Unsure about OT

Hi all,

I’m an OT student currently doing an MSc pre-reg at Brunel university.

I’ve just had my first placement, and I’m very unsure if OT is for me and worrying a bit about it.

My placement was in a community team and a lot of it felt like social care. There’s a lot less anatomy and medical learning that I had hoped, and we barely learn anything medical on the actual course, which I really wasn’t expecting.

So I wanted to ask, is there anyone else that has felt like this? Is there an area of OT that is a bit more medical and requires more knowledge in anatomy?

If so, what areas are there? I’ve been thinking that trauma and ortho might be better as it requires MSK knowledge? But this is just me speculating.

Any advice/help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading.

Reply 1

Anonymous #1

Hiya!

Are you still doing occupational therapy at Brunel university? May I ask how you’re finding it now? Sorry this isn’t very helpful but I really like the social care aspect of occupational therapy which is why I’m interested.

I’m looking to apply. Regarding your timetable, is placement towards the end of the year or beginning as is it full time?

Reply 2

Anonymous #2

Original post by Anonymous #1

Hiya!

Are you still doing occupational therapy at Brunel university? May I ask how you’re finding it now? Sorry this isn’t very helpful but I really like the social care aspect of occupational therapy which is why I’m interested.

I’m looking to apply. Regarding your timetable, is placement towards the end of the year or beginning as is it full time?

Hi, I wouldn't advise OT at Brunel. There have been a lot of issues with the course

Reply 3

Anonymous #1

Original post by Anonymous #2

Hi, I wouldn't advise OT at Brunel. There have been a lot of issues with the course

Hi,

Thank you for your honest advice. I've heard this too from others, sadly.
I was told how they struggled to give students placements, with some not having placement at all when they were supposed to, which is shocking.

Reply 4

ivangai

2

Original post by Anonymous

Hi, I wouldn't advise OT at Brunel. There have been a lot of issues with the course

Hi! Do you know if there are any issues with Brunel Physio?

Reply 5

Anonymous #2

I'm not sure about Brunel physio sorry. Brunel Occupational Therapy has been terrible though. Placements not being allocated. Confusing timetables, lack of support from teachers, a lot of changes, we really haven't been taught anything. It's actually been quite an unpleasant environment. I wouldn't recommend to anyone to go to Brunel for OT, especially international students - pay the extra back home and get a proper education.

Reply 6

ivangai

2

Original post by Anonymous

I'm not sure about Brunel physio sorry. Brunel Occupational Therapy has been terrible though. Placements not being allocated. Confusing timetables, lack of support from teachers, a lot of changes, we really haven't been taught anything. It's actually been quite an unpleasant environment. I wouldn't recommend to anyone to go to Brunel for OT, especially international students - pay the extra back home and get a proper education.

No worries! Still valuable information regarding rehabilitation sciences in Brunel.

Reply 7

BrunelUniStudent

6

Hiya

Just to let you know that the OT course at Brunel has been restructured this year in order to align more closely with the Royal college of Occupational Therapists. With this there have obviously been some changes requiring differing timetables - all in all it's a positive change though with the aim of emulating real life practice and covering new exciting elements of occupational therapy.

In terms of placements there was a shortage throughout covid due to hospitals and healthcare settings not allowing students in etc. To my knowledge this has been resolved now and everyone got a placement in the undergrad this year.

Hope that helps,

Brunel Student Rep

Original post by murc92

Hi all,
I’m an OT student currently doing an MSc pre-reg at Brunel university.
I’ve just had my first placement, and I’m very unsure if OT is for me and worrying a bit about it.
My placement was in a community team and a lot of it felt like social care. There’s a lot less anatomy and medical learning that I had hoped, and we barely learn anything medical on the actual course, which I really wasn’t expecting.
So I wanted to ask, is there anyone else that has felt like this? Is there an area of OT that is a bit more medical and requires more knowledge in anatomy?
If so, what areas are there? I’ve been thinking that trauma and ortho might be better as it requires MSK knowledge? But this is just me speculating.
Any advice/help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading.

Hi @murc92 ,

I'm sorry to hear about your experiences on Placement.

In terms of Placement, I can't speak on a Master's level, but as an Undergraduate Student having been on multiple Placement experiences - hang in there!

Some Placement's don't give the Clinical, acute-setting sort of exposure some people would hope for. It is sad but it is also important for us to go on them so we understand the different sides to OT and it will inform our practice when we qualify. It might help you to be sure of where you'd want to work once qualified.

In terms of a role of OT with more input of anatomy, I would definitely assume a Clinical Placement in an acute setting, such as Hand Therapy, MSK, Neuro rehab, Orthopaedics or Stroke etc would be great for the anatomy side.

If you can't manage to get a full Placement experience in one of those settings, try enquiring to volunteer, or even book a shadowing experience at your local NHS Trust.

All the best.

~Zaynab
University of Bradford

(edited 9 months ago)

Reply 9

Anonymous #3

Original post by Anonymous

Hi, I wouldn't advise OT at Brunel. There have been a lot of issues with the course