Official Therapist Blog

Cover letter tips for landing your first physical therapist job

Author Therapy Career Blogger | 02.17.2010 | Category Allied Healthcare, Career Tips, How to Tips, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapist Jobs, Respiratory Therapy, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Travel Therapist, Traveling Therapist, physical therapist licensing, physical therapy

If you recently graduated from a therapy program or expect to graduate soon, there’s good news – and bad news – on the job front.  Though you’ve chosen a career with great growth, there’s still plenty of competition out there – meaning it’s imperative to have a great physical therapy resume that is accompanied by an even stronger physical therapist cover letter.

As we’ve reported, the need for PTs is on the rise, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Demand is strong; new grads are encouraged to apply today to Travel Force and start reaping the rewards and benefits of travel therapy jobs!

But, it’s up to you to present yourself as the strongest candidate possible for those physical therapist jobs.  That means having a resume that includes all of your skills and experience learned in school and during internships and the like.

In addition,  it also means creating a cover letter that sings your praises – loudly. This document needs to be a persuasive marketing tool that highlights your strongest points and reiterates why the employer should consider you for that physical therapist job.

Here are some tips on writing a great cover letter for a physical therapy job:

• Highlight key professional skills developed throughout your career (school and otherwise). Did you develop some sort of “specialty” while in school — a skill you were known to be particularly good at? Mention it!
• Emphasize your knowledge of pertinent technologies; the more cutting-edge, the better.
• Cite evidence of leadership abilities. For instance, if you led a research team, discuss how you motivated your team to accomplish the project
• Discuss your academic achievements as proof of your intelligence and competence.
• Relate your skills, experience, and interests to the employer’s needs. (Do some research on the company or facility: Go online, or ask your Travel Force Consultant for tips and insights.)

For more guidelines, see the APTA’s Guide to the Cover Letter.

And, once you’ve gotten that all-important physical therapist job interview, prepare by reviewing our Interview tips for travel therapists.

Therapy Jobs Growing in 2010

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 02.01.2010 | Category Allied Healthcare, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Travel Therapist, Traveling Therapist, physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy

2010 has just begun, and already physical therapists and occupational therapists are among the most in-demand allied health workers. With average unemployment rates rising, finding a career with job security may seem an impossible task, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics continues to report an increasing demand for rehab therapists, predicting 30% growth between 2008 and 2018.

The growth of rehab jobs is generally attributed to the increasing elderly population. As the baby boom population ages, the need for rehab therapists in nursing homes and hospitals will continue to increase. Not all rehab jobs involve working with the elderly, however. Physical therapists and occupational therapists can also find work in schools, clinics, and private homes. The Bureau of Labor Statistics explains that as medical technology advances, trauma victims and infants with birth defects are more likely to survive, increasing their need for rehab therapists, as well.

Salaries for rehab therapists are also on the rise, and travel therapists can earn an even greater salary than those in permanent positions. Travel therapists take home an average of 35% more than permanent therapists, while also getting free private housing and earning tax benefits.

To learn more about physical therapy jobs that might be right for you, visit Travel Force to contact a recruiter today.

Top 10 Happiest States Are Delightful Destinations for Physical Therapy Jobs – Part I

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 01.25.2010 | Category Allied Healthcare, Locations, Therapist Jobs, physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy

Now that it’s a new year, with brand-new opportunities opening up in travel therapist jobs, it’s time to make some decisions about where you might want to head for you next assignment.

Like many other traveling health-care professionals, you’re probably ready for some adventure in an exciting new location, someplace where the locals are friendly – and happy. So, consider taking a pt job in one of the Top 10 happiest states: Louisiana, Hawaii, Florida, Tennessee, Arizona, Mississippi, Montana, South Carolina, Alabama and Maine.

These top 10 were named in a recent report on the happiest states, which ranked all the states by combining the results from two sources: a nationwide life-satisfaction survey; plus a study gauging a variety of lifestyle factors for each state — such as how much rain and sunshine the state received, commuting time, crime rate, air quality, housing affordability, spending on education and highways, and cost of living, and lastly number of hazardous waste sites.

Here’s the lowdown on the first five of the Top 10 Happiest States – and what’s so great about them for the traveling therapist.

Louisiana

Despite hurricane Katrina, which occurred after the happiest-states report was compiled, Louisiana still manages to retain its easy-going reputation and Southern charm. For the physical therapists who are outdoors fans, the state earns its nickname as “Sportsman’s Paradise,” with miles of hiking and biking trails, and 20 state parks. From the Cajun- and Creole-infused coastal city of New Orleans, to the state capital of Baton Rouge, to tiny towns deep in the bayou, rehabilitation therapy jobs can let you explore all of the attractions of this 18th’ state.

