There are many things to consider when looking for your first job out of school, and on this episode of The FOX Five, FOX Rehabilitation occupational therapist, Brooke Adkins, OT, goes back to when she was making that decision.

As a student, Brooke was able to work with FOX and witness our supportive culture. When it was time to choose her first job, she decided to bring her skillset and enthusiasm for working with the older adult population to our practice—which currently treats in over 28 different states. Brooke explains what made that decision easy for her and lays out all the reasons why other clinicians should consider doing the same.

Jim: Welcome to The FOX Five, the show that explores the wonderful world of FOX Rehabilitation through an original list created by a FOX colleague. That FOX colleague today is occupational therapist, Brooke Adkins. Brooke, welcome to the FOX Five.

Brooke: Thank you, thank you so much.

Jim: You treat near Nashville, right?

Brooke: Yes, I do.

Jim: Is there a lot of music going on there? When you go to work, do you pass five or six different bands just playing out on the side of the road?

Brooke: You think I would, but I don't. But yes, there's music all over this place.

Jim: Alright, so Brooke what is your FOX Five today?

Brooke: My FOX Five is—Five Reasons Why I Chose FOX as My First Job.

Jim: So, did you start out as a FOX student?

Brooke: Yes.

Jim: And then your first job out of school was FOX Rehabilitation?

Brooke: Yes.

Jim: Alright, I'm interested in hearing this list. Brooke, what is Number One?

Brooke: My first one was the autonomy of the job. I just really loved that FOX gives clinicians the freedom to take charge in therapy. You know, I explored a lot of other jobs and I just really didn't see that common denominator. I think FOX really stands out there by letting the clinician make their own schedule and lead the plan of care on a constant basis. That was the Number One reason I chose FOX, just the autonomy.

Jim: You know, it's wild I've spoken to our founder Dr. Tim Fox on several occasions and that's why he started the practice. It's cool that 25 years later that's why you chose FOX as your first job out of school. Brooke, what is Number Two on your FOX Five?

Brooke: Number Two was the growth opportunities in the job. I shy away from jobs where there are no opportunities to grow as a clinician or grow in the company and step into different roles. When I was joining FOX there was so much that they talked to me about, opportunities, you know, down the road to step into other positions, or to get future certifications. It's really important for me to keep learning and growing, so that was another reason I loved FOX.

Jim: Yeah, working with FOX is definitely a choose your own adventure. There are so many different ways to grow here, and that brings us to Number Three on your FOX Five.

Brooke: Number Three was just y’all’s commitment to fighting ageism and I know it’s basically in y’all’s mission statement. The elderly population is really my where my heart is and I love the idea of what FOX stands for and the idea that we're fighting the possibility that when you get older, you're just meant to die or your life is over. So, to be a part of a [practice] that cares about that was really important to me.

Jim: When did you want to start working with older adult patients, was it in school, was it out of school?

Brooke: It was when I was 15. I got my first job at an assisted living home and that's when I fell in love with this population. I was like, “I know whatever I'm going to do, one day, it’s going to be this.”

Jim: Wow, and you followed that path and now you are treating older adult patients!

Brooke: Definitely, yep.

Jim: That's great! So Brooke, what is up next on your FOX Five?

Brooke: It was the opportunity to be a part of seeing the patient's growth day in and day out. There are a lot of jobs, whereas the OT, you're doing the eval and then you don't see the patient again for 10 visits, until it's progress report time. I love that [working with] FOX, you are the clinician doing the treatments on a day-to-day basis and being a part of seeing that growth, those small things that you don't necessarily get to see unless you're with a patient every day.

Jim: If my math is correct that brings us to Number Five on your FOX Five. Is my math correct?

Brooke: Yes, your math is correct.

Jim: My math has not failed me today!

Brooke: My [Number Five] is the support that FOX gives to new grads. I came on as a new grad and just the way that they build the program up for you. You're not throwing us into the job. There's a lot of support and education out there for us and opportunity to get feedback on documentation. That's not necessarily the case with other jobs, so I love that.

Jim: And you're not afraid to ask questions?

Brooke: No, I love questions and I love feedback.

Jim: Because I know some people are like, “I don't know if I should ask this,” and I'm like, “No, ask the question, that's the only way you learn.”

Brooke: Exactly.

Jim: Alright, so you have not been to New York City yet, right?

Brooke: I’ve been to New York City, but not Manhattan.

Jim: We'll have to do an exchange.

Brooke: Yes.

Jim: You should visit Manhattan and then—I have been to Nashville—but I would love to visit again.

Brooke: Yeah.

Jim: Brooke, thank you for doing this I appreciate it. For Brooke Adkins, my name is Jim Shearer and we will see yinz—or y'all—later!