If RT's save lives, why are we not as represented/respected as RN"S?

I have been an RT for 14 yr's. so I know of what I speak. I have silently watched as RT's work Code Blues, weaned patients off ventilators, loved and educated the patients back to their daily lives. Yet the RN's and DR's received warm 'Thank you' notes - placed in the ICU and 3rd floor nurses stations!
Shocked and hurt as Christopher Reeves had an RN portraid as helping him with his ventilator in his movie! He of all people should have known an RT had controle of it!
We as RT's have the AARC representing us, yet for some reason when you tell people you work in a hospital they immediately ask if you are a nurse! WHY!!!
Why: are RN's "covered by law" to do our jobs!
can hospitals decided to "try out closing the RT dept." and let RN's do respiratory?
are RN's over RT's in hospitals, when we are a specialty area?
are RN's payed twice as much, get pay increases twice as often, and are twice as well staffed as RT's,?
have we sat back and allowed the NBRC to decide we MUST become RRT's inorder to work untill we retire?
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? !!
How are WE going to get the credit we deserve for SAVING LIVES?
Are we such a passive group that we don't care, untill a Code Blue happens and RN's screem for us? WE NEED TO BE NOTICED!

I understand where you are coming from, but respiratory care is a much younger field than nursing. Doctors and nurses have always been around.

Another reason why nurses get so much more respect and pay is this: there is simply a lot more nurses than RTs.
There is power in numbers.

The general term "healthcare worker" really consists of 2 groups: Nurses and Allied Health. RTs belong in the AH group, along with x-ray techs and such.

I don't know about Arkansas, but I can tell you that in SOME South Florida hospitals ( at least three I have worked in)RRT's make just as much as regular nurses and sometimes even more! As for respect for RT, it depends on your depatment manager/director and Medical Director and how strongly they work for you.

Where I work RT's intubate, draw ABG's, analyze them, report the results and make changes to the ventilators if needed. We also are in charge of hemodynamic monitoring (which we learned in school). We set up A-lines, set up IABP (balloon pumps) set up swanz' and do the monitoring of the lines as well. We downsize trachs, assist in the O.R. in open hearts with all the hemodynamic monitoring that goes on. We run the code blues and are able to administer ACLS drugs if we need to in a code because ALL of us are ACLS certified.

We work in NICU and intubate NICU babies if we have to, we assist in all deliveries of babies 36 weeks and under and all multiple births.

Our Pulmonologists refer to us as their right hand. We are respected by the RN's and when they're in a crunch they call "Respiratory".

The majority of our staff if asked a question by a Physician can answer correcly and intelligently. Our input in patient care is required/requested. Four of our staff teach the Respiratory program at the local college.

We aren't the best out there, but we are among the best.
Our manager strives to get us noticed/recognized. She strives for us to practice what we as therapists learned in school.

As for salaries, some of us make into the $40/hr range. some of us are flight therapists with local air ambulance companies, and we teach. We all have the RRT credential and the majority have the B.S. degree and some have even higher degrees.

There is hope for RRT's out there. But we need good leaders! Competent Therapist! and therapists that will keep pushing to gain more responsibility out there!

MPlants,

I'm at the end of my first year in RT school. Several friends of mine and I are all graduating next May and have been considering to move to Miami. I would love to work at some of the hospitals where RTs are respected and make as much and possibly more than the nurses. Could you give me the names of some of the facilities you would recommend?

thanks,

Matthew

I work in NY & we're respected pretty much by everyone except for the doctors. But thats expected b/c they pretty much don't respect anyone except for the doctors above them. The nurses are awesome [minus a few of course]. I'll admit the some residents are alright but then then there's some u wonder how the in the world they got through med school.

We get to do A-lines insertion, vent care, intubations [neo,peds,adults], neb admin, abg, pt edu [explain usage of vent,bipap,etc], transports [internal/external] & we go to codes. The only thing we don't do is hemo monitoring.

