Official Therapist Blog

Ballet Puts Heart Health on Center Stage

Author Therapy Career Blogger | 02.26.2010 | Category Registered Nurses, Respiratory Therapy, Therapy Jobs, Travel Nurse Blog , Traveling Therapist, physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy

As a physical therapist, you’re probably well aware that February is American Heart  Month – a time to take seriously all matters of the heart, from emotional well-being to physical health.

That means learning to take care of your own needs, as well as those of your physical therapy patients.  (For a review of the five fundamentals of heart health, see our primer on heart awareness.)

It also means reaching out in your traveling physical therapy jobs and finding like-minded health-care professionals to collaborate with on heart awareness.

One collaboration regarding heart awareness even led to a new ballet, titled “Heart (Function vs. Emotion).”  This production of the Bodiography  contemporary ballet company in Pittsburgh debuted on Feb. 19, and featured six performers who happen to be heart patients!

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the heart-centric ballet was inspired by a conversation between Bodiography artistic director and choreographer Maria Caruso, and Dennis McNamara, professor of medicine and medical director of heart failure/cardiac transplantation at UPMC.

The collective experiences of the patients, the doctors, and the dancers in the troupe led to a ballet that many described as life-changing. “We’re all in this experience together in bringing about awareness,” Caruso said.

What a lovely and magical way to commemorate American Heart Month!

CDC page helps Rehab Therapy professionals treat sports-related injuries

Author Therapy Career Blogger | 02.22.2010 | Category Career Tips, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapist Jobs, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy

When it comes to helping Rehab Therapy professionals treat sports-related injuries, The CDC is stepping up to the plate

Kids play hard. Exercise mixed with outdoor activity is a wonderful thing, but sports related injuries do occur, and with current admissions to U.S. emergency rooms hovering at 135,000 per year, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention is taking notice. In fact, the CDC just launched a sports injury page on their website, where medical staff, i.e. physical and occupational therapists, as well as coaches, teammates and patients can find printable palm cards and other resources that outline the symptoms of a probable Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

Dealing with the repercussions (of a concussion) can often be what a rehab team is all about. Rehabilitation therapy job professionals get the patient back on track by ensuring the skills necessary to perform ADLs (activities of daily living) are relearned.

If you thrive in PT and OT jobs, you work tirelessly to improve every aspect of your patient’s physical function.

You work toward an ultimate goal of increasing the patient’s physical endurance and, because every patient is an individual and as such, unique, your treatment plans are perfectly structured to meet specific injuries and needs.
But before treatment can begin, there has to be a diagnosis, and the CDC is only enforcing what you probably already know.

What signs can you observe in a patient who may have only just sustained a TBI injury? The following is a short list of symptoms:

• Appears dazed or stunned
• Is confused over a simple task
• Forgets sports plays
• Is unsure of game, score, opponent
• Moves clumsily
• Answers questions slowly
• Loses consciousness (even briefly)
• Shows behavior or personality changes
• Can’t recall events PRIOR to hit or fall (retrograde amnesia)
• Can’t recall events AFTER hit or fall (anterograde amnesia)

The next list is what the patient might describe in the event of his or her TBI injury:

• Headache or “pressure” in head
• Nausea
• Balance problems or dizziness
• Double or fuzzy vision
• Sensitivity to light and/or noise
• Feeling sluggish or slowed down
• Feeling foggy or groggy
• Does not “feel right”

No matter where you practice rehabilitation therapy, you are a critical part in patient recovery; that being said, we would still like to leave you with a bookmark worthy website. US News & World Report has a current listing of the best rehab hospitals in the nation. Which jobs at Travel Force put you in the top 3? Check out Seattle therapist jobs and see if you can get close to the healing action at the University of Washington Medical Center—but keep this obvious and happy truth in mind: you can make a difference anywhere.

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.

Want a rewarding career in Physical Therapy? Read on for cutting edge credentialing and licensure info

Author Therapy Career Blogger | 02.15.2010 | Category How to Tips, Ongoing Education, Physical Therapist Jobs, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, physical therapist licensing, physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy

As a dedicated PT, you spend your days restoring, maintaining and promoting the overall fitness of your patients; chances are you’re just as invested in doing the same with your career. Whether you’re a practicing Physical Therapist, PT Assistant, a recent graduate preparing for the NPTE Exam, or just beginning to consider accredited physical therapy schools, we have career resource tools to benefit you greatly.

In traveling physical therapy jobs, you can expect to work in one or more locations (of your choosing) per year, and see a six-figure ceiling in earning potential, a nice return on your investment after graduating with a master’s or doctoral degree from a PT educational program. The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) lists accredited schools in every state in the U.S. –just click here to check them out—you’ll also find links to APTA, and other benchmarks in physical therapy, on our therapist career resources page.

As for recent PT grads, you’re eager to practice your affinity for therapeutic procedures and examination techniques! Your next step is licensure within the state you wish to practice. The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (see the FSBPT website) has all the information you need on registering for state licensing exams and learning more about mandatory continuing education; every PT should book mark FSBPT for its state-by-state licensing authorities.

