3 answers
Kalyssa
Student
Grafton, Ohio
6
Questions
Asked
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What does a typical day look like for a physical therapist?
I am potentially interested in becoming a physical therapist after college, and I was wondering what the average workday looks like.
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3 answers
Beth Burgess PT, MS, GCS
Physical Therapist
48
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
Beth’s Answer
Hi Kalyssa,
Donna’s answer is excellent. I’ll just expand on it a little. Different settings will have different hours and expectations. If you work for a school system, you get school hours - 8-3 ish with summer off, spring break, Christmas, etc. The therapists can work longer for parent meetings and report writing. It is a great job if you have school age kids. You will make an equal hourly wage to your clinic based colleagues but you are working fewer hours.
Most outpatient clinics are open 7 am - 6 pm. You might work 4, 10 hour days, or work 7-4, or 9-6. Like Donna said, your day will be mostly patient care, documentation, maybe a meeting here and there.
If you like sports, lots of PT’s also have their athletic training certification and work evenings and weekends to cover games for high school or semi pro teams. Yes, there are PT’s on staff with all pro sports, Olympic level teams, dance companies, pro rodeo, etc.
Hospitals and nursing homes tend to work Monday- Friday, 8-5. They also have a partial staff on weekends for new admissions. There are facilities in the Dallas area that have a Friday, Saturday, Sunday shift- and you get pay and benefits like you are full time.
Home health is another option. Full time is considered 20-30 visits per week, 60 minutes per visit. Before you get excited- you also have to drive between clients and do documentation, so you are busy!
Therapy is an intense 6 or more years of college. It is difficult to hold a job because classes are full time. Many new graduates have large amounts of student loans. To pay this off, many physical therapists have a side gig, too. School therapists work at the hospital on weekends and holidays. Work at the outpatient clinic 7-4, the see 1-2 home health patients afterwards, etc.
This is not a job where you are bored. You never get to check your phone or have a long lunch. But helping someone get their life back is all worth it!
APTA. Org for universities, careers
Shadow a therapist to see if you like it
Keep your grades up, very competitive to get into program.
Volunteer at Special Olympics, nursing home, hospital.
Donna’s answer is excellent. I’ll just expand on it a little. Different settings will have different hours and expectations. If you work for a school system, you get school hours - 8-3 ish with summer off, spring break, Christmas, etc. The therapists can work longer for parent meetings and report writing. It is a great job if you have school age kids. You will make an equal hourly wage to your clinic based colleagues but you are working fewer hours.
Most outpatient clinics are open 7 am - 6 pm. You might work 4, 10 hour days, or work 7-4, or 9-6. Like Donna said, your day will be mostly patient care, documentation, maybe a meeting here and there.
If you like sports, lots of PT’s also have their athletic training certification and work evenings and weekends to cover games for high school or semi pro teams. Yes, there are PT’s on staff with all pro sports, Olympic level teams, dance companies, pro rodeo, etc.
Hospitals and nursing homes tend to work Monday- Friday, 8-5. They also have a partial staff on weekends for new admissions. There are facilities in the Dallas area that have a Friday, Saturday, Sunday shift- and you get pay and benefits like you are full time.
Home health is another option. Full time is considered 20-30 visits per week, 60 minutes per visit. Before you get excited- you also have to drive between clients and do documentation, so you are busy!
Therapy is an intense 6 or more years of college. It is difficult to hold a job because classes are full time. Many new graduates have large amounts of student loans. To pay this off, many physical therapists have a side gig, too. School therapists work at the hospital on weekends and holidays. Work at the outpatient clinic 7-4, the see 1-2 home health patients afterwards, etc.
This is not a job where you are bored. You never get to check your phone or have a long lunch. But helping someone get their life back is all worth it!
Beth recommends the following next steps:
Donna Calvert, PT, PhD
physical therapist
33
Answers
Mission, Kansas
Updated
Donna’s Answer
As a physical therapist for 35+ years in several different settings, I found each setting had its own rewards and challenges. PT's can work in hospitals, outpatient clinics, skilled nursing facilities,home health, school systems, etc. In each setting, it was extremely rewarding to work with patients to achieve their highest level of independence, improve their function or decrease their pain. A typical day had regularly scheduled patients for the PT to see, either for an initial evaluation or ongoing treatment. Some settings have PT Assistants or aids to help with aspects of treatments; others the PT does the entire treatment themselves. As patients improve, you change their treatment goals and set up a new program for them to work on, so the work is ever-changing and can be very challenging when a patient isn't improving or cooperating. Most patient interactions are very enjoyable.
There is always the paperwork/computer charting aspect of the job and that can be exasperating some days, but it is necessary to do that well so someone else can step in to work with your patient if you can't. Also, there are opportunities to work both full and part time in PT, as your own life events change.
PT is an excellent field and the demand will continue into the future as higher numbers of the population age.
There is always the paperwork/computer charting aspect of the job and that can be exasperating some days, but it is necessary to do that well so someone else can step in to work with your patient if you can't. Also, there are opportunities to work both full and part time in PT, as your own life events change.
PT is an excellent field and the demand will continue into the future as higher numbers of the population age.
Aisha Taylor
Mortgage Closing Specialist
83
Answers
Detroit, Michigan
Updated
Aisha’s Answer
Hi Kalyssa,
For the most part, you'll be consulting with patients to learn about their physical condition and symptoms. Diagnosing movement dysfunction and developing a treatment plan. Teaching patients how to properly use therapeutic exercise techniques. Providing stimulation or massage to promote healing.
Good Luck on your journey.
For the most part, you'll be consulting with patients to learn about their physical condition and symptoms. Diagnosing movement dysfunction and developing a treatment plan. Teaching patients how to properly use therapeutic exercise techniques. Providing stimulation or massage to promote healing.
Good Luck on your journey.