ReconiizeRoyalty in Phoenix, Arizona said: MPlants,

I'm at the end of my first year in RT school. Several friends of mine and I are all graduating next May and have been considering to move to Miami. I would love to work at some of the hospitals where RTs are respected and make as much and possibly more than the nurses. Could you give me the names of some of the facilities you would recommend?

thanks,

Matthew

Matthew,

My most favorite hospitals are Broward General Medical Center in Ft. Lauderdale and South Miami Hospital. We get to do everything e learned in school and therapists are very well respected.

Good luck
Micheline

MPlants in Miami, Florida said: Matthew,

My most favorite hospitals are Broward General Medical Center in Ft. Lauderdale and South Miami Hospital. We get to do everything e learned in school and therapists are very well respected.

Good luck
Micheline

Thanks alot. Do you know what the starting wage for new grads are at those hospitals?

Thanks,

Matthew

Diann in Fayetteville, Arkansas said: I have been an RT for 14 yr's. so I know of what I speak. I have silently watched as RT's work Code Blues, weaned patients off ventilators, loved and educated the patients back to their daily lives. Yet the RN's and DR's received warm 'Thank you' notes - placed in the ICU and 3rd floor nurses stations!
Shocked and hurt as Christopher Reeves had an RN portraid as helping him with his ventilator in his movie! He of all people should have known an RT had controle of it!
We as RT's have the AARC representing us, yet for some reason when you tell people you work in a hospital they immediately ask if you are a nurse! WHY!!!
Why: are RN's "covered by law" to do our jobs!
can hospitals decided to "try out closing the RT dept." and let RN's do respiratory?
are RN's over RT's in hospitals, when we are a specialty area?
are RN's payed twice as much, get pay increases twice as often, and are twice as well staffed as RT's,?
have we sat back and allowed the NBRC to decide we MUST become RRT's inorder to work untill we retire?
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? !!
How are WE going to get the credit we deserve for SAVING LIVES?
Are we such a passive group that we don't care, untill a Code Blue happens and RN's screem for us? WE NEED TO BE NOTICED!

The answer is simple. Nurses have a bigger lobby in congress than RTs and have been around longer as a profession. RTs do not have as much PR as nurses. What can we do about it? Join your state chapter and attend every hospital event there is. From my perspective in Texas I see a lot of apathy among fellow therapists. If we want our profession to thrive and be respected and noticed, we have to be pioneers and prove ourselves; and don't be afraid to speak out when a family praises a NURSE for weaning their loved one off the ventilator. Let the family know nicely that you are not a nurse but a respiratory therapist and the ventilator is YOUR responsibility.

It all depends on where you work. Some hospitals allow their therapists to run codes, intubate, insert a-lines, attend c-sections and manage vents with protocols. Other hospitals do not allow RT's to intubate nor insert a-lines. Alot of these hospitals don't care to push for therapist driven protocols because they are afraid of their doctors who "control" their hospital. It boils down to the department director and medical director. It seems like we will be forever correcting patient's and their families about who we are and what we do for them. It is hard to gain respect in some facilities. Face it, we are at the head of the bed but the bottom of the totem pole.

if any fellow rrt can help , im looking for any information regarding respiratory therapist inserting PIC lines .

alfred in Moreno Valley, California said: if any fellow rrt can help , im looking for any information regarding respiratory therapist inserting PIC lines .

Whether or not an RT can insert a PICC line largely lies with the State Board of Nursing in your state. It would be the decision of that entity to allow that task to be assumed by someone other than a specially trained RN.

I have a question. Are there any hospitals that allow RNs to intubate in crisis situations?

Dee in Virginia Beach, Virginia said: I have a question. Are there any hospitals that allow RNs to intubate in crisis situations?

That would be a really far stretch, considering they have no airway skills training.

I would love to have ideas on helping earn respect from everyone in the hospitals, MD's, RN's, CNA's, Patients, Families etc...

