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Sustaining professional identity in practice following role-emerging placements: opportunities and challenges for occupational therapists

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 21:26 authored by Channine Clarke, Marion Martin, Richard De VisserRichard De Visser, Gaynor Sadlo
Introduction Role-emerging placements are increasingly being used to help prepare occupational therapy graduates for practice in a changing health and social care climate. However, while the literature on such placements is increasing, few longitudinal studies have explored their impact on graduates’ professional practice and identity. Method Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to gain an understanding of the ways in which five occupational therapy graduates felt their role-emerging placement influenced their professional identity and practice once qualified. In-depth interviews were carried out with the graduates once they had been working as occupational therapists for a minimum of 6?months. Results In the absence of other occupational therapists, students on placements created professional identities of their own making and generated visions of the type of therapist they wanted to become. Once qualified, however, there were mixed experiences concerning the extent to which this identity could be sustained in practice. Particular difficulty was encountered by those working in National Health Service settings, where graduates questioned whether their practice was congruent with the professional understandings and ways of being they had developed on placement. Conclusion Role-emerging placements acted as a catalyst for participants’ personal and professional development. Further research on the long-term influence of role-emerging placements is required.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

British Journal of Occupational Therapy

ISSN

0308-0226

Publisher

Sage

Issue

1

Volume

78

Page range

42-50

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2015-07-06

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2015-07-06

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