Official Therapist Blog

2010 Physical Therapy Association Calendar Packed with PT Events

Author Therapy Career Blogger | 05.10.2010 | Category Allied Healthcare, Career Tips, Certifications, Continuing Education Units (CEU), Fun Events, Monthly Events, Ongoing Education, Physical Therapist Jobs, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Travel Therapist, Traveling Therapist, physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy

Continuing to grow and improve your skills as a PT takes time and dedication. Of course, you’ll learn a lot from your physical therapy jobs; but you’ll also want to attend as many physical therapy seminars as possible, to stay up on the latest trends in healthcare.

Luckily, The American Physical Therapy Association is a great resource for physical therapists. The association’s events calendar is jam-packed with interesting and informative activities, including the annual conference, as well as physical therapy seminars in everything from pediatrics, to geriatrics, to specific parts of the body (e.g., shoulders and feet).

Here’s a sampling of the physical therapy events on the 2010 events calendar, listed chronologically:

Pharmacology for Physical Therapists

• May 22-23
• Chapel Hill, NC
• Description: Study the effect of drug actions on the major body systems, problems of drug interaction, and variables that modify their effects.

Annual Conference

• June 16-19
• Boston, MA
• Description: This annual gathering for the Physical Therapy Association has everything the practicing physical therapist could wish: seminars, networking, discussions, and, of course, socializing with your fellow PTs.

Screening for Medical Referral: The Pediatric Client Birth to Six Years

• July 10-11
• Valhalla, NY
• Description: Course emphasizes taking a history for the pediatric patient and using evidence to screen and review the cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, urogenital, and integumentary systems for infants, toddlers through the use of case studies.

Biomechanics, Examination, and Selected Interventions for Foot Disorders

• July 17-18
• Portland, OR
• Description: The biomechanics of the foot and ankle with normal and abnormal motion during walking will be evaluated especially in relation to lower extremity dysfunction and the physical examination of the foot.

Women’s Health-Men’s Health: What All PTs Need to Know

• Sept. 11-12
• Burlington, NC
• Description: Gender and sex differences are presented using an evidence-based, body systems approach that illustrates how the unique characteristics associated with sex/gender matter across physical therapy practice settings.

Evidence-Based Assessment, Examination & Rehabilitation Interventions in the Medically Complex Older Adult

• Sept. 25-26
• Somerville, NJ

Examination and Selected Interventions: Lower Extremity: Hip, Knee, and Ankle

• Nov. 6-7
• Jacksonville, FL
• Description: Course is designed to integrate a comprehensive clinical examination with selected manual therapy interventions for the hip, knee, and ankle.

In addition, there are several physical therapy seminars and conferences for specific disciplines scheduled around the country, such as:

The American Society of Hand Therapists Annual Meeting

• June 23
• Orlando, Florida
• Description: Meeting theme “Best Practice in Hand Therapy.”

Aquatic Section Summit

• Oct. 6-8
• Colorado Springs, CO
• Description: Conference of the APTA’s Aquatic Physical Therapy Section will coincide with World Aquatic Health Conference. Note: e-seminars will be available at this event.

Gait Analysis Seminars

• June 5-6, Tempe, AZ
• Nov. 6-7, New York, NY
• Description: For gait and foot-function specialists: Learn how in-shoe pressure mapping technology is used to analyze foot function and gait by revealing what the eye cannot see.

These are just a few of the numerous choices for physical therapy seminars and PT events around. With physical therapy jobs from Travel Force, you may very well find yourself on assignment in an area that is featuring one or more of these physical therapy seminars and conferences. In which case, you’ll certainly be in the right place at the right time!

Top 8 Physical Therapy Certifications by Specialty

Author Therapy Career Blogger | 04.13.2010 | Category Allied Healthcare, Career Tips, Certifications, Continuing Education Units (CEU), Travel Therapist, Traveling Therapist, physical therapist licensing, physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy

Get Your Physical Therapy Certification and Earn more in Advanced Specialty Jobs

In the competitive field of physical therapy, you need an edge. If you’re looking for a higher physical therapist salary, preferential treatment in hiring and, most importantly, a huge upgrade in the level of service you provide your patients, you can fulfill all these and more career ambitions by getting certified in a physical therapy specialty ASAP!

We hope all PTs seeking physical therapist certification will jot down the relevant dates and info available in this post; we’ve taken it from a physical therapy source you should bookmark—the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)—timely information regarding your future physical therapist certification is displayed on their website.

But don’t wait—visit APTA’s Professional Development page today, where you’ll have the opportunity to earn Continuing Education credits in virtually all areas of physical therapy specialty; also in the spotlight, is a call to register NOW for the 2010 Annual PT Conference in Boston, June 16-June 19—it’s a great way to network, and investigate the newest products and services.