Almost every job posting for a PT position requires, in addition to state licensure, a completion card from a 4 ½ hour Basic Cardiac Life Support (BLCS) course. PTs are expected to recognize life-threatening emergencies and respond with the right maneuver, i.e., CPR, Heimlich or through use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

Physical Therapy Assistants (PTAs) can get a high octane career off to a great start by getting involved in the Recognition Program, which honors advanced proficiency in a specified area of work – such as, Musculoskeletal, Neuromuscular, Geriatric, Pediatric, Cardiovascular/Pulmonary, and/or Integumentary. You’ll need to create a user name and password on the APTA website if you’re interested in downloading an online application.

Best wishes in your continuing education!

Travel Force Jobs put you close to Mardi Gras this month

Author Therapy Career Blogger | 02.08.2010 | Category Fun Events, Locations, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Travel Therapist, physical therapy

Want a Mardi Gras party? You don’t have to go all the way to New Orleans. For the next few weeks Mardi Gras festivities are rocking the entire United States, and some of the highlights are coming to a physical therapy job near you.

This well-known event makes you think of beads, King Cake, parades snaking their way through the Big Easy, and, most recently, a winning Super Bowl team—but a couple hundred miles west of the New Orleans Saints, lies Galveston and Port Arthur, Texas, hosting big carnival fun of their own.  Check out what Mardi Gras! Glaveston! has to offer; it’s a beachfront carnival in its 99th year and parties on for 12 consecutive concert n’ cuisine filled days, from February 5th through February 16th. Why not treat yourself to a belated Valentine’s Day present?

At Mardi Gras Southeast Texas, Inc. in Port Authur, TX, you’ll find the same kind of fun from February 6 through the 11th.

If you’re really keen on the Lone Star State, we have Texas therapy jobs right now.

But what if you’re a PT in a different part of the country, and looking to catch a few beads? California Travel Therapy jobs are nearby Mardi Gras action, most notably in San Diego’s Gas Lamp Quarter; there, “Fat Tuesday” is the featured event, with masks, costumes, food and Cajun cookin’ galore. Click here to check out dates for Gas Lamp Mardi Gras fun that lasts until mid April.

But don’t give up on Mardi Gras celebrations elsewhere in the U.S. because North Carolina Therapists jobs are close to the action too, with the Asheville Mardi Gras, which has a “Wild at Heart” theme this year—scheduled for Valentine’s Day. The fun begins at 1pm and lasts into the wee hours.

No matter where you go, we’re sure, as the Mardi Gras aficionados say, it’ll be a party that’s second to none.

Therapy Job Location - Southeast Tidbit

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 02.04.2010 | Category National Parks, Therapy Jobs, Tidbits

Stay fit and enjoy the scenery of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. When on assignment in the East TN or Western NC area you are within reach of this majestic park!

Get more information on therapy jobs in the Southeast area

Learn about North Carolina

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 a Good Destination for Traveling Therapists – Part II

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 01.27.2010 | Category Locations, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Travel Therapist, Traveling Therapist

Mulling where to accept your next travel therapist job? Consider 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.

In Part I of our report, we’ve already described the appeal of the first five states for traveling therapists. Here are details on the second group of the Top 10 Happiest States:

Mississippi

Louisiana’s neighbor to the east. Mississippi offers many southern charms all its own. Rehabilitation therapy jobs can be found throughout the Magnolia State, our nation’s 20th — from Biloxi, the coastal gambling town; to Jackson, the history-soaked state capital; to Tupelo, the birthplace of Elvis Presley (who would have turned 75 in 2010). So, slow down and soak it all in, y’all; and when someone asks you where the best physical therapy jobs are, spell it loudly and proudly: “M—I—S—S—I—S—S—I—P—P—I!”

Montana

Are you a traveling therapist who’s longing for wide-open spaces and majestic scenery as far as the eye can see? Then head for Montana, the 41st state. Even in the capital city of Helena, the physical therapist won’t find crowds or overpopulation — unless you’re talking about bison or horses! And the Treasure State sure lives up to its nickname in the geological-wonders department, with two of the country’s premier national parks: Glacier and Yellowstone (America’s first national park!).

South Carolina

Yet another Southern state in the Top 10 (are we sensing a pattern here?!), South Carolina also offers tons of history, culture and nature to the physical therapist. From the romantic port city of Charleston and world-class resort of Hilton Head along the Atlantic coast, the Palmetto State stretches inland to the capital of Columbia, and westward to the upcountry region, with plenty of scenic mountains, lakes and waterfalls along the way. Adventurous traveling health-care professionals, take note: Our 8th state is especially renowned for its water trails – including the longest blackwater river in the nation, Edisto.

Alabama

Alabama, the 22nd state, offers lots of opportunity for the therapist who’s also a history buff – from Civil War to civil rights. Whether your physical therapy job takes you to the Gulf coast town of Mobile, or the capital of Montgomery, or the high-tech city of Huntsville, there’s sure to be plenty to keep you occupied when not on the job. For the athletically inclined, the choice of activities includes hiking, biking, rock climbing, golf, water sports, hunting, fishing and more.

Maine

Traveling therapists will find that Maine, the only Top 10 state in the northeast, is worthy of its high happiness ranking. Our 23rd state is vast in size, but modest in population. Cities such as Portland and Augusta (the capital) are pleasantly compact and livable. Plus, with more than 30 state parks and one of the finest national parks — Acadia — Maine deserves its ranking as the fourth healthiest state. Physical therapist, heal thyself: Take a hike or go rafting, or take a whale-watching cruise, then feast on freshly caught lobster. “Ayuh,” indeed!

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!