Graduate students can learn new skills to complement their nursing skills in University of Arkansas' new Occupational Therapy Program. | Pixabay
Graduate students can learn new skills to complement their nursing skills in University of Arkansas' new Occupational Therapy Program. | Pixabay
The University of Arkansas' new Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program offers students graduate students an opportunity to earn a degree to complement their nursing skills.
"I still love being a nurse," said Sarah Arenas, one of the first 27 students to join the new program. "For me it's not a matter of leaving a career to begin another; my experience in nursing contributes to my learning in my grad program and learning to be an OT has made me a better nurse in terms of how I can best assist my clients."
Arenas became interested in occupational therapy when she was working at the Elizabeth Richardson Center preschool in Northwest Arkansas and observed how the preschool's occupational therapist was able to help kids in ways nursing couldn't.
"I think the beauty of this profession is that occupational therapy belongs everywhere from family practice, to pediatrics or geriatrics, to mental health or working with victims of trauma," she said. "There's really no limit to who we can help."
The College of Education and Health Professions at the U of A and the College of Health Professions at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences have joined together to offer this new program.
Alerts Sign-up