My Work Bag Essentials as a PRN Occupational Therapist

If you’ve been following along on Instagram, you’ve heard me talk a lot about low-equipment treatment resources and tools recently. Being a PRN therapist, I tend to float around and not all therapy gyms are built the same. Some are fully equipped with everything we could ever want, and others are bare bones.

I’m not about to carry an entire therapy closet in my backpack, but I do like to keep a few essential things that make strengthening and cognitive intervention a bit easier (plus a few extra things to keep just-in-case for myself)!

Something that has helped me continue to feel organized and autonomous as a PRN therapist is keeping my own log of the hours I work at each facility. Obviously, digital timecards and paystubs are the norm these days. But there’s something about keeping each week’s hours written down in a basic planner that keeps my mind on track. I also like to keep a container clipboard with some essential paperwork and a few extra pens. This not only keeps all of my papers organized in my bag, but also gives me a guaranteed surface to write on when completing evaluations/written assessments.

For strengthening, I really only carry a few pieces of theraband. These were relatively inexpensive from Amazon, and are much lighter and easier to carry than weights. And I will say that most facilities have a set of weights to utilize during sessions.

Speaking of strengthening, The OT Toolkit is one of my favorite resources for skilled nursing. There are plenty of strengthening programs in here, as well as guides for specific conditions, ADL training, and adaptive equipment demonstrations. So you know this comes to work with me every day!

I’ve acquired a few really great games to keep with me over the last year. Mainly this minimalist version of Uno, and Spot It (a classic). There are lots of ways to modify and adapt these games to meet the various needs of various Residents.

I also like to a few crafting supplies. I have a pencil case with some scented markers (which can double as a sensory intervention in the right context), and now I have this sticker book to add to my stash as well!

There’s a special pouch for all my name tags and any facility-specific keys that I’ve been given.

And of course, I’ve got a spot for some personal care items for myself. Things like ibuprofen (because migraines), Tums (because 30), chapstick and hand lotion (because medical grade soap/sanitizer is very drying), hair ties (because I’ve got long hair), and some TruLemon drink mixes (because we all like a little something in the afternoon to carry us through to the end of the day).