Being a Physical Therapist allows you to see progress in your patients, does this motivate you? Why?
"As a young man, watching my father's life get turned upside down from a fall at work was devastating to me. As his rehabilitation process enabled him to slowly regain movement in his legs and slowly start to walk again, we can enjoy a game of pickup basketball at any time when I go back home to visit. His story drove me to pursue a career in Physical Therapy and I can't wait to help patients along their own personal journeys."
"Every day, I am motivated to come to work and see my patients based solely on the fact that I am 100% committed to their recovery. Whether I am working with a patient recovering from a minor knee surgery or a lengthy hip replacement surgery, ensuring that they leave my care in the best shape possible is my greatest priority in this career."
Your goal as a Physical Therapist is to promote the patient's ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability. When you both meet these milestones together it is progress for your patient and motivation for you to keep doing what you do. Tell the interviewer about a success story with one of your patients. How did their determination and positivity motivate you to stay in the career field?
"One of the things that I love about my job is seeing the progress that my patients make. Whether it is a step taken or strength gained, the goals they surpass and progress made motivates me to continue to work in this field. It's encouraging to know that my work helps the lives of others."
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Anonymous Answer
I remember having an elderly patient who was bedridden for a long time, and after about a month of therapies at his place he was able to get off his bed and make a few steps inside his walking frame and sit with the rest of his family at the dining table, something that made a positive impact in his mental state as well. So having the opportunity to see your patients to have progress not only in their physical, but also in their mental state, gives you all the satisfaction and motivation you could ask for."
Rachelle's Feedback
This example is very genuine and heartfelt! Keep up the pace by replacing "you" with "I." This is a habit you want to be very aware of in your interviews.
"I remember having an elderly patient who was bedridden for a long time. After about a month of therapies, he was able to get off his bed and make a few steps inside his walking frame to sit with the rest of his family at the dining table, something that made a positive impact in his mental state. Having the opportunity to see my patients have progressed not only in their physical but also in their mental state gives me all the satisfaction and motivation I could ask for."
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