Nanci+Ricks


 * 1)    What is the most fulfilling part of your job?   i love working with people and being able to instruct them in things that will completely change their life.
 * 2)     How long were you in school?   It took me 4 years to go through my prerequisites and PT school
 * 3)    Was it worth it?   I wouldn't trade it for anything -- very very worth it
 * 4)     What was the hardest part of school?   When I applied to PT school there were so many people also applying and so few available positions, that it was easier to get into Medical school, so the competition was quite fierce.    Once I was in PT school, I had classes 8 hours each day and then had to do homework on top of the class hours.
 * 5)    If you could change any part of your career, what would you change and why?   paperwork -- sometimes it seems rather tedious trying to justify what you did in treatment and why - making sure whomever is reading it will justify your treatment
 * 6)    To what extent is the importance of reading and writing in this career?   Very Very important because you must write reports about your patients so insurance and third party payers will reimburse for your treatment.
 * 7)    How long have you been a physical therapist?   25 years
 * 8)    What made you want to become a physical therapist?    when I was 12 I read about being a PT in a career booklet and decided that sounded like the perfect profession for me.
 * 9)      When did you discover this?   when I was 12
 * 10)    What goals did you have as a senior in high school?   build my portfolio with lots of PT experiences so I would have a better chance of getting accepted into PT school
 * 11)     Did any of them include being a physical therapist?   yes
 * 12)    What is the most difficult part of being a phisical therapist?   Trying to get reimbursed for services that you know are important, but the third party payers may not understand
 * 13)     What degree do you have as a physical therapist?   BS
 * 14)    What is it like working with special needs kids?   I love it. Children with special needs have beautiful spirits and an inner drive to accept their challenges. There is a lot to be learned about life when you work with special populations.
 * 15)     Do you have to be in shape to be a physical therapist?   Yes, I think you do. I suppose there are positions that you could fill where you don't need to be in shape, but it certainly helps if you can "walk the walk" and PT's are all about improving people's health and especially their muscles condition - so you should also be in good shape to set an example.
 * 16)  Have you ever been injured and in need of a physical therapist for yourself? No
 * 17)     **  Who was your greatest mentor in your life?  ** As a Physical Therapist it was a lady by the name of Sarah James. In highschool I worked with her every single day at a developmental center for children and adults. She taught me a great deal about Physical Therapy and about life.
 * 18)  **  Do you have any advice for me in my future desires for this career?  ** Decide on the PT school that you want to be accepted in, research what it takes to set yourself apart from all the other people applying, and work for that target every day.  It will be worth every ounce of your effort and you will never regret doing your best to get there.