Currently I have mutiple lucrative $$$ positions available throughout the country for Respiratory Therapists, Registered Nurses, Lab Technicians, and Histo Technicians. If interested please email me your resume to 100krecruiter@gmail.com

Diann in Fayetteville, Arkansas said: I have been an RT for 14 yr's. so I know of what I speak. I have silently watched as RT's work Code Blues, weaned patients off ventilators, loved and educated the patients back to their daily lives. Yet the RN's and DR's received warm 'Thank you' notes - placed in the ICU and 3rd floor nurses stations!
Shocked and hurt as Christopher Reeves had an RN portraid as helping him with his ventilator in his movie! He of all people should have known an RT had controle of it!
We as RT's have the AARC representing us, yet for some reason when you tell people you work in a hospital they immediately ask if you are a nurse! WHY!!!
Why: are RN's "covered by law" to do our jobs!
can hospitals decided to "try out closing the RT dept." and let RN's do respiratory?
are RN's over RT's in hospitals, when we are a specialty area?
are RN's payed twice as much, get pay increases twice as often, and are twice as well staffed as RT's,?
have we sat back and allowed the NBRC to decide we MUST become RRT's inorder to work untill we retire?
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? !!
How are WE going to get the credit we deserve for SAVING LIVES?
Are we such a passive group that we don't care, untill a Code Blue happens and RN's screem for us? WE NEED TO BE NOTICED!

I want to add one more--Why nurses need 68 credits to become a RN, whereas RTs need 98 credits to become RRT? Why do we first become CRT after a two year associate degree and need to earn 27 more credits to become Registered RT?

RN's are not covered by law to do our jobs. That's why we have a respiratory care license in the USA. I do know that there are not RT's in other countries, but I would never move out to the USA anyways. I sometimes have nurses telling me what to do and my family says that it all rolls down to my shoulders in a law suit. Do not let people intimidate you to a point that a patient is not getting treated properly. If the patient needs to sleep, than that's one thing.

Do not go onto allnurses.com because some o f those threads are rude regarding respiratory therapist vs. nursing.

My husband is a RN and he says that they are not over us, and that some nurses are just intimidating. The hospitals in the USA will never get rid of respiratory therapists. We are too well respected. And as far as our responsibilities go, I really don't think that the hospitals would pay us more if we did more, but I don't know.

I do know that I enjoy my job vey much and I hate to see RT's become nurses. I would not want to do that job. I could to respiratory therapy till I retire.

I just began the RRT program in Nov. /08. Can anyone tell me if u can work in multi states(as in traveling) and how it works if I have one state as a base? 1 hosp. Per state I choose to work in. Thank you, Cas

I began rrt program in Nov.08. Can any one tell me if I can work in 1 hosp. Per state I choose to work in other than the state im in @ once(travel in other words)? Would u know the process if it possible? Thank you,kindly, Casandra

Candy in Mesa, Arizona said: RN's are not covered by law to do our jobs. That's why we have a respiratory care license in the USA. I do know that there are not RT's in other countries, but I would never move out to the USA anyways. I sometimes have nurses telling me what to do and my family says that it all rolls down to my shoulders in a law suit. Do not let people intimidate you to a point that a patient is not getting treated properly. If the patient needs to sleep, than that's one thing.

Do not go onto allnurses.com because some o f those threads are rude regarding respiratory therapist vs. nursing.

My husband is a RN and he says that they are not over us, and that some nurses are just intimidating. The hospitals in the USA will never get rid of respiratory therapists. We are too well respected. And as far as our responsibilities go, I really don't think that the hospitals would pay us more if we did more, but I don't know.

I do know that I enjoy my job veray much and I hate to see RT's become nurses. I would not want to do that job. I could to respiratory therapy till I retire.

I've been an RRT for over 30 years and much to my dismay I found out that here in NE RN's are covered to do our jobs. I feel this is dangerous and that these people are not trained in the management of airways or ventilators and when RN's have taken over floor therapy so there could be a reduction of staff of RRT's there was a huge readmittance to the ICU not to mention increase mortality. I am presently contemplating going to nursing school because the hospital system I work for evidently is considering doing away with RT staff

MPlants in Miami, Florida said: Matthew,

My most favorite hospitals are Broward General Medical Center in Ft. Lauderdale and South Miami Hospital. We get to do everything e learned in school and therapists are very well respected.

Good luck
Micheline

When I left Broward General in 2000 to come to Orlando, Yvette Noe was the clinical coordinator - is she the dept mgr now? That would explain why the General is one of your fav hosps with a strong mgr. Love her! Any RRTs that want a challenging job and respect from nursing can always come to Orlando, but the pay is lousy. It's like that for nursing, too.

alfred in Moreno Valley, California said: if any fellow rrt can help , im looking for any information regarding respiratory therapist inserting PIC lines .

