Introduction
Based on the information provided on the website concerning careers, I will undertake psychology. I want to pursue this career because of its responsibilities. My work will entail dealing with various clinical, research, and legality settings. In addition, it will help me understand human mental processes and behavior, which is an interesting field. The occupational therapy program will facilitate me in acquiring my career (Texas Genuine, 2022). The program is suitable for me as it involves assessing and treating physical and psychiatric conditions. I will attend El Paso Community College, South Texas College, and Navarro College to acquire training. These colleges are suitable for the program as they combine traditional learning with practical and community-based training, which will provide the professional experience required for the career.
Career One Stop
Career one stop is a website containing valuable resources and tools that facilitate choosing a career. It has useful work information for students, workforce professionals, businesses, and job seekers. Firstly, the website is a good tool for exploiting trades as it helps search for occupations based on codes, location, or keywords. The explore career page allows one to undertake a self-assessment that provides insight into the careers one is willing to undertake through assessing work values, interests, and skills (CareerOneStop, 2022). Additionally, it contains the industry research tool that provides insight into the various industries, such as wages, demand, and unemployment levels.
O*net Website
The O*net website is a resourceful database that allows one to understand the different types of jobs and the skills one is required to possess. To facilitate this, one must undertake the interest profiler test. This self-assessment tool allows career exploitation and discovery of the occupations and activities that suit you based on your interest. For instance, I undertook the interest profiler test, which provided my RIASEC. Based on the scores, my realistic score was 11, 18 in investigative, 28 in social, 5 in enterprising, and 6 in conventional (O*NetOnline, 2022a). The highest score was social, reflecting that I prefer working with individuals to computers, laboratories, and information. Hence, I am more suitable for working in careers that provide advice, such as psychology, teaching jobs, and being of service to people. On the contrary, the interest profiler illustrated that I am poor in artistic work such as designing, singing, drawing, and acting.
Table 1: RIASEC scoreÂ
I agree with the RIASEC score as I prefer engaging in social activities that contain interactions, such as volunteering in a community health care facility. Similarly, my career options lie more in social work than working with machines, such as being a therapist, psychiatric technician, or community health worker. Furthermore, I have never engaged in any artistic work or artist class, such as singing or painting.
Job Zone and Level of Education
Based on the RIASEC test and the extensive level of training I would love to receive, O*Net provided a couple of career recommendations. The career recommendations are either certified apprenticeship, green, or bright outlook. The bright outlook includes clergy, teaching, and hospitality, while the green outlook has special education and teaching education options. Based on these recommendations, the specific careers that interest me is the occupational and advanced practice psychiatric nurses. The approved training includes advanced practice physiocratic nurses, adapted physical and educational specialists, criminal justice teachers, engineering teachers, healthcare social workers, mental health counselors, and marriage and family therapists (O*NetOnline, 2022b).
Two Career Choices
The advanced practice psychiatric nurse career is also referred to as a clinical nurse specialist or a psychiatric mental health nurse. The responsibility of the career includes assessing, diagnosing, and treating individuals with mental health disorders and issues; it requires one to apply therapeutic activities that one is trained to do. The basic skills include listening, identifying ways to help people, and understanding people’s reactions (O*NetOnline, 2022a). Abilities include listening, paying attention, and understanding people’s needs. Some of the knowledge required is medicine, therapy, and psychology to qualify for this career.
On the contrary, the occupational therapy career is involved testing and evaluating a patient’s mental and physical abilities. They help assess, plan, and create rehabilitating programs that help build independence and restore vocational skills to persons with developmental delays and disabilities. The knowledge required is medicine, therapy, counseling, and customer service (O*NetOnline, 2022b). One must have basic skills like listening, looking for ways to help, teaching people how to do things, and choosing the best alternative from a variety of options. Lastly, one must have an attention span, good communication, and the ability to identify challenges.
A career in advanced practice psychiatric nursing or occupational therapy is the best option due to their growth trends, wages, and benefits. I intend to live in Texas State with annual revenue of $65 000. Opportunities in the future for both careers are very likely. Currently, most states contain average options, which means there is still room for growth. Secondly, the wages for these careers are remunerative. Advanced practice psychiatric nurse career pays an average of $75,330, where the minimum is $53,410 annually. Similarly, an occupational therapist receives an average wage of $86,280, the minimum being $57,330 annually (O*NetOnline, 2022b).
