Any Respiratory Therapists here?

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

What made you get into it? Do you like it? Do you work in a hospital or some other venue?

I was thinking of this as a possible career option but I was hoping to hear some first hand accounts but I don't know any Respiratory therapists.

Thanks for your time.

 

[hiwaygal]

I'm not one (and I don't play one on TV )

but GDUL is, he's posted on THIS THREAD you might try sending him a PM.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I am not a respiratory therapist, but my 9 month old son was hospitalized on the pulmonary ward as a toddler, undergoing the same treatment as the CF kids (but for different reasons).

In the 2 weeks we were there he quickly figured out who was an RT and who was a nurse (basically, whether they had a nebulizer mask in their hand). Nurses earned tears, and heartbreaking fearful looks (because they were the ones who replaced his IV's over and over again) whereas RT's got smiles, giggles, hugs etc . . . Also since they had to hang around throughout his treatment they really got a chance to talk and play with him, while the nurses always seemed to be rushing to the next patient. (Note: I'm not bashing nurses -- we were the "next patient" too, and appreciated that they were efficient and came quickly when they were needed).

I definitely walked away with the impression that if your mission was to work with and help sick children and RT would be a good choice of profession.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

I'm not, but I'm an RN who knows a bunch of respiratory therapists, including 2 that have gone on to become RNs. I vote for nursing over respiratory therapy because:

1. RTs and RNs require the same length of schooling but RNs make more money.

2. There are more jobs for RNs than RTs.

3. There is more job flexibility for RNs than RTs. In my hospital, virtually all the RTs work in intensive care units with minimal coverage on the floors. You can most likely expect to spend most of your career in intensive care units. If this is what you want, that's OK.

Many of my RT friends have told me they wished they'd gone to nursing school (not just the 2 who went on to become nurses).

 

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

Thank you all for your helpful advice.

Mickey'snewestfan hope your son is doing better. Thank you for sharing your experience.

PrincessKitty1, thanks for your input. It was very insightful. Do you have alot of flexibility in your job? I definately would like a career with flexibility. I don't know if one exists but I'd like one. Thanks again.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

Thank you all for your helpful advice.

Mickey'snewestfan hope your son is doing better. Thank you for sharing your experience.

PrincessKitty1, thanks for your input. It was very insightful. Do you have alot of flexibility in your job? I definately would like a career with flexibility. I don't know if one exists but I'd like one. Thanks again.

I have a lot of flexibility in my career. As an RN, I've worked in hospitals, in clinics, as a clinical research assistant, as a case manager, as a consultant/case manager in a developmental program for kids ages birth to three, as a home visitor/consultant in a parenting program, in several psychiatric units (in the hospital and community mental health), etc.

I've worked with infants, children, adults, and geriatrics.

I currently work 3 twelve hour shifts per week, no nights or weekends, in a hospital. I've held many positions that require shift work but I've also held many positions that are Monday through Friday, days, with weekends and holidays off.

I will say that there are a LOT of jobs in nursing, but not a lot of GOOD jobs. There are plenty of jobs (primarily in hospitals) where RNs are chronically overworked, to the point of danger to their patients and their careers. But due to the nursing shortage (projected to last for many, many years), an RN does not have to stay in an awful job. RNs can work in clinics, research, home care, case management, insurance companies, medical equipment sales, etc., etc. in addition to hospitals.

Best wishes in your career search! I actually have another career/degree that pays as well or better than nursing but have gone back into nursing due to the abundance of jobs and career flexibility.

 

[mudnuri]

I'm not, but I'm an RN who knows a bunch of respiratory therapists, including 2 that have gone on to become RNs. I vote for nursing over respiratory therapy because:

1. RTs and RNs require the same length of schooling but RNs make more money.

2. There are more jobs for RNs than RTs.

3. There is more job flexibility for RNs than RTs. In my hospital, virtually all the RTs work in intensive care units with minimal coverage on the floors. You can most likely expect to spend most of your career in intensive care units. If this is what you want, that's OK.

Many of my RT friends have told me they wished they'd gone to nursing school (not just the 2 who went on to become nurses).

I'm going to have to correct you on these.

I'm in school now for RT, and did major homework before choosing this OVER nursing.

You don't make any more out of school than an RT does. Matter of fact- here in southern VT, the entry level RRT average is 31.25 an hour. Thats with ONLY the RRT, you could of course get your specialties after the RRT exam.