Yes we do here in arizona. Im an RT.

AM said: Lets be honest. A monkey can do an RT's job. I am an RRT and regret the day I went to RT school. RT's do a know-nothing job that can easily be done by nurses aids, let alone RNs. Lets not kid ourselves that we save lives. As I say, a monkey can attend and bag a patient whose coding. As for the CPR and ABG during a code, whats so big about that ? Once again nurse's aids can do CPR.
Except for the USA/ Canada where people are spoilt rotten, in the rest of the world they don't have RTs cause the nurses can comfortably do our job with minimal, and I repeat minimal training. I want out of this field as quickly as I can and I recommend anybody wanting to become an RT to think twice and pick another field thats recognized.

First we can tell the level of intelligence by the grammer and spelling. Second, you are dead wrong that nurse's aides can perform these functions. They are unable to assess lung function and honestly most nurses do not know how to interpret ABG'. I am quite certain that you are what respiratory professionals call a 'treatment jockey', I must say that maybe you should change your field if you have that low of respect for your profession!!!!

I've only been an RT for 6 years. Yet I can agree with all the things that others have mentioned. With the little respect we recieve, we often get disenheartened. I consider respiratory care to be specialized care. Our focus is on the patient. We make less and get paid less than some RN's, especially where I work. At my hospital we have to do EKG's in addition to other therapy. It can be quite annoying when you're in the middle of doing rounds. The hospital has also decided to close down our maternity ward. We have always kept more staff because of this. Speculation has gone around that now that those services won't be there, why have extra staff. Nightshift has only 2 therapists. We ask ourselves, "Would they really cut the staff down to 1 therapist to save a buck and risk patient safety." Unfortunately, money holds the authority.

I believe the same thing is happening all over the counrty. It's the economy. However, RT's are not the only ones suffering from all this. A number of RN's are being cut as well. The pt census where I work is extremely low. Lower than I have ever seen it in the eight years I've been here. Luckily we don't have to do EKG's where I work, and we actually have an ABG tech on day shift until 4pm. But I have worked in places where we have to do EKG's and I must say that you're right. They're a pain in the #@#@#!!! How did respiratory inherent that job in the first place?

Re: RT's being spread to thin. I experienced that with the Memorial system in Houston. Just pathetic.

I must agree with MPlants here on the east coast we are paid very well and are respected. Atleast in the Upenn health system where I work. Many of us have advance degrees and are encouraged to persue higher one's.

However; we dont do a lot of the hemodynamic monitoring, but when weaning we have to know about it of course. Also, I would like to agree with the pay most of us make just as much or more than nurses. As far as respect goes itreally depends on your director in your hospital. Although nationaly we are not that strong in numbers, but we are getting there.

Jeremy,
I heard UPENN is fairly high with wages for RRTs? Is this true? Someone told me right out of school he was making 65k. Just wondering the truth to it since starting positions around philly seem to be around 38-40 range.

RESPIRATORY THERAPIST ARE NOT RESPECTED IN MEMPHIS AT ALL. I BELEIVE IT IS DUE TO LACK OF PROFESSIONALISM EDUCATION AND ETHICS TRAINING WITHIN MANAGEMENT. THE MANAGEMENT DOES NOT STICK UP FOR THERAPIST WHEN THEY ARE IN THE RIGHT. THEY HIRE THERAPIST BASED ON WHO KNOWS YOU AND WHAT SCHOOL YOU WENT TO, RATHER THAN YOUR EDUCATION , EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE.THEREFORE THE KNOWLEDGEABLE THERAPISTS GO UNRECOGNIZED. ON THE OTHER HAND, NURSE MANAGERS BACK NURSES 100 % THEY ARE VERY PROFESSIONAL. NURSING MANAGEMENT STAFFS ARE BSN OR HIGHER. THEREFORE, THEY ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE ETHICS TRAINING NECESSARY TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR PROFESSION. NURSE MANAGEMENT BACKS THEIR STAFF AND FIGHT FOR THEIR RESPECT AND RIGHTS WHILE MEMPHIS RESPIRATORY THERAPIST MANAGEMENT GOSSIPS ABOUT THEIR STAFF MEMBERS, REFUSE TO HIRE GOOD THERAPIST, AND ENVY THERAPIST WHO CONTINUE TO FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION.

