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Burn the Ladder, Build a Bridge

10/13/2014

4 Comments

 
I have had many chances to advocate for the profession throughout my time pursing certification and after becoming licensed and certified.  In a recent instance, I was tutoring a student and eventually the conversation turned to the student pursuing a degree in Athletic Training and how the student wanted to be in a Professional Athletic Training Program.  Of course I was thrilled, so I asked the student about their goals for the future.  The student told me they wanted to be a Physical Therapist.  I wasn’t surprised.  A majority of the students who graduated with me from my undergraduate program are pursuing careers as PAs, PTs, OTs, and MDs.  However, this student continued to say that they had no intention of becoming dual credentialed; this student only wanted to work as a PT.  I didn’t understand why this student would go through the rigors of an Athletic Training program and not become an Athletic Trainer. 

The following portrays part of my continuing conversation with the student:

Student: “So are you in Grad School studying Athletic Training?”

Me: “Yes, I am.”

Student: “Oh, so what are you doing next?”

Me: “I am going to continue working as an Athletic Trainer.”

Student: “No, after that.  What is your REAL job going to be?”

I didn’t understand what she meant.  To me Athletic Training IS as real job.  However, it seemed to this student that Athletic Training is just a stepping stone, a means to a “better” profession.  Now don’t get me wrong.  I’m not trying to bash, PTs, PAs, OTs, or MDs.  I completely respect each profession and value their insight and experience.  However, when I am told that my profession isn’t real, I’m going to ask questions:  Where is this information coming from?  Are we educating our students that Athletic Training is a stepping stone?  Perhaps not directly, but it is happening all the same.

By allowing students who do not want to become Athletic Trainers into a Professional AT Program, universities are wasting valuable time, money, and resources in educating students who are not even investing in their education.  This allows students to think of Athletic Training as a means and not as a profession.

The Professional Education in Athletic Training: An Examination of the Professional Degree Level document, also infamously called the “White Paper” suggests that we may be able to address is issue with a Master’s level professional degree.  The Finding (#4: Professional education at the graduate level enhances retention of students who are committed to pursuit of an athletic training career. Graduate-level education attracts students who are better prepared to assimilate the increasingly complex concepts that are foundational for athletic training practice) is based on data that suggest 25% of students in Bachelor’s degree programs do not intend to practice as Athletic Trainers.  These students cite a lack of respect for the profession, the time commitment required of the job, and the use of Athletic Training as a conduit to other professions.     

I think it is reasonable to consider that all these perceptions can be changed… So, I will pose some things to consider:

-Should we restrict students who do not want to pursue a career in Athletic Training from being admitted into Athletic Training programs? 

-Shouldn’t respect for the profession come from within? And couldn’t we work to establish that by limiting this habit of stepping on Athletic Training to get somewhere else?

-Will transitioning professional education to the Master’s level solve this issue? 

I don’t know the answers, but I do know that I don’t want our profession considered a ladder to somewhere else...if anything, Athletic Training is a bridge.    

Nicolás Merritt, LAT, ATC

4 Comments
Taryn
10/13/2014 02:24:32 pm

I completely agree. I am a preceptor at for a professional athletic training program and I have had the same conversation plenty of time with not only prospective students but those in the program as well. When I met my current students and they told me that their post-graduation plans were to in fact be athletic trainers, I was beyond happy. While I agree that our profession shouldn't be used as a stepping stone, I don't think I agree with not allowing those students into the program who don't plan to be athletic trainers. If they meet all the other requirements to be in the program, who are we to tell them they study something of interest to them? That's like telling a prospective lawyer they can't major in english because they have no plans of being a writer.

Reply
Alyssa
10/13/2014 04:15:59 pm

I can't say that I completely agree. I agree that people having the mindset that athletic training is not a "real" job is problematic and we need to gain some respect for the profession. I also agree that a graduate program is a good direction to go. I don't agree however that youshould "ban" students who don't promise to want to be athletic trainers. It is a rare occur acne for 18 yr olds to go off to college and know what they want to do. Even if they think they know they often change their minds. I entered my athletic training program not knowing exactly what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to do something healthcare related and I liked sports so it seemed like a great starting point. In my year and a half in the program I have fallen in love with athletic training. If you exclude students from your program that aren't 100% positive about what they want to do then you could be losing out on people who could end up bettering the program. Will some people use the program as a stepping stone yes but not all bio majors become biologists either. The answer is probably moving to a graduate program but I don't believe it is completely excluding

Reply
Caitlin Dios
10/17/2014 01:05:36 pm

I genuinely could not have put this better myself. Thank you for writing this.

I'm currently in a masters level program. I was in the ATEP at my undergrad university, but it ended up not being the route to certification for me. And I am so happy that things have worked out this way. I am learning more than I would have because this is all I study now- the ins and outs of this awesome profession. I absolutely support the transition to graduate level programs; you get a new level of involvement with the material you need to learn, the opportunity for in depth research, and there is much more freedom allowed to ATSs (and no more pesky general ed courses distracting you!).

As for the people who think AT is the stepping stone... man. They are SO missing the scope of this career. And I would absolutely support programs limiting their acceptance to people who only truly want to work in this field. I have multiple classmates who want to go on to PT school and I've started asking them why are they here in an AT program and why they want to pursue PT afterwards. For most of them it's about the letters behind their name (and the money, which they do admit to). It's absolutely ridiculous to me. So, no, I don't think transitioning programs to a masters level will prevent people from treating AT as a stepping stone, but I do think limiting program acceptance will.

Respect for the profession does start amongst us. We need to value it and respect it. Take pride in what we do. I've had plenty of athletes ask me why I'm pursing AT and I do take the time to talk to them about it- and tell them why I love it. (And let me tell you how many of them self-correct after saying "trainer" now. They're starting to get it.)

Reply
Alex
10/19/2014 07:47:04 am

I used it as a "stepping stone" for PT school. Best decision I ever made!

Reply



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