Help the new OT thrive

I have mentored a few students and new staff members through the course of my life in homecare. Meetings with my students and staff went smoothly when we both knew what to expect. The case examples we discussed were excellent, but could be tough to come up with on the spot. I developed a four-point subject mnemonic to help us along. I referred to it as the BODY of our work. B: Boundaries are a key component of our feelings of safety as we go along our therapeutic process with our clients. These can be challenging to know at first as a new clinician or student. It means having a very good sense of what our mandate and scope of practice are with our clients. This ongoing development means our sense of our boundaries is always shifting based on our understanding of the context and our role in our clients' treatment.

Boundary violations can be challenging to navigate. They can make any clinician feel like they have done something wrong when they probably have not. I never want a new therapist staying up at night about something that could have happened to anyone. I want to know when emotional and physical safety was in jeopardy. As a mentor, I must be aware of potential boundary violations to ensure job safety.

O: Organization is foundational for ensuring our job can be fully completed in the time allotted. Time management expectations often grow as a therapist becomes more comfortable in their position. Finding the right balance at work depends on our ability to organize a lot of expectations at once. Defining priorities may not be as simple as it first appears, so maintaining open conversation about what is important and what can wait is key to preventing overwhelm on the job.

D: Documentation has to be concise, easy to follow, and completed promptly. If it wasn't documented, how can we be sure months later if something actually took place? We need to ensure we are meeting standards for care and showing that we did so in our documentation. It cannot take the place of direct client time, though. If we start to lag behind on documentation, we know that the rest of the job can feel less fulfilling. As a mentor, make sure that your shortcuts, tips, and tricks are shared and used effectively by new therapists.

Y: Your needs matter! I will always check to verify how integrated into the role a therapist is by how well they are meeting their own needs. Chronic neglect on the job signals that there could be a turnover issue. It was never surprising to see a self-abandoning therapist move on to another position. As mentors, we can be a huge help in encouraging our new colleagues to ask for what they are entitled to on the job and recognize their rights as workers.

I share this post today in the hope that Occupational Therapists feel supported in the new roles they are taking on. We cannot abandon new therapists when they are struggling. No, that is professional sadism. Please offer a helping hand and recognize where you can support your fellow therapists. Before we judge the work of others, do your best to show the way. So remember the BODY of your work takes care and nurturing. Let's prevent burnout and abandonment of the profession by being the professional support we needed when we began.