Their are just as many RT jobs as nursing jobs....

In hospitals- RT's work in every department. We don't get stuck in the ICU or PICU- actually to get into the PICU you need a specialization. However, if someone is in the hospital and is on O2, or any sort of respiratory therapy, the RT is the one who see's them. That being said- it could be someone in Same Day, or the ER, or ICU or whatever other department you wish.

RT's also dont work as short staffed as nurses do. In nursing- you have a full set of patients your responsible for every night. When your nurse friend doesnt show up for work, your workload doubles. As an RT, you only see the people with respiratory problems. not everyone in the hospital needs you.

Just thought I'd clear the misconceptions.

Brandy

 

[PrincessKitty1]

I'm going to have to correct you on these.

I'm in school now for RT, and did major homework before choosing this OVER nursing.

You don't make any more out of school than an RT does. Matter of fact- here in southern VT, the entry level RRT average is 31.25 an hour. Thats with ONLY the RRT, you could of course get your specialties after the RRT exam.

Their are just as many RT jobs as nursing jobs....

In hospitals- RT's work in every department. We don't get stuck in the ICU or PICU- actually to get into the PICU you need a specialization. However, if someone is in the hospital and is on O2, or any sort of respiratory therapy, the RT is the one who see's them. That being said- it could be someone in Same Day, or the ER, or ICU or whatever other department you wish.

RT's also dont work as short staffed as nurses do. In nursing- you have a full set of patients your responsible for every night. When your nurse friend doesnt show up for work, your workload doubles. As an RT, you only see the people with respiratory problems. not everyone in the hospital needs you.

Just thought I'd clear the misconceptions.

Brandy

This must be regional. At my hospital, RNs right out of school start at $18.75 and RRTs start at $15.07.

My hospital currently has 107 RN positions posted and 4 RRT positions posted.

It is extremely rare that our workload would double if a nurse called in sick--my hospital has a large group of pool RNs to cover. But I agree that RNs work shorter than anybody else in the hospital, tending to make hospital nursing an undesirable job in many areas.

In my hospital, RRTs woirk primarily in the intensive care units--RNs set up most of the oxygen on the floors although respiratory therapists do the neb treatments and CPT on the floors and set up the sat monitors.

 

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

I really think I'd love to work 3/12's. And, I could work nights, that wouldn't be a problem for me.

Brandy, you actually started out in nursing? What made you decide to switch into RT? Just curious, is there flexibility in RT too? Like could you work 3/12's or is it pretty much five days a week 8 hours a day? I know this includes weekends and such, I don't mean five days= Mon. - Fri.

Thanks for all of your advice.

 

[SoonerKate]

I am not an RT, but I do work for a Respiratory Home Health Care company and have hired lots of them. If you're interested in learning more about the home care work environment, PM me.

Our RTs are paid well, have no in-person on call requirement, and generally only work M-F. There's a lot of opportunity for them to move up within the company as clinical managers. The RRTs I know personally in and outside of the company I work for love their jobs, are passionate about what they do, and are fantastic at providing oustanding patient care.

Some states do allow RNs to work as RTs as well...might be something to think about.

 

[GDUL]

What made you get into it? Do you like it? Do you work in a hospital or some other venue?

I was thinking of this as a possible career option but I was hoping to hear some first hand accounts but I don't know any Respiratory therapists.

Thanks for your time.

Hi! I've been an RT since since 1979 with experience in many different areas. Feel free to PM me with any questions that you have - I'd be happy to "talk" to you!

 

[deide71]

I am also an RT and you have been given some good advice here...

It is true that in most areas RT's make less than RN's. A lot of that has to do with a long tradition, and some strong unions...but the gap is decreasing and even reversing in many areas.

As critical care medicine becomes more complex we are becoming more and more needed. When I started in 1995 some hospitals didn't have Rt's, they used nurses to run the ventilators. As mechanical ventilation becomes more complex it really takes an advanced practicioner to understand it and us it to it's fullest potential.

I have been working in a level one trauma center for 11 years and I love it. It is also a teaching hospital, and I have a lot of autonomy that I really don't think nurses have...or want. Really, the whole mindset is diffferent. When a patient is crashing in the ICU usually the nurses page me before they page the resident!

As a career, It has been very good to me. I started in 1995 at 12.00/hr. Due to market forces and general wage increases I now make 33.00hr plus 2.00 hr in shift differential, so may wage has about tripled in less than 12 years. I like the flexible scheduling, I work 3-11pm so my kids are not in daycare too long.

