Response to Negativity

This is a response that I posted to another individual's blog after reading all of their blog entries. While I read the posts, I couldn't help but thinking, why are people so negative? Why do people complain instead of doing? How do we become a widely recognized profession? I think the response I posted may be censored by the author, so I decided to post it here to:

"I agree that our profession needs some help. I agree that our profession needs to be more widely recognized, and I am unsure of how that will happen by 2014. BUT nothing will be accomplished by negative individuals who do not stick up for their profession but instead complain about it, hide, and ridicule others.

In your example above about the nurses, why didn't you step up and say "oh did you ask about OT? I can tell you what it's really all about!" To even go a step further, you could offer to do a simple inservice for the nursing staff to explain what OTs do. Or even simpler and probably more effective, when you are working with patients TEACH the nursing staff how to follow through with therapy goals and recommendations. We should be collaborating with nurses and other staff to most effectively treat our patients as well as spread the recognition of our profession.

Also, as far as the COTA goes, could it be that you didn't clearly articulate the goals for this patient and what you would like the COTA to work on? Maybe the COTA does need more explanation or direction for therapy but that's your job! Again, you should be helping to promote OT by making sure that the COTAs working under your treatment plans are doing what you expect them to be doing.

Finally, I wanted to comment on your Horror Stories. I have heard similar stories in a variety of settings. I don't think that this means that there are OTs that don't care about occupation, and I don't think this is the appropriate place to complain about those OTs. This is your chance to explain to them what OTs really do and show them how much you can do for them!

Yes, AOTA's goals are lofty. Instead of complaining and cowering, let's do something about it!"