In addition to your review of the 8 physical therapy specialties outlined here, take heart in other forms of supportive PT literature, offering physical therapy career tips for success.  Remember that professions like orthopedic physical therapy, sports physical therapy and all allied healthcare jobs on this list come with top therapy job benefits.

Without further adieu, here is the Top 8 list:

1.    CCS (Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Certified Specialist)

Your patients:
•    Have recently undergone heart or lung surgery
•    Have been diagnosed with disorders of the heart or lungs
Medical conditions seen by CCS:
•    Hypertension
•    Chronic heart failure
•    Pulmonary fibrosis
•    Bronchitis
Your professional goal:
•    Increase stamina of heart and lungs; improve their function
•    Promote functional independence of patients

2. ECS (Clinical Electrophysiologic Certified Specialist)

Your patients are:
•    Active individuals; their lifestyles or work conditions led to disorder
•    Those who experienced a high degree of trauma
Medical conditions seen by ECS:
•    Carpal tunnel syndrome
•    Injured War veterans
•    Car accident victims
Your professional goal:
•    Treat your patients through the use of a Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) unit
•    Improve recovery outcomes by conducting electromyogram and nerve conduction velocity testing (EMG /NCV).

3.    GCS (Geriatric Certified Specialist)

Your patients are:
•    Elderly people suffering from a wide range of conditions
•    Elderly patients recovering from surgeries, i.e. hip or joint replacement
Medical Conditions seen by GCS:
•    Arthritis
•    Osteoporosis
•    Cancer
•    Incontinence
Your professional goal:
•    Reduce discomfort
•    Hasten recovery
•    Improve mobility

4.    NCS (Neurologic Certified Specialist)

Your patients are:
•    Recovering from a traumatic brain injury
•    Receiving rehabilitation therapy after diagnosis of neurological illness

Medical conditions seen by NCS:

•    Cerebral palsy
•    Multiple sclerosis
•    Parkinson’s disease
•    Spinal cord injuries
•    Stroke victims

Your professional goal:

•    guiding patients in learning to function independently
•    helping patients deal with issues related to neurological disorders, i.e., paralysis or problems with balance and coordination

5.    OCS (Orthopaedic Certified Specialist)

Your patients are:
•    individuals suffering from chronic conditions
•    patients seeking rehabilitation post-surgery
Medical conditions seen by OCS:
•    All injuries, diseases and challenges related to the musculoskeletal system
Your professional goal:
•    To administer an array of treatment options and uniquely tailored therapy plans

6.    PCS (Pediatric Certified Specialist)

Your patients are:
•    Infants
•    adolescents
Medical conditions seen by PCS:
•    challenges related to many types of disorders.
•    Disorders that categorize a child as “special needs”
Your professional goal:
•    help the patient build strength, increase fitness levels or develop gross and fine motor skills
•    improve the patient’s coordination and stability.
•    Detect physical issues early to ensure the best course of treatment.

7.    SCS (Sports Certified Specialist)

Your patients are:
•    Athletes
Medical conditions seen by SCS:
•    evaluation and treatment of patients’ active and chronic pain
Your professional goal:
•    preventing injuries
•    preparing athletes for maximum physical exertion
•    equipment recommendations and tips on enhancing performance.

8.    WCS (Women’s Health Certified Specialist)

Your patients are:
•    Women of childbearing age
•    Menopausal and perimenopausal Women
Medical Conditions seen by WCS:
•    Pregnancy and post partum issues
•    Lymphedema
•    osteoporosis
•    pelvic pain
•    urinary incontinence
Your professional goal:
•    Helping and educating women of all ages with discomfort caused by both short term and chronic conditions.

Look for 2011 applications for Board Certification as a Clinical Specialist—in the 8 different areas of physical therapy specialties we’ve outlined above—at the end of April, when they become available on the APTA site!

For super specific info, download APTA “Application and Info” booklets—and don’t forget to apply for physical therapy certification on time!   July 1, 2010 is the application deadline for all specialties, except Cardiovascular/Pulmonary and Clinical Electrophysiology, which gives you until July 31, 2010.

Get busy this summer—work on your tan after you’re ABPTS certified—check out physical therapy career resources today!  Get that edge only physical therapy certification can give you!

