2. Q:WHAT LEDYOUTO BECOME
A PHYSICALTHERAPIST?
A:When she was younger, her grandmother suffered from a fall and was admitted into the
hospital. During her recovery stage, Dr. Baker would notice how happy her grandmother
was after she was able to complete movements that were once a challenge for her. She
also knew her grandmother was very interested in what the physical therapist was doing
with her, so Dr. Baker took it upon herself to learn more about it.
3. Q:WHAT SCHOOL(S) DIDYOU
RECEIVEYOUR UNDERGRADUATE
AND GRADUATE DEGREE FROM?
A: Dr. Baker received her undergraduate degree from Georgia
Institute ofTechnology College of Engineering and her graduate
degree from the Medical University of South Carolina.
4. Q:WHAT EDUCATION IS
REQUIREDTO PRACTICE
PHYSICALTHERAPY?
A:You must complete a four year undergraduate program then
continue your education at an accredited physical therapy
program for an additional 3 years.
5. Q:WHATTYPES OFTRAININGS
MUSTYOU COMPLETE BEFORE
ENTERINGTHE FIELD
A: Dr. Baker remembers most, if not all, trainings being
completed during her time in graduate school. She says that
passing the National PhysicalTherapy Examination (NPTE) is
also a requirement to receive your license to practice.
6. Q:HOW LONG HAVEYOU
BEEN INYOUR POSITION?
A: Dr. Baker has been in this position for the past 4 months.This is her very
first job since she’s received her license to practice.
7. Q: IFYOUWERE APPLYING FOR A
PHYSICALTHERAPY GRADUATE
PROGRAM AGAIN,WOULDYOU DO
ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY?
A: Instead of choosing all science professors who she though
would make her seem more credible in the medical field, she
would now choose professors who could speak more about her
character instead.
8. Q:WHAT DOES ATYPICAL DAY OF A
PHYSICALTHERAPIST LOOK LIKE?
A: A typical work day, for her, starts around 7:45am.The first step
is to look over the list of all patients who will need treatment that
day. Following the patients name is the name of the physical
therapist who will be working with them. On average, 9-12
patients are seen per day.There is no set schedule, but she does
emphasize that it is important to see as many patients as possible
before 4:15pm.
9. Q: CANYOU ARRANGEYOUR
OWN HOURS?
A: “Yes, the hours can be very flexible, but treating the patients
between normal business hours (7am-4pm) are more ideal.”
10. Q:WHAT ISTHE MOST
CHALLENGING PART OF BEING A
PHYSICALTHERAPIST?
A: Dr. Baker thinks the most challenging part is trying to motivate those
patients who don’t believe in themselves. Her reasoning is because a
patients self-motivation plays a major role in their overall therapy. If they
don’t believe they can complete a task or movement, then they are more
likely to fail simply because they don’t believe they can.
11. Q:WHAT ISTHE MOST REWARDING
ASPECT OFTHIS JOB?
A: On the opposite side of the spectrum, when the patient finally realizes his
true potential and is able to do more than they did the previous day, this
makes her job feel extremely rewarding.Their self-motivation causes her to
become even more motivated to do her job.
12. Q:WHAT IS ATYPICAL STARTING
SALARY?
A:The amount a physical therapist is paid varies on the city or
state they decide to work in. Also, the setting you choose, such as
acute care, private practice, and rehabilitation physical therapy
plays a major role as well. In Charleston, her current location, the
average salary for a physical therapist in the acute care setting is
between $49,000 and $67,000.
13. Q:WHAT ARE SOME OFTHE BENEFITS
OFFEREDTO PHYSICALTHERAPIST?
A: Health and life insurance are typically offered to all physical
therapist. She also mentions, one additional benefit of working in
a hospital setting for 10 years is that they will offer loan
forgiveness.
14. Q: HOW DIDYOU ORGANIZE
YOUR JOB SEARCH?
A:To begin her search, she narrowed down the settings within physical
therapy that she was most interested in. For her, acute care was the area in
which she wanted to apply for, so she began using the internet to search for
different hospital websites until she found a number of availabilities.
15. Q:WHAT ARE SOME
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUTTHE
WORK OF A PHYSICALTHERAPIST?
A: One misconception that she mentions is that physical therapist only
move people from their bed to a chair and vice versa. Also, many people
associate the abbreviation “PT” as “pain and torture” instead of physical
therapist.
16. Q:WHAT ADVICEWOULDYOU GIVE
SOMEONEWANTINGTO ENTER
INTOTHE SAME FIELD?
A: Dr. Baker emphasized how important it is that I keep an open mind
throughout the entire process of entering this career. She even states that I
don’t always have to take the first job that I’m offered. She says I should be
comfortable in my final decision, but she also says to keep in mind that
“your first job may not be your forever job.”