PEOPLE IT HAS TO STOP, RESPIRATORY THERAPIST IN MEMPHIS ARE HURTING THEMSELVES, IF THIS CONTINUES THE NURSING STAFF WILL BE
PAID MORE TO DO OUR JOBS.

IN CLOSING NURSES ARE NEEDED ALL THE SAME AS RESPIRATORY THERAPIST, NURSES JUST TAKE THEIR PROFFESSION A BIT MORE SERIOUS THAN RESPIRATORY THERAPIST DO.

ANONYMOUS, RRT in Memphis, Tennessee said: RESPIRATORY THERAPIST ARE NOT RESPECTED IN MEMPHIS AT ALL. I BELEIVE IT IS DUE TO LACK OF PROFESSIONALISM EDUCATION AND ETHICS TRAINING WITHIN MANAGEMENT. THE MANAGEMENT DOES NOT STICK UP FOR THERAPIST WHEN THEY ARE IN THE RIGHT. THEY HIRE THERAPIST BASED ON WHO KNOWS YOU AND WHAT SCHOOL YOU WENT TO, RATHER THAN YOUR EDUCATION , EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE.THEREFORE THE KNOWLEDGEABLE THERAPISTS GO UNRECOGNIZED. ON THE OTHER HAND, NURSE MANAGERS BACK NURSES 100 % THEY ARE VERY PROFESSIONAL. NURSING MANAGEMENT STAFFS ARE BSN OR HIGHER. THEREFORE, THEY ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE ETHICS TRAINING NECESSARY TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR PROFESSION. NURSE MANAGEMENT BACKS THEIR STAFF AND FIGHT FOR THEIR RESPECT AND RIGHTS WHILE MEMPHIS RESPIRATORY THERAPIST MANAGEMENT GOSSIPS ABOUT THEIR STAFF MEMBERS, REFUSE TO HIRE GOOD THERAPIST, AND ENVY THERAPIST WHO CONTINUE TO FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION.

PEOPLE IT HAS TO STOP, RESPIRATORY THERAPIST IN MEMPHIS ARE HURTING THEMSELVES, IF THIS CONTINUES THE NURSING STAFF WILL BE
PAID MORE TO DO OUR JOBS.

IN CLOSING NURSES ARE NEEDED ALL THE SAME AS RESPIRATORY THERAPIST, NURSES JUST TAKE THEIR PROFFESSION A BIT MORE SERIOUS THAN RESPIRATORY THERAPIST DO.

Someone hit the nail on the head. I agree with this comment. The main Respiratory care manager that is believed to be ruinig the field is Susan Parsons. I have been a therapist for more than 15+ years and this lady has been nothing but trouble. I have heard only negative things about this lady. If memphis respiratory therapist would fight to get rid of deceitful managers such as she and learn to work together this will be be a better city to pursue respiratoy therapy.

In Georgia the problem is just as bad. It's about who you know rather than what you know. Every job requires experience but no one is welling to hire new graduates from smaller lesser known colleges. I was an extern for six months at a level one trauma center, but due to the fact I did not go to a school in Atlanta it is very hard for me to find a job.

ktrt in La Vista, Nebraska said: First we can tell the level of intelligence by the grammer and spelling. Second, you are dead wrong that nurse's aides can perform these functions. They are unable to assess lung function and honestly most nurses do not know how to interpret ABG'. I am quite certain that you are what respiratory professionals call a 'treatment jockey', I must say that maybe you should change your field if you have that low of respect for your profession!!!!

I could see you have been pushed around way too much that you just gave up. I am sure your departmet was out numbered by the RN's and the CNA telling you that a monkey can do your job. You should retire now. RT's are way different than it was during your time. You need to look take a look around and you will find out that breathing treamtnet and CPR are not the only thing were trained for. You shouldn't even say that your an RRT because obviously you don't respect you profession. You should change your JOB and leave I to the professionals. Whatever else you say about RT's is what you see yourself...worthless. Good luck to you.