Videos
Based on the videos, I learned that occupational therapists help patients affected with disabilities, illnesses, injuries, or mental health issues. They are mainly involved in assisting patients with their daily activities such as walking, participating in school, and feeding with little assistance (O*NetOnline, 2022a). To create a treatment plan, the occupational therapist works with the patient to ensure that the treatment incorporates the environmental needs. Similarly, videos on advanced practice psychiatric nurses illustrated the roles of the job. One must provide medical and nursing care to people with a range of mental health issues (O*NetOnline, 2022a). It includes visiting patients at home, helping families manage the patient, reviewing treatment plans, and administering treatment.
Interview
I interviewed one occupational therapist and two advanced practice psychiatric nurses. Based on the interviews, I learned that the most important traits for a career are good verbal skills, listening, creating strong relationships, and understanding people’s reactions. Also, the clinical sessions are similar as one is required to assess, diagnose or evaluate and develop a treatment plan for the patient. Also, to pursue these careers, one needs to be interested in the patients’ health since it is a challenging job.
Interview Questions
- What do you consider the most important traits of a therapist?
- Could you walk me through your clinical process during a session with a client?
- What made you decide to study psychology?
- What motivates you in your job other than salary?
- What challenges do you receive in your career?
Responses
Interview 1
(Bassey Robin, Occupational therapist, Methodist Hospital Outpatient, 2022).
Interrogator: What do you consider the most important traits for a therapist?
Respondent: To be a good therapist, one must possess the ability to develop a strong relationship with the patient.
Interrogator: Could you walk me through your clinical process during a session with a client?
Respondent: My regular clinical session as an occupational therapist involves asking questions about their pain level, fared through the week, and how they currently feel. I later evaluate their physical abilities. Based on the diagnosis of the session, I recommend a treatment plan.
Interrogator: What made you decide to study occupational therapy?
Respondent: I had an interest in the physical anatomy
Interrogator: Other than salary, what other things do you like about your job?
Respondent: Job satisfaction, especially when I see a patent regain their lost ability in performing a task.
Interrogator: What challenges do you receive in your job?
Respondent: it is emotionally stressful, especially when dealing with complex and disturbing cases.
Interview 2
(Joe Minissale, Psychiatric Nurse, Methodist McKinley Hospital, 2022)
Interrogator: What do you consider the most important traits for a therapist?
Respondent: The most critical trait is effective communication. It comprises good verbal skills and listening to the patient without interruptions.
Interrogator: Could you walk me through your clinical process during a session with a client?
Respondent: As an advanced practice psychiatric nurse, I work in the children’s department. I use the child behavior checklist to help identify potential learning disabilities and behavioral problems.
Interrogator: What made you decide to study psychology?
Respondent: There is a growing need for mental health professionals. There is an increasing number of people with mental disorders, which society does not take it seriously.
Interrogator: Other than salary, what other things do you like about your job?
Respondent: I have an opportunity to work with new people every day with different challenges that I help overcome their emotional and mental obstacles.
Interrogator: What challenges do you receive in your job?
Respondent: At times, I get a patient unwilling to open up due to shyness, guilt, and skepticism.
Interview 3
(Hebert Rachel, Psychiatric Nurse, El Campo Memorial Hospital, 2022.)
Interrogator: What do you consider the most important traits for a therapist?
Respondent: I believe the ability to communicate verbally, excellent listening skills, and compassion are essential traits for a therapist.
Interrogator: Could you walk me through your clinical process during a session with a client?
Respondent: As an advanced practice psychiatric nurse, I ensure I review the client’s notes from the previous session; it guides what I should evaluate during the session. I start the session by asking follow-up questions and assess a patient’s mental and physical abilities.
Interrogator: What made you decide to study psychology?
Respondent: I studied psychology because it is an interesting field for studying human behavior and mental processes.
Interrogator: Other than salary, what other things do you like about your job?
Respondent: I like my job since it allows me to help patients overcome their mental and physical challenges.
Interrogator: What challenges do you receive in your job?
Respondent: Setting relationship limits that adhere to the professional guidelines, especially in cases where informal relationships would help a patient open up.
Conclusion
Based on occupational therapy and advanced practice psychiatric nursing, I will undertake a career in occupational therapy. It is best suited since I have the personality traits, knowledge, ability, and skills. In addition, it has more job satisfaction as it helps restore a patient’s independence in their developmental delays and disabilities. Additionally, the average annual salary is higher than the advanced practice psychiatric nurse salaries. For these reasons, I will undertake occupational therapy as my career.
References
CareerOneStop. (2022). America’s Career Infonet toolkit | careeronestop. Careerinfonet.org. Web.
O*NetOnline. (2022a). 27-3031.00 – Public relations specialists. Onetonline.org. Web.
O*NetOnline. (2022b). Occupational therapists at my next move. Mynextmove.org. Web.
Texas Genuine. (2022). Texas genuine career. Texasgenuine.org. Web.