Ask a new RT grad anything!

I just recently passed my registry. I still have to do my externship but I'm done with school. I'm excited and axnious to enter the real world. Ask away!

First question: Did you get a job yet?

What is an externship? I believe where I'm at we do clinicals but I haven't heard of an externship?

Mary: I passed my RRT on Friday. I applied for a job at the place I'm doing my externship. Unfortunatelly, I recieved a e-mail when I got home saying that they hired someone else. Four students from my program applied for a job there including me. I was the only one that didn't get it. Those other students also rotated through there during clinicals. I met the manager at a bar one night. I'm not too worried even though RT is kind of saturated in GA. I'm currently applying online right now.

RTstudent in Kent: A externship is usually your last clinical rotation. It's usually provides the best chance of getting hired there. My externship is 18 12-hour shifts.

Externship is "workinthejob" training. If you're in college, then you pay class credits for an externship. Some new graduates take do externship-jobs in corporations - which may pay a beginning salary, minimum wage, or nothing. An externship is good for onthejob exerience and learning whether or not you truly want in that field. It's a good start.

Sometimesinbreath: Good luck to you. Don't let the economy get you down. You're young, so you have more going for you than many of us. If you need to, get some practice on interviewing.

R u planing to take other license exams as well such as CPFT? How about Asthma education certification?

I plan on taking as many exams as possible including NPS and RPFT. I don't think I'll do SDS (sleed disorder specialist).

NPS and RPFT will make me more marketable.

Once I get a job, I'm going to sign up for all those classes: asthma education cert, COPD educator. They only take a day to get your license and I doubt they are difficult classes.

I have so much free time now that school is over...so why not?

sometimesibreathe in Lilburn, Georgia said: I just recently passed my registry. I still have to do my externship but I'm done with school. I'm excited and axnious to enter the real world. Ask away!

what is the difference between dynamic compliance and static complaince?

Mary inTampa in Tampa, Florida said: First question: Did you get a job yet?

I am an RRT and RN and when i was a new RRT, I always call to find out the director names of each department. I then walk in tues-thurs 2-5pm and hand deliver my application to the director. Briefly go over that you want a job where you did your rotations and hand him a resume. Then you will bypass the human resources and literally find out if they are in need of an RRT. Tell them you will do whatever it takes in a professional manner and i promise they will remember you and you are not just a piece of paper. They put a face with a resume. Now go get a job!

Staffing Lady: Thanks, but I just accepted a job in Baltimore.

sladamsrn@aol.com: I use Static as a trend for patients more than Dynamic.

sladamsrn@aol.com: Thanks for the advice. It also helps if you get your professor to write a awesome recommendation letter.

SOMETIMES....Did you want to go to Baltimore? How difficult was it finding a job?

Steve Yzerman: My original plan was to live at home and work at a hospital in downtown Atlanta. It is a 45 minute drive but I would save money on rent.

Now that I got the job, I don't regret it. I have to grow up and learn to survive by myself. I will miss my friends though. This hospital in Baltimore is very reputable and I just couldn't resist the opportunity.

There are 23 RT schools in GA. 25 in FL. So these two states saturate RT in the SE. There are only 8 in MD.

Finding a job took about 2 months. I applied to 25 large hospitals 15 in GA. I had 10 responses and 3 interviews, 2 offers, and 1 job.

Congrats...I have actually followed your blog a little bit in the last year or so....How difficult was the program? Any advice?

Also,what's the process for getting liscenced in another state?

One last question...How many people dropped out of the program? What was the main reasons for failure?

How difficult was the program? Any advice?
It wasn't difficult, it just required a lot of work/time.

Getting a license from another state takes 3-4 weeks. Go to the NBRC web site. Print out the +11 page form. Fill it out and pay $.

We started with 45. We ended with 35. 1 Switched to another major. Most people dorp out within the first semester.

How hard was it to get into the RT program? Did you have a lot of volunteer experience in order for you to be accepted and how old were you when you were accepted?

The chances of getting into my RT program was about 1/3. I remember going to the RT meet with three other people. Those three did not get in the program. They asked general interview questions about why I wanted to be a RT.

Once I got in, they told me the average GPA going in for my class was 3.20, which was unusally high. I entered with a 3.11 GPA. I had no volunteer experience.

I was 20 when I was accpeted into the program.

Thank you that is helpful I just hope I get accepted when I apply for next fall I'm planning to volunteer through this whole school year at a hospital and ill be 20 by the time I apply. If there is any other helpful information please let me know. Thanks

sometimesibreathe in Lilburn, Georgia said: The chances of getting into my RT program was about 1/3. I remember going to the RT meet with three other people. Those three did not get in the program. They asked general interview questions about why I wanted to be a RT.

Once I got in, they told me the average GPA going in for my class was 3.20, which was unusally high. I entered with a 3.11 GPA. I had no volunteer experience.

I was 20 when I was accpeted into the program.

Sometimesibreathe,

I am interested in going into Respiratory Therapy. Did you attend school in Georgia? Thanks