Leaving My First OT Job: Why It's Okay to Turn the Page

When I graduated from occupational therapy school, I thought finding my first job would be the hardest part of my career.

I was wrong.

Leaving it was.

Like many new graduates, I poured everything I had into becoming the best occupational therapist I could be. I celebrated my first patient successes, learned from my mistakes, navigated difficult conversations with families, and slowly built the confidence that only comes with experience. My first job wasn't just where I worked—it was where I grew up professionally.

It's also where The Golden OT was born.

Between patient treatments, documentation, and the everyday moments that make this profession so rewarding, I discovered a passion for educating others. I started sharing treatment ideas online simply because I loved occupational therapy and wanted to contribute to the profession and help new grads transition to field. I never imagined that those small posts would grow into a community that has connected me with thousands of therapists around the world.

Looking back, it's amazing to realize that two of the biggest parts of my professional identity—the clinician I became and The Golden OT—were built within the walls of my very first job.

Which is exactly why leaving felt so difficult.

When Gratitude and Growth Exist Together

One of the biggest misconceptions about changing jobs is that people assume something must have been wrong.

Sometimes that's true. But sometimes, nothing is wrong at all.

Sometimes you've simply learned everything that season of your career was meant to teach you.

I wasn't leaving because I was unhappy. I was leaving because I was curious. I wanted to challenge myself in a different setting, learn new skills, and continue growing as a therapist. Those feelings can exist alongside immense gratitude.

You can love your coworkers, appreciate your employer, and cherish your patients while still feeling called toward something new.

Those emotions don't cancel each other out—they coexist.

Your First Job Doesn't Have to Be Your Forever Job

As healthcare professionals, many of us carry a tremendous sense of loyalty. We build relationships with patients, families, coworkers, and mentors. We become part of a team. So when it's time to leave, guilt often sneaks in.

Questions like:

"Am I making the right decision?"

"What if I regret leaving?"

"Will I disappoint the people who invested in me?"

Those thoughts are completely normal. But here's what I've learned:

Your first job has already accomplished something incredible—it transformed you from a student into a clinician.

That chapter served its purpose.

Choosing another setting doesn't erase the lessons, relationships, or memories you've built. It simply means you're continuing to write your story.

Every Setting Has Something to Teach You

One of the beautiful things about occupational therapy is the variety within our profession.

• Acute care

• Home health

• Outpatient

• Pediatrics

• Mental health

• School-based practice

• Skilled nursing

• Community health

Each setting develops you in different ways. For me, skilled nursing strengthened my clinical reasoning, taught me how to adapt treatments on the fly, sharpened my documentation skills, and reinforced the importance of meaningful patient relationships. Those lessons will stay with me no matter where I practice. And now I'm excited to discover what my next chapter has to teach me.

To the New Grad Who's Thinking About Leaving

If you're considering a career change, I hope you know this:

• You are not failing.

• You are not "giving up."

• You are not abandoning the profession.

• You're simply allowing yourself to grow.

As occupational therapists, we encourage our patients to embrace change every single day. We help them adapt, learn new skills, and move toward meaningful lives. We deserve to give ourselves that same grace.

Thank You to My First OT Home

I'll always be grateful for the patients who trusted me, the coworkers who became friends, and the mentors who believed in a brand-new therapist.

Thank you for helping me become the clinician I am today. Thank you for being the place where The Golden OT was created. Some chapters are meant to last forever. Others are meant to prepare you for what's next. Neither is more important than the other. Sometimes the bravest career move isn't accepting your first job. It's having the courage to leave it when you've grown into someone who's ready for the next chapter.

And that's okay.