September 2020 - PTA Focus

 Amanda Work, PTA

Hello, my name is Amanda Work. I have received the honor of being asked to share my journey as a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA). Growing up I wanted to be a pediatrician. I was accepted to a large University for pediatrics but was told that the primary course was full; consequently, I would have to live on campus for my freshman year and take a year of undecided science. This led me to change my major and venue of education. I started down the path towards becoming a PTA, ironically not knowing much about the profession or position. I figured if I didn’t enjoy it I could change fields, but I loved it and have never looked back. The joy that comes from helping people relearn how to do tasks that we tend to take for granted, regain their function, or help decrease their pain is so rewarding and encouraging. I successfully completed the PTA program at Mercyhurst College (now Mercyhurst University) in 2005, so have been a PTA for 15 years.

My experience as a PTA has taken me on many adventures through many clinical settings and areas of the country. My first job was in the nursing home setting, followed by the acute care hospital, then several travelling positions that included a multitude of settings, and finally back home to the outpatient setting to concentrate in both orthopedic and neurologic specialties. As a young PTA, a friend/colleague and I decided to branch out and start travelling in Texas for our first assignments. Due to my social circle being very small with just knowing my one friend in Texas, we worked a lot. The travelling positions took us among outpatient pediatrics, home health, and nursing home settings. After six months of being nearly 2,000 miles away from my family, and completely debt free of car loan and student loans, I decided it was time to go back home to Pennsylvania. Upon returning, my boyfriend and I decided to travel together. This took us near Philadelphia, PA, where I started the therapy department in a nursing home and ran the department as Director of Rehab in the interim until they found a permanent DOR. Following this journey, we were led back to Virginia where I regained my former position as a PTA in a nursing home. Upon a change in companies at the facility, I was promoted to the Director of Rehab position for the nursing home. This was also an exciting time, as my boyfriend and I got married and then introduced our daughter into the world. After three additional years, the call of “home” and family caused us to decide to return to Pennsylvania to raise our daughter. This final move led me to my current position as a PTA in outpatient setting, specializing in both neurologic and orthopedic therapies.

While I was a college student, I signed up to be a part of the APTA/PPTA to take advantage of the wealth of knowledge available to me as I wanted or needed it. Over the years I had let it lapse, but a couple of years ago I decided it was time to rejoin because there is “no time like the present.” The support and material available from the APTA/PPTA are amazing to facilitate my continued growth, even after 15 years. When I started out as a new grad I never realized how much I would continue to learn over the years of experience, as well as the people I would meet to allow me to grow as an individual and as a therapist. I fully believe that each setting has its benefits to facilitate professional growth in different ways. Additionally, I am eternally grateful for the patients and colleagues with whom I have worked who have helped shape my knowledge and experience. I truly enjoy learning new techniques and advancements in both the orthopedic and neurological fields, as well as to have the opportunity to put them into practice on a daily basis. I still believe that I learn something new nearly each day, which is again so rewarding. The knowledge that “seasoned” therapists bring is vast and helpful, as well as the new innovations and ideas that students and new therapists provide. The learning never seems to stop, which is amazing!

I was recently talking to a coworker about our experiences as PTAs over the years. It was shocking to me to hear the thoughtful praise, “You are good at what you do. You really know your stuff!” This made me stop and look at myself differently. It solidified for me that from an outside perspective, everything I do on a daily basis has an amazing impact on so many people around me. I feel blessed to be in a profession that allows me to touch coworkers, patients, and family members in such a special way.