of other professionals, such as physicians, dentists, nurses, educators, social workers, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists.

 

 

 

Physical therapists practice in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and private offices that have specially equipped facilities. These jobs can be physically demanding, because therapists may have to stoop, kneel, crouch, lift, and stand for long periods. In addition, physical therapists move heavy equipment and lift patients or help them turn, stand, or walk.

In 2008, most full-time physical therapists worked a 40-hour week; some worked evenings and weekends to fit their patients' schedules. About 27 percent of physical therapists worked part-time.

 

 

Tools/Equipment:

 

exercising equipment: walkers, weight machines, special equipment for handicapped

wraps, braces

 

 

Related jobs/job descriptions (Related Occupations; Nature of the Work):

(Note: this section is unfinished)

 

Audiologists

Chiropractors

Occupational therapists

Recreational therapists

Speech-language pathologists

 

Job-- other types of jobs in this category	Description of the job -- Related Occupations; Nature of the Work	√ I like it

 

 

Income Range (Earnings):

 

 

Median annual wages of physical therapists were $72,790 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $60,300 and $85,540. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $50,350, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $104,350. Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of physical therapists in May 2008 were:

 

Home health care services	$77,630
Nursing care facilities	76,680
General medical and surgical hospitals	73,270
Offices of physicians	72,790
Offices of other health practitioners	71,400

 

 

 

 

Education/training (Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement):

 

 

Today’s entrants to this profession need a post-baccalaureate degree from an accredited physical therapy program. All States regulate the practice of physical therapy, which usually requires passing scores on national and State examinations.

Education and training. The American Physical Therapy Association’s accrediting body, called the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), accredits entry-level academic programs in physical therapy. In 2009, there were 212 physical therapist education programs. Of these accredited programs, 12 awarded master's degrees; and 200 awarded doctoral degrees. Currently, only graduate degree physical therapist programs are accredited. Master's degree programs typically are 2 to 2.5 years in length, while doctoral degree programs last 3 years.

Physical therapist education programs include foundational science courses, such as biology, anatomy, physiology, cellular histology, exercise physiology, neuroscience, biomechanics, pharmacology, pathology, and radiology/imaging, as well as behavioral science courses, such as evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning. Some of the clinically-based courses include medical screening, examination tests and measures, diagnostic process, therapeutic interventions, outcomes assessment, and practice management. In addition to classroom and laboratory instruction, students receive supervised clinical experience.

Among the undergraduate courses that are useful when one applies to a physical therapist education program are anatomy, biology, chemistry, physics, social science, mathematics, and statistics. Before granting admission, many programs require volunteer experience in the physical therapy department of a hospital or clinic.

Licensure. All States regulate the practice of physical therapy. Eligibility requirements vary by State. Typical requirements for physical therapists include graduation from an accredited physical therapy education program; passing the National Physical Therapy Examination; and fulfilling State requirements such as jurisprudence exams. A number of States require continuing education as a condition of maintaining licensure.

Other qualifications. Physical therapists should have strong interpersonal and communication skills, so they can educate patients about their condition and physical therapy treatments and communicate with patients' families. Physical therapists also should be compassionate and possess a desire to help patients.

Advancement. Physical therapists are expected to continue their professional development by participating in continuing education courses and workshops. Some physical therapists become board certified in a clinical specialty. Opportunities for physical therapists exist in academia and research. Some become self-employed, providing contract services or opening a private practice.

 

 

Skills needed (Nature of the Work; Working Conditions):

 

interpersonal and communication skills to confer with patients and families on treatment

use of equipment -- 

exercising equipment: walkers, weight machines, special equipment for handicapped

wraps, braces

continue learning for new information

pass tests for physical therapy

compassionate

desire to help

 

 

I like this because:

 

 

Skills I already have or am acquiring:

 

 

---

 

---

 

Choice # Two for ______________

Occupation:

 

Future Outlook (Job Outlook; Employment):

 

 

Basic job description (include work hours and if self-employed, employee, contract, etc.; Significant Points; Nature of the Work; Working Conditions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tools/Equipment:

 

Related jobs/job descriptions (Related Occupations; Nature of the Work):

Job-- other types of jobs in this category	Description of the job -- Related Occupations; Nature of the Work	√ I like it

 

 

 

 

 

Income Range (Earnings):

 

 

Education/training (Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement):

 

 

 

Skills needed (Nature of the Work; Working Conditions):

 

 

I like this because:

 

Skills I already have or am acquiring:

 

---

 

Choice # Three for ______________

Occupation:

Future Outlook (Job Outlook; Employment):

 

Basic job description (include work hours and if self-employed, employee, contract, etc.; Significant Points; Nature of the Work; Working Conditions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tools/Equipment:

 

Related jobs/job descriptions (Related Occupations; Nature of the Work):

Job-- other types of jobs in this category	Description of the job -- Related Occupations; Nature of the Work	√ I like it

 

 

 

Income Range (Earnings):

 

 

Education/training (Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement):

 

 

 

Skills needed (Nature of the Work; Working Conditions):

 

 

 

I like this because:

 

Skills I already have or am acquiring:

 

 

 

 

---

---

 

Art/Social Studies/English

 

 

1. Review, by writing notes, what you learned about one occupation from the Occupational Handbook in your own words:

• Occupation:
• Future Outlook (Job Outlook; Employment):
• Basic job description (include work hours and if self-employed, employee, contract, etc.; Significant Points; Nature of the Work; Working Conditions)
• Tools/Equipment:
• Income Range (Earnings)
• Education/training (Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement)
• Skills needed (Nature of the Work; Working Conditions)

 

2. Summarize in essay: Use your notes to write an essay explaining the job. Who do you know in that kind of job? What is a day like in that line of work? What do people in this career think about while they do their job? What skills are necessary? What is needed for occupation preparation? What are the responsibilities, challenges, and rewards in that profession?

 

3. Interview someone in that job (handout will be provided).

 

 

Draw a sketch of yourself doing the job of interest to you. Include details about the work environment, such as landscape, buildings, projects, and equipment.

 

Create an artwork from your sketch.  (Directions will be provided.)

 

 

6. A Day in My Life: Write a story or diary/journal entry (A Day in My Life) about your day at work, from breakfast to bedtime. What kind of education did you need? What would you do? With whom would you work? In what setting? What tools/equipment would you use? What projects would you work on? What salary would you hope to make now and in the future at this job? How do you increase your pay? Use the sample story provided to you as an example. 

 

7. Display your story and essay with your art project and sketch.

---

---