Continuing Education for Therapists

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 11.02.2009 | Category Allied Healthcare, Certifications, Continuing Education Units (CEU), Occupational Therapy, Respiratory Therapy, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Travel Therapist, Traveling Therapist, physical therapist licensing, physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy

Continuing education classes are an important part of professional development. As health care providers, it is important to stay current on the newest developments and trends in your field. Finding the time and opportunity to benefit from continuing education classes can be tough, however. To help their clients, Travel Force offers a number of therapist continuing education online classes at no cost to you. Travel Force offers a broad range of free professional development courses for physical therapists, occupational therapists, and respiratory therapists. Physical therapists can take courses in anything from functional knee bracing for sports to Hepatitis C. Occupational therapists might be interested in preparing professional presentations or cultural competence. Respiratory therapists can find classes on sleep apnea or the respiratory effects of cocaine, among many more.

Not only is continuing education important for your individual professional growth, it is often a requirement for state licensure renewal. Specific details and requirements vary from state to state, and so it is important for therapists to be aware of the licensure requirements for their state and their specific needs. Contact your state licensing board with any questions you may have about your specific continuing education requirements and needs. In Florida, for example, occupational therapists must complete a total of 26 hours before 2011, but certain classes, such as Prevention of Medical Error and Florida Law, are specifically required. Make sure you are well aware of your requirements.

If there are Travel Force courses in which you are interested, contact your state licensing board for approval. Most Travel Force courses are designed for approval in Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, and Texas, but even these states may have specific regulations. Once you have received approval from the state board, contact your Travel Force recruiter to get started.

For more information about continuing education or any other Travel Force travel therapy job benefits, visit their website or apply online now.

Physical Therapist Licensing Between States

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 09.29.2009 | Category Allied Healthcare, Certifications, Continuing Education Units (CEU), Occupational Therapy, Respiratory Therapy, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Travel Therapist, Traveling Therapist, physical therapist licensing, physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy

The nature of the travel therapist job is to move around and work in a number of sites and states. It’s the perfect job for an adventurer: see the country, meet new people, and get great benefits like a competitive salary, free private housing, and free continuing education classes.

“It is important to be aware of the process of licensure and to plan for it; it should never be seen as a hindrance, just a necessity that needs to be taken care of for all allied professionals. Travel Therapists who keep good records, applications updated and who work closely with their Recruiters and licensing boards to follow up on their application status find the process to be painless,” said Vice President of Recruitment , Mary Kay Hull, of Travel Force Staffing.

Most states do not offer reciprocity for those already licensed in another area of the country. Each state has different physical therapy licensing requirements, and applicants must meet the specific requirements of each state in which they’d like to be licensed. States do have an endorsement policy, which generally means that applicants must meet the state physical therapy licensing requirements, but they might not need to take the National Physical Therapy Examination again if they can provide the correct documentation.

A representative from the Colorado Physical Therapy Licensure Division of Registrations gave details about the endorsement process. All applicants must submit an application and fee, along with verification from all states in which they have been registered, including proof of at least one active license. Applicants who have been practicing for fewer than two years must have test scores sent in, and applicants with more than two years of experience must provide documentation that they have practiced for two of the previous five years.

While the lack of reciprocity makes licensing a bit more taxing than most physical therapists and travel therapists would like, rest assured that there are resources out there.  Travel Force Staffing  representatives walk you through the licensing process as you begin your travel therapy career, and Travel Force reimburses clients for their licensing and credentialing fees. Apply now to work with a Travel Force recruiter.

To find out about physical therapy licensing requirements in a specific state, visit The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy for a complete list of websites and phone numbers for every U.S. state.

How to improve your nursing skills to make you a stronger travel nurse

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 03.09.2009 | Category ACLS, Certifications, Continuing Education Units (CEU), Medical/Surgical, Nursing, Travel Nursing

In today’s travel nursing market it is important to keep informed on what hospitals are requiring and looking for when trying to fill a travel position. A trend that we see is that hospitals are now posting positions for nurses to cover several different units. For example a hospital may request a medical/surgical nurse that can also work in pediatrics and telemetry. Or a Critical care travel nurse that can also work on the med/surg, telemetry and ER units. An L&D nurse that can also do mother/baby and NICU.

Because of this trend hospitals are asking for more certifications. A Medical/Surgical travel nurse may need ACLS or PALS to work on a unit. An L&D nurse may require ACLS in addition to the normal BLS and NRP. AHWONN is becoming a standard certification for many of the Labor and Delivery positions that we are posting. Critical Care nurses should consider taking a Critical Care course.

If you are thinking about traveling or are a travel nurse now I suggest that you ask your Nurse Manager what other areas that you can float to within your scope of practice. Also speak to the Education Department in your hospital or go to www.americanheart.org to check out classes in your area to get additional certifications. Travel Force offers free Continuing Education Units to their travelers.

A travel nurse who has several specialties and has exceeded the required certifications is a nurse that will stand out as a travel nurse candidate.

Many nurses that we speak to look forward to the challenge of working on different units and enjoy the change of pace that it brings to their job. That makes travel nursing even more rewarding.