Recreational Therapists
Course Advisor
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Job summary
Qualifications
- Ability to assess patient conditions and recommend appropriate activities.
- Counsel patients to develop leisure activities effectively.
Responsibilities
- Encourage skills acquisition in clients with special needs.
- Prepare reports and charts for the treatment team.
- Conduct therapy sessions for patient well-being.
- Confer with treatment team to evaluate therapy programs.
- Develop discharge plans for patients.
Skills
Tools
Job description
Plan, direct, or coordinate medically‑approved recreation programs for patients in hospitals, nursing homes, or other institutions. Activities include sports, trips, dramatics, social activities, and arts and crafts. May assess a patient condition and recommend appropriate recreational activity.
- Encourage clients with special needs and circumstances to acquire new skills and get involved in health‑promoting leisure activities, such as sports, games, arts and crafts, and gardening.
- Prepare and submit reports and charts to the treatment team to reflect patients’ reactions and evidence of progress or regression.
- Counsel and encourage patients to develop leisure activities.
- Conduct therapy sessions to improve patients’ mental and physical well‑being.
- Confer with members of the treatment team to plan and evaluate therapy programs.
- Develop discharge plans for patients.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Therapeutic Riding Instructor
- Therapist
- Ecotherapist
- Activity Director
- Certified Recreational Therapist
Approximately 19,200 jobs in 2016 in the United States. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 6.8% above the national average, with about 1,300 new positions projected by 2026. States with the strongest growth include Alaska, Colorado, and Washington, while Alabama, Wyoming, and Vermont have the weakest growth.
Recreational Therapists earn between $29,590 and $77,050 per year. Highest salaries are found in California, the District of Columbia, and Nevada.
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Web browser software
- Data entry software
- Email software
- Patient electronic medical record EMR software
- Avid Technology Sibelius
- MakeMusic Finale
- Speech recognition software
- Musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) software
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