Real Insight on Transitioning from Adult to Pediatric Physical Therapy
Is a Pediatric Physical Therapy Job for You?
Pediatric physical therapy focuses on helping children
develop the skills they need to grow into functional, independent adults.
Physical impairment, injuries and a host of other issues can hamper a child’s
ability to perform common tasks or progress normally through the stages of
social or cognitive development. The longer a child goes without learning these
skills, the more the problem compounds as the child ages—which makes the skills
of a pediatric therapist critical to their patients.
Benefits of Switching from Adult Therapy to Pediatric
Therapy Jobs
It is never too late for a career change, especially if that
career change resides in the same industry as your current job. In fact,
several of the speech therapists at Little Lukes started their career in
nursing homes and hospitals.
Adult therapy offers a fulfilling career, but pediatrics
offers benefits you are not able to get in any other setting. We interviewed
one of our pediatric physical therapists who had formerly worked in adult
physical therapy jobs, about why they switched and why they love working in
pediatrics. According to Brian F., Little Lukes Speech Physical Therapist, here
are the main benefits of choosing or switching to a PT career in pediatric
therapy.
Brian F., Little
Lukes Physical Therapist
Q: What settings have you worked in?
Brian: I have been with Little Lukes for over 9
years. I started at the Radisson Little Lukes and remained there for 6 years. I
then moved to school-aged for the last 4 years. During the 9 years, I've also
worked as an itinerant therapist working with both preschool and school-age
children in various districts, performed evaluations, and supervised multiple
PTA's. Before joining Little Lukes, I worked as an out-patient PT specializing
in sports-related injuries for 4 years.
Q: What do you like most about working in the pediatric
or preschool setting?
Brian: The versatility and resiliency of children!
Nothing seems to affect them! I love their honesty and it truly warms my heart
to see them improve in their gross motor skills.
Q: What made you want to switch settings and work with
kids versus adults?
Brian: I was getting drained with dealing with
insurance companies denying services that my adult population truly needed. It
was also frustrating to me to have many patients try to take advantage of the
workers compensation system.
Q: How has working with kids changed your
perspective? (life/goals/work/therapy)
Brian: The children that I work with continue to
enrich me with hope, love of life, and love of my career. Their rich curiosity
enables me to constantly seek more answers and information to advance my
career.
Q: Why would you encourage new grad therapists to work
for pediatric therapy preschool like Little Lukes?
Brian: I love working at Little Lukes because of the
family atmosphere that I share with other therapists, co-workers, and
supervisors. It is a company that encourages family-first, advancement in your
career, and fully supports you along your career journey.
Q: Anything else you’d like to say about working with Little
Lukes Preschool?
Brian: Working for Little Lukes over 9 years has been
a joy and blessing that I cannot fully express in words. The support that I
have received and the ability to work with such amazing people has truly been life
changing.
Best Preschool and Schools for Physical Therapist Jobs
Little Lukes is a leading Syracuse and Oswego County
education provider with five inclusion preschool locations. The early education
program includes credentialed and caring staff that specializes in comprehensive
infant, toddler and pre-kindergarten development. Additional services include
pediatric speech therapy, pediatric physical therapy and pediatric occupational
therapy. Preschool locations include Dewitt (East Syracuse), Baldwinsville
(Radisson), Oswego, Fulton, and Pulaski.
For information about Little Lukes, please contact us at
https://www.littlelukes.com/contact.html