Sometimes the hospital thing can be hard on the weekends and holidays, until you see someone gravely ill come in through the ER on Christmas eve, and you are there to help them. This is why I do it!

I also have several friends who have gone on to work in sales for ventilator manufacturers and are pulling in 6 figure incomes. It isn't for me, I'm a patient care girl, but there are other oppertunities out there!

I highly reccomend this as one of the careers of the future.

Good luck!

 

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

Thank you for taking the time to share your advice and experience. I really do appreciate you taking the time.

 

[mudnuri]

Brandy, you actually started out in nursing? What made you decide to switch into RT? Just curious, is there flexibility in RT too? Like could you work 3/12's or is it pretty much five days a week 8 hours a day? I know this includes weekends and such, I don't mean five days= Mon. - Fri.

Thanks for all of your advice.

I started out going back to school for nursing, because I wanted to make a difference in the health care field. Then I started the nursing school application selection process and was so put off by the amount of applicants to spaces...at my school- 140 applicants to 55 spots...It would take a couple of years to get into the ADN program. I didnt have a couple of years.

I spent a couple of days shadowing an RRT at a local hospital here, (actually the one I'm doing clinical at now) and saw what they did. This is a community hospital- that has a 12 bed ICU. 55 bed total.

Some of the things I saw, made my decision much easier. I saw the RRT being able to spend quite a bit of time with each patient. Explaining the things we were doing, not just what, but how, and why etc... they were not rushed in any way. Then I saw the nurses- rushing from place to place, because most of the time they are either short staffed, or pretty darn close to it.

I personally have no interest in working in the PICU, I do however have an interest in working with pediatrics just not neonates...Around here, if I did have an interest in the PICU- as a nurse I'd need a BSN, as a RRT, I just need 1 other specialization- that is only a national exam, not a seperate degree or in addition to etc.

The hospital I'm at now in clinical- they work 3 12's. The hospital I want to work at when I'm done, works 24 hour shifts, so I'd work 2 24's. The 24 hour shift hospital also has RT rooms, so those of us working the 24's can sleep during our shift.

The big teaching hospitals around here, work 12's, heck- I dont know of any that are 8 hour shifts anywhere.

The biggest thing that made me look further into RT, is sleep apnea, my DD9 had it when she was 3 and had a T/A to solve the issue, but it is such a big problem in health care today, it may be where I end up specializing in.

Good luck

Brandy

 

[minniecarousel]

My brother is an RT - has been at the same hosp for 25 years. He works every Friday evening, then overnight on Saturday and Sunday nights. He can then pick up shifts during the week through the Registry. I know he makes as much working the weekend shifts as one working a 40-hr week. He's been at it long enough - he must like it! He's one of those guys that everyone in the hosp knows. My two sisters are nurses and have had occasion where they have heard about the wonderful care that he gives his patients. I seem to recall that he works the ER and ICU the most.

 

[DisnyMama]

My Stepson works as an RT at the Childrens Hospital in Fresno, CA. He is 25 and went to school right out of high school. He does very well and is well respected by the doctors and nurses. He has already been referred to the program that would enable him to go out on Emergency/Trauma calls with the hellicopter (there's a name for it but I can't remember it) which would increase his salary a great deal. He already from what I can tell is not doing to badly financially because he is supporting he and his wife while she finishes college to get her teaching credential in which this is her last semester. They are very smart with money. Anyway, he really gets a great deal of satisfaction from his job. He has a lot of respect for the nursing staff also.

 

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

I started out going back to school for nursing, because I wanted to make a difference in the health care field. Then I started the nursing school application selection process and was so put off by the amount of applicants to spaces...at my school- 140 applicants to 55 spots...It would take a couple of years to get into the ADN program. I didnt have a couple of years.

I spent a couple of days shadowing an RRT at a local hospital here, (actually the one I'm doing clinical at now) and saw what they did. This is a community hospital- that has a 12 bed ICU. 55 bed total.

Some of the things I saw, made my decision much easier. I saw the RRT being able to spend quite a bit of time with each patient. Explaining the things we were doing, not just what, but how, and why etc... they were not rushed in any way. Then I saw the nurses- rushing from place to place, because most of the time they are either short staffed, or pretty darn close to it.

