This article discusses the results at a survey of occupational therapists who qualified from the three Scottish occupational therapy courses in 1986 and considers the problems new occupational therapists have in adjusting from being a student to a qualified therapist. It emphasises the need for support and supervision and suggests other approaches that educational establishments, clinicians and new therapists could take to ease this period of adjustment.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AllenEBMcKenzieDMendezANicholsonSLloydD.Report of a Working Party on the Needs of New Entrants. Education Development Unit for the Remedial Professions, 1984: 2–4.
2.
CracknellE.Clinical placements and first appointments. Br J Occup Ther1981; 44 (5): 149–51.
3.
FiskJMalcolmM.Where do Salford students go?Br J Occup Ther1982; 45 (3): 79–80.
4.
ToulouseJWilliamsS.First appointments: a survey of influencing factors. Br J Occup Ther1984; 47 (4): 111–13.
5.
BentleyR.How occupational therapy students choose their first posts. Br J Occup Ther1985; 48 (1): 196–98.
6.
WebbTSchillingRJacobsonBBabbP.Health at work? A report on health promotion in the workplace. Research Project no. 22. London: Health Education Authority, 1988: 25.
7.
AtkinsonLStewartAUnderwoodCWillsonM.The way ahead, report of the working party. London: BAOT, 1981: 21.
YerxaEJ. On being a member of a ‘feminine’ profession. Am J Occup Ther1975; 29 (10): 597–98.
10.
GrayAFCogginsEM. Training for the remedial professions. King's Fund Project Paper No. 13. London: King's Fund, 1976: 14.
11.
Blom-CooperLChairman. Occupational therapy: an emerging profession in health care. Report of a Commission of inquiry. London: Duckworth, 1989: 29, 30,37.
12.
GibbinsPGoodshipJR. Education and training of occupational therapists. Birmingham: Education and Training Branch Scientific and Technical Section, 1973: 12.
13.
GreensmithCABlumfieldMA. Beginning to look at why occupational therapists leave the profession: a survey carried out in Leicestershire. Br J Occup Ther1989; 52 (10): 389–92.