Hawaii

What physical therapist wouldn’t want to say “aloha” to this tropical paradise? Hawaii’s charms are all well-documented by now: the world-class beaches (Waikiki or Honolulu); the awesome water sports (surfing, snorkeling, sailing); the exotic flora and fauna that inhabit the string of islands (Oahu, Maui, Molokai, etc.); the spectacular mountain peaks and lava beds that flow directly into the sea (Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Hilo). Hawaii may have entered the union last, but it’s certainly not least on anyone’s wish list!

Florida

The Sunshine State, which happens to have the highest percentage population of seniors, is rife with travel therapist jobs! The panhandle-shaped 27th state, which stretches from Pensacola to Jacksonville to Tampa to Miami, boasts some of America’s oldest history. (Come to think of it, couldn’t Juan Ponce de Leon be considered the first traveling “therapist” to head for Florida?) With its casual, relaxed reputation, balmy climate, miles of beaches, scores of golf courses, and — did we mention? — plethora of theme parks, Florida is a top destination for many traveling professionals.

Tennessee

Therapists who choose a pt job in Tennessee are in for a hoot of a good time. For physical therapists who are music lovers, the country-music (and state) capital of Nashville, or the blues-music (and Elvis!) capital of Memphis are sure to be a huge draw. For outdoors lovers, the area’s many mountains, lakes and rivers (including the mighty Mississippi) offer the chance to experience some thrilling adventures. This 16th state’s motto, “America at its best,” seems quite fitting for a place that offers such a rich mixture of history, culture, and nature.

Arizona

Arizona is fast closing in on Florida’s claim as the leader in retirement living, making it another great location for rehabilitation therapy jobs. It’s the only Top 10 happiest state located in the Southwest — a desirable destination in and of itself. From saguaro cacti-surrounded Tucson in the south, to sprawling Phoenix mid-state, to new-agey Sedona further north, the physical therapist is bound to find a place worth spending some time in. Oh, and the 48th state also contains a modest little attraction you might have heard of: It’s called the Grand Canyon.

Still not convinced you’ve found your ideal destination for a physical therapy job? Then check out the second grouping of five in our Top 10 Happiest States, Part II.

Physical Therapists Are Pet Owners Too: How to find a dog-friendly assignment

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 01.21.2010 | Category Allied Healthcare, How to Tips, Occupational Therapy, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Travel Therapist, Traveling Therapist, physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy

Here’s a fun fact: according to recent census data on pets, almost 46 million households own a dog. If you and a special furry someone fall into that category, you wouldn’t dream of leaving Honeybee behind to take a job. With therapy job benefits tailored to your specific needs—those being, especially, pets and children of all ages and sizes—this is of no concern to you; the only thing you need to worry about is finding an assignment that meets your pet lover’s criteria.

If you haven’t heard of DogFriendly.com, you need to visit the site and bookmark it immediately; it provides highway guides, rest stop and park reviews, outdoor dining info and more—all with dog accompanied travelers in mind.

Top dogs in pet related businesses recommend the following geographical criteria for raising a happy pooch:

• The city should be welcoming of dogs on public transportation
• The city should not unreasonably regulate dogs if they are leashed
• The city should have a wide variety of vets to choose from
• The city should feature parks, open to the public and ideal for dogs to roam

In a feature article by Forbes Magazine entitled: In Pictures: America’s Most Pet Friendly Cities, physical therapists with dogs will be inspired to check out Colorado Springs, touted by Forbes as the best place in America to enjoy your pets.

PTs, who just happen to be traveling with their dogs, might also try Seattle Physical Therapy jobs since The Emerald City, as the Washington city is known, offers dog-walking parks galore. Have fun “sniffing around” the possibilities!

How to Train for a Marathon - Valuable Tips from a Physical Therapist

Author Ellen Bloome - PT | 01.19.2010 | Category Allied Healthcare, Ellen Bloome-PT, How to Tips, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Top Rehab Careers, Travel Therapist, Traveling Therapist, physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy

As a marathoner and a Physical Therapist, I would like to share some tips for training and conditioning for a first marathon…

First, it’s a good idea build up to being able to run 15-25 miles a week…(that’s running 3 -5 days) before beginning your marathon training program. If you already run 2 -3 miles a day, you have the basis to start preparing for your first marathon!

This base is important both physically and psychologically, because you can anticipate about 18 weeks of training. Here’s a a god tip: follow the ten percent rule for mileage building. Increasing your weekly mileage more than 10% from the previous week can cause injury and lead to burnout. So if you begin your program running 3.0 miles, 3-5 times a week, week 2 you might increase that to 3.3 miles each day you run. Week 3 would be 3.63 per day and so on.