I personally have no interest in working in the PICU, I do however have an interest in working with pediatrics just not neonates...Around here, if I did have an interest in the PICU- as a nurse I'd need a BSN, as a RRT, I just need 1 other specialization- that is only a national exam, not a seperate degree or in addition to etc.

The hospital I'm at now in clinical- they work 3 12's. The hospital I want to work at when I'm done, works 24 hour shifts, so I'd work 2 24's. The 24 hour shift hospital also has RT rooms, so those of us working the 24's can sleep during our shift.

The big teaching hospitals around here, work 12's, heck- I dont know of any that are 8 hour shifts anywhere.

The biggest thing that made me look further into RT, is sleep apnea, my DD9 had it when she was 3 and had a T/A to solve the issue, but it is such a big problem in health care today, it may be where I end up specializing in.

Good luck

Brandy

Brandy,
Thank you so much for taking the time to post. You are a wealth of information!

If you don't mind my asking, how were you able to shadow an RRT for the day? Did you do this before you even signed up for a class or did the school set this up for you?

I was talking to DH last night and for some reason he never was keen on the nursing idea. I don't know if he thought I couldn't do it but for whatever reason now he's seeming just as interested in me doing RT as I am.

Did you go through your local Community College? I see that our community college, Tri-County Tech does offer a degree in RT. I really am seriously thinking about this and I've got to be honest with you, it's because of a thread you posted on another "Why did you become a nurse thread" that even got me looking into this direction so I just want to thank you for that!!

My brother is an RT - has been at the same hosp for 25 years. He works every Friday evening, then overnight on Saturday and Sunday nights. He can then pick up shifts during the week through the Registry. I know he makes as much working the weekend shifts as one working a 40-hr week. He's been at it long enough - he must like it! He's one of those guys that everyone in the hosp knows. My two sisters are nurses and have had occasion where they have heard about the wonderful care that he gives his patients. I seem to recall that he works the ER and ICU the most.

Thanks, minniecarousel.
Your brother's schedule sounds like a dream. I was just telling my DH last night, it would be cool if you could work Friday, Saturday and Sunday (in the overnight) and have off Mon-Thurs. Of course, if they'd allow I'd probably pick up shifts too.

My Stepson works as an RT at the Childrens Hospital in Fresno, CA. He is 25 and went to school right out of high school. He does very well and is well respected by the doctors and nurses. He has already been referred to the program that would enable him to go out on Emergency/Trauma calls with the hellicopter (there's a name for it but I can't remember it) which would increase his salary a great deal. He already from what I can tell is not doing to badly financially because he is supporting he and his wife while she finishes college to get her teaching credential in which this is her last semester. They are very smart with money. Anyway, he really gets a great deal of satisfaction from his job. He has a lot of respect for the nursing staff also.

Thanks for sharing, DisnyMama.
I especially enjoyed reading that he is respected by the doctors and nurses. Because to be quite honest, I've wondered if RT's are afforded the same respect in the health care setting as their counterparts, nurses and doctors. Thank you again for taking the time to post.


You all have just been so helpful and, more importantly, positive! It really gets me excited hearing all of your stories.

Feel free to keep them coming!

 

[mudnuri]

Brandy,
Thank you so much for taking the time to post. You are a wealth of information!

If you don't mind my asking, how were you able to shadow an RRT for the day? Did you do this before you even signed up for a class or did the school set this up for you?

I was talking to DH last night and for some reason he never was keen on the nursing idea. I don't know if he thought I couldn't do it but for whatever reason now he's seeming just as interested in me doing RT as I am.

Did you go through your local Community College? I see that our community college, Tri-County Tech does offer a degree in RT. I really am seriously thinking about this and I've got to be honest with you, it's because of a thread you posted on another "Why did you become a nurse thread" that even got me looking into this direction so I just want to thank you for that!!

I called the hospital, asked to speak to the RT dept, and told the RT that answered that i was exploring the RT program and was interested in shadowing one of them- they were WAY too eager to help! Matter of fact, one of the RT's I met, is an alumni of my school!

I am at a Community College- the only program in the state of NH! Matter of fact, there is only 1 in Vermont too!

Thats another reason I went in- plus we only have 12 in our class- we are such a tight night group! Our clinicals are a blast, because of this! The nursing program- holy moly- WAY too many people. We get tons of one on one time with our professors- because there is only 12 of us!

Good luck- feel free to PM me if you want1

Brandy