Four years after graduation: Occupational therapists' work destinations and perceptions of preparedness for practice

Brockwell, Dione; Wielandt, Trish; Clark, Michele

doi:10.1111/j.1440-1584.2008.01020.x

Cited by 11 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…As a result of generalist and ‘cradle‐to‐grave’ practice, rural and remote health offer the opportunity for rewarding practice, and provide professional satisfaction at least equal to that of metropolitan practice 30 . The generalist nature of remote and rural health practice has many advantages, including its diversity, challenges, and holistic and innovative nature 30,31 30,32 .…”

Section: An Alternative Perspective Of Rural and Remote Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

From ‘problem‐describing’ to ‘problem‐solving’: Challenging the ‘deficit’ view of remote and rural health

Bourke

Humphreys

Wakerman

et al. 2010

Australian J Rural Health

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Section: An Alternative Perspective Of Rural and Remote Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

From ‘problem‐describing’ to ‘problem‐solving’: Challenging the ‘deficit’ view of remote and rural health

Bourke

Humphreys

Wakerman

et al. 2010

Australian J Rural Health

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“…Much research has been published regarding the recruitment and retention of rural health professionals but less on the actual nature of rural practice and whether graduates are prepared during their training for the diversity of rural practice. Brockwell, Wielandt and Clark recently described rural practice as 'challenging and far from ideal'(p.71) 5 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding rural practice: implications for occupational therapy education in Canada

Wielandt

Taylor²

2010

RRH

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Introduction: Currently Canadians living in rural communities tend to have a poorer health status than those living in urban settings. This is contributed to by the shortage of health professionals choosing work in rural and remote areas. Over the past decade there has been much research into the recruitment and retention of rural health professionals. However little has been done to identify the actual nature of rural practice and whether graduates have been adequately prepared for the diversity of rural work.The present study sought to identify the rewards and challenges of rural occupational therapy practice in western Canada. Participants' were also asked about their preparedness for rural practice after graduation, and specifically about the usefulness of course work and practical skills taught as undergraduates.Methods: Participants were occupational therapists working in rural communities in the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. The quantitative approach employed a self-administered survey with closed-and open-ended questions. Data were entered into SPSS v14 (www.spss.com.au) for frequency data and percentages. Results:The participants (n = 59) worked mainly in full-time community healthcare positions with clients who had physical health issues. More than half worked in sole therapy positions. The average length of time in their current position was 5 years.Most participants reported that they were receiving informal professional support, with some receiving a formal support as well.Participants more frequently identified the rewards of rural practice (n = 214) than its challenges (n = 112). Perceived rewards included team work, autonomy, diversity and flexible work schedule, increased client contact, job satisfaction, experiences gained and the rural lifestyle. The most frequently mentioned challenges included staff shortages, the generalist nature of rural occupational therapy practice, excess time spent travelling, coping with inappropriate referrals and the need for more professional support. Regarding participants' perceptions about the course work and practical skills taught during their training that best © PM Wielandt, E Taylor, 2010. A licence to publish this material has been given to James Cook University, http://www.rrh.org.au 2 prepared them for actual practice, some highlighted additional valuable resources such as actual hands-on experience during rural fieldwork placement, personal characteristics, working in an urban setting prior to embarking on a rural career, coming from a rural background and locating a mentor prior to working rurally. Some recommended increasing management and organisational skills content in the curriculum because these were considered essential skills for effective rural practice. The return of unanswered questionnaires by participants who did not consider themselves to be rural therapists because of access to online and telehealth resources suggests further research is warranted into the changing nature of rural practice. Conclusion:Characteristics of...

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“…Brockwell et al. (2009) reiterate that expansion by stating that having more experiences, training, exposure and practice can have a direct influence on preparedness.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A concept analysis of preparedness: Application to LGBTQ considerations for nursing

Mikovits

2020

J. Nurs. Manag.

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Four years after graduation: Occupational therapists' work destinations and perceptions of preparedness for practice

Abstract: Findings suggest the need to undertake further research to determine the actual nature of rural practice, the personal characteristics of rural graduates and the experiences of students while on rural clinical placements.

Cited by 11 publications

References 18 publications

From ‘problem‐describing’ to ‘problem‐solving’: Challenging the ‘deficit’ view of remote and rural health

From ‘problem‐describing’ to ‘problem‐solving’: Challenging the ‘deficit’ view of remote and rural health

Understanding rural practice: implications for occupational therapy education in Canada

A concept analysis of preparedness: Application to LGBTQ considerations for nursing

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