To find more marathon training tips and to connect with other expert runners interested in running marathons go to www.runningtimes.com

4  Tips from a Physical Therapist & Avid Runner that focus the Mental Preparation:

1. Setting an appropriate time goal is important. Training at goal pace is the best way to run that pace in the latter part of your training. Most first time marathoners are looking to finish the race and enjoy the journey. Setting an unattainable goal will render that journey disappointing.
2. Visualization; another excellent tool. You can see the finish line, or what you will be feeling at mile 20… When you are out on the course, that déjà-vu helps! There is comfort in familiarity.
3. Joining a marathon training group will give you specific guidance from seasoned marathoners, and having a social peer group will increase the likelihood that you won’t skip those long runs……
4. Finally, and possibly most importantly…determination and discipline are part and parcel to successful training and performance. Be sure to bring them along as you lace up those running shoes.

If you have additional comments or suggestions, we would love to hear them! Running for fun and fitness is fantastic by itself and also a popular means to enjoy travel therapy jobs no matter where you are currently working!

Happy Running!

Top Rehab Jobs in 2009

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 01.08.2010 | Category Allied Healthcare, Occupational Therapy, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Top Rehab Careers, Travel Therapist, Traveling Therapist, physical therapist licensing, physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy

Travel Physical Therapy Jobs Earn 35% more Take Home Pay

While the national unemployment rate increased from 7% to 10% in 2009, employment opportunities in allied health careers continued to rise and are projected to increase by at least 20% before 2018. Pay rates for travel Physical Therapy Jobs have never been better.

The salaries and availabilities of rehab jobs depend on the particular type of therapy and on the job setting (hospital, in-home, clinic, etc.). The median salaries permanent full time positions for occupational therapists and physical therapists are $66,000 and $72,000, respectively.

Travel therapists, however, can earn significantly more than the national average.

Therapists working in travel rehab jobs generally take home over 35% more than those in permanent full-time positions. Travel therapists also earn great therapy job benefits, including free private housing and free continuing education classes. Travel rehab jobs are available throughout the country, but the most popular positions for 2009 were respiratory therapy jobs in New York, physical therapy jobs in Arizona and New Mexico, and occupational therapy jobs in Missouri.

Physical therapy is perhaps the most well-known of the rehab jobs. Licensure requirements for physical therapists can be difficult; most states now require a doctoral degree and passing scores on both national and state exams, as well as a number of continuing education credits. Once licensed, however, physical therapists diagnose and treat individuals of all ages to reduce pain and restore function and mobility after any number of illnesses and injuries, from fractures and sprains to strokes and multiple sclerosis. The majority of physical therapy jobs, as with most rehab jobs, are found in hospitals and private physician practices, but jobs are also available in outpatient clinics, nursing homes, schools, and private homes.

Physical therapists often work closely with occupational therapists, who help patients to improve their day-to-day lives by increasing their ability to perform particular functions, from dressing, eating, and using wheelchairs to communicating and decision-making. Occupational therapists work with patients who have some physical, mental, or developmental condition that hinders basic motor or reasoning abilities. Occupational therapy licensure generally requires a master’s degree or higher from an accredited program, a number of supervised clinical hours, and a passing score on a national exam.

The aging baby-boom generation is driving the need for rehabilitation specialists throughout the country, and physical therapists and occupational therapists are all in high demand.

For information about these locations and other travel rehab jobs, visit Travel Force.

Does nurse scheduling software deliver the same benefits to rehab facilities?

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 01.07.2010 | Category Allied Healthcare, Nursing, Therapist Jobs, healthcare management software, rehabilitation therapy

Find out how to fill vacant PT jobs without using the high cost of temporary agency personnel.

Hospitals Report Web-Based Nurse Scheduling Software  Reduces the High Cost of Agency Staffing. In addition, self-scheduling software utilizes internal staff to boost fill rates:

Facilities of all sizes utilize web based software to fill open PT, OT, and SLP jobs. What is Web-Based Software?

It is an Internet-based platform that can be accessed from any PC or mobile Internet device. This Internet platform enables employees to self-schedule 24/7, 365 days a year and healthcare management to more effectively plan for census fluctuations, tracks documentation and provides labor analysis in real-time format.

Read more about nurse scheduling software

Speech Language Pathologist - Rated in Top 20 Careers by Career Builder

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 01.05.2010 | Category Allied Healthcare, Speech Language Pathologist, Therapy Jobs, Top Rehab Careers, Travel Therapist, Traveling Therapist, physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy

During this rough economy, choosing to start a new career can be a tough decision to make. However, there are a number of jobs in the health care field, and in physical therapy specifically, that are showing above average employment growth and job stability. Speech Language Pathology, for example, was recently named one of the top 20 careers to “work less, earn more” by Career Builder. According to Career Builder, speech language pathologists, also called speech pathologists or speech therapists work an average of 37.5 hours a week and earn over $53,000 annually. A Speech Pathologist working as a travel therapist can earn an even greater annual salary, averaging over $77,000, as well as free private housing accommodations, health insurance, and other travel therapy job benefits.

Speech therapists diagnose speech and communication difficulties and then develop specialized plans of treatment for each patient. They work with patients whose difficulties stem from learning or developmental disorders, cerebral palsy, hearing loss, stroke, brain injury, or any number of other congenital, developmental, or acquired problems. Speech therapists can find speech language pathology jobs in schools, hospitals, nursing homes, private homes, or other specialist practices.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a faster than average growth rate for speech pathologist employment, but there are a number of educational and licensure requirements required for speech therapists. Most speech pathology jobs require a master’s degree, and some states require that that degree be from a school accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Required courses include, among others, physiology, anatomy, and acoustics. Additional requirements for speech language pathology licensure include a passing score on the national speech pathology test, over 300 hours of supervised clinical experience, and nine months of postgraduate professional clinical experience. Speech therapists working in educational settings may have additional requirements based on the state’s Department of Education.

For more information about beginning a career in speech language pathology, visit the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. To find travel speech pathology jobs or other travel therapy jobs, visit Travel Force.

My Hip Surgery Rehab

Author Ellen Bloome - PT | 12.09.2009 | Category Allied Healthcare, Ellen Bloome-PT, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Travel Therapist, Traveling Therapist, physical therapist licensing, physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy

There I was…24 hours after hip surgery, crutching in for my first physical therapy visit at one of the world’s most famous orthopedic therapy clinics. I allowed myself to be the patient to absorb all that these highly skilled PT’s were teaching me. My hip was grateful to be there during those first 4 days…

I was in awe of the PT’s who were fortunate to work in this rehab clinic with my surgeon who is internationally known, and his patients, mostly high-level athletes with sports injuries. I speculated how traveling physical therapists are exposed to therapy career resources such as this! (Note to self…after my rehab is complete, consider looking for a Colorado physical therapy job as a traveler!)

Those early treatments were consistent with the surgeon’s suggested protocol. I did some work myself; isometrics to my hip and stationary biking, but was thankful for the hands-on hip flexor releases and gentle passive ROM. The biggest challenge I faced was potential hip flexor tendinitis, and after I returned home that was the yardstick upon which I based all interventions’ success or weakness. I kept a log of my experiences and shared it with my surgeon as I coyly announced at my follow up visit that I ‘broke protocol’ but had no tendinitis! He agreed that protocols are merely guidelines as he considered my suggestions for improvement.

PT’s … have you made adaptations to orthopedic surgery protocols? How were your suggestions received by the referring surgeon? Please comment!

BTW - The picture on the right is me during my hip surgery rehab process.

From PT to Patient - Part 2; Compassionate Rehab Therapy

Author Ellen Bloome - PT | 12.07.2009 | Category Allied Healthcare, Ellen Bloome-PT, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Travel Therapist, Traveling Therapist, physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy

Anticipating hip arthroscopy, I was a basket case. As a runner… I wanted to be pain-free, stable, and fast again. As a Physical Therapist I had seen enough behind the scenes to know what could go wrong.

I discovered that people at my physical therapy job did not understand why I was so concerned. My supervisor, herself a physician, stated, “Enough about your surgery already! It’s not like it’s heart surgery!”

The light bulb flickered in my head…the blogs and posts of hip arthroscopy patients flooded back to me. I felt terror reading them. Was I afraid of the acute post operative pain? Or was it fear of being worse after the surgery…I knew that I could almost deal with my life the way it was now…I’d made my concessions and a pact with my higher power. The fear was…what if after was worse?

My hip surgery was uncomplicated and my rehabilitation therapy was provided by caring, knowledgeable professionals at Howard Head Sports Medicine.Taking my experience as a patient to my Florida PT job didn’t change how I treated my patients in Home Health settings (where the PT jobs in Florida exist). What my experience reinforced was that compassion is a gateway to trust. In this era of corporate methodical productivity within the health care environment, I as a PT,  have the responsibility to preserve that compassion.

PT’s who have been patients; please share your stories! I’d love to hear from you.