LungMan in Las Vegas, Nevada said: I could see you have been pushed around way too much that you just gave up. I am sure your departmet was out numbered by the RN's and the CNA telling you that a monkey can do your job. You should retire now. RT's are way different than it was during your time. You need to look take a look around and you will find out that breathing treamtnet and CPR are not the only thing were trained for. You shouldn't even say that your an RRT because obviously you don't respect you profession. You should change your JOB and leave I to the professionals. Whatever else you say about RT's is what you see yourself...worthless. Good luck to you.

im sorry the comment wasn't for you. It was for the perosn you commented on
I'm sorry the commen wasn't for you. It was for the person that commented to

I know for a fact that nurses at 2 rehab hospitals in my city give respiratory treatments. Nurses are basically stealing RCP duties, as if they aren't overwhelmed already, away and the leadership of the RCP field is silent, apathetic and negligent..... Shame, shame, shame. Diann in Arkansas hit the nail on the head, and is right in everything she said. Tragic state of affairs due to poor leadership...Pathetic!

Nurses out number RT's, plain and siimple. US Dept. Of Labor stats place the number of RT's employed nationwide at a little over 200,000. RT's are a very small cog in a very large machine.
In many states, RN licenses cover respiratory duties. It does in Texas, and many hospitals do use their RNs to give breathing treatments, and even wean ventilators. I know this because I worked at one hospital where this was routine practise. Why? Money.
RT managers are under a great deal of pressure to justify their department's existence. The way hospital admin does this is through "productivity". So RT managers scramble to find any and every job that an RT can reasonably do in order to look busy enough. After all, if their staff is doing all this stuff, they must be important to the mission of the hospital, right? Wrong. All of these "other responsibilities" cut into the time it takes to deliver respiratory therapy, reducing our job to merely giving treatments. RNs can give treatments. Paramedics and EMT's give treatments on the trucks (and in a few ER's). Heck, some of our patients give themselves treatments at home. You don't need a Respiratory Therapist to give breathing treatments, or do any of those other jobs; you need a respiratory therapist to give respiratory therapy. Eventually some bean counter in admin realizes this, along with the fact that RT's make very expensive ECG techs, phlebotomists, and any of the other "duties" that have often been lumped into my job description as an RT over the years; and the staffing cuts begin.
Unless and until RT's can consistently and quantifiable demonstrate their value at the bedside, we can expect the status quo. RT protocols are a good start. As for hospitals not being able to get rid of RTs, don't kid yourself. I work at a hospital where RNs draw the ABG's in the ICU's, admin the MDI's; and while RTs still do vent checks, the RNs computer charting system imports the vent data right into their computer. Why use RT?

And remember kids, RT is part of "Ancillary Services". If you look up the word ancillary in the dictionary it says "an extra", "something added, but not essential."

Wow Bob, I'm sorry you feel this way. You sound so unhappy. Devaluing our profession will not help you. Perhaps it's time for a change. Have you thought about teaching?. You can share the knowledge, skills and experiences you have gained during your years working as a Respiratory Therapist with bright students who are eager to learn and will share their positive energy with you. Exploring other possibilities is exciting and it gives you a new perspective. I know you feel unappreciated. You do make a difference. Thank you for all that you do. I hope you will continue contributing to our profession. I wish you well. Good journey.

Plain and simple, because the vast majority of RN's aren't smart enough to look at an ABG and manage the vent based on the results much less know the indication for a breathing treatment, speaking of updraft treatments... So don't kid yourself Bob. I'd love to see an RN manage a baby, hell, even an adult on HFOV. MAP what? Hz who? WTF is a blender? I gotta take this thing apart and put it back together? They couldn't do it without going back to school to become RT's. Let's be honest, most RN's don't know jack or crap about the lungs and to be honest, your post sounds like a nursing manager trying to justify their OWN staffing issues.

In my hospital, the opposite is true, we have taken over duties of the RN because quite frankly Bob, it doesn't require much knowledge to do the vast majority of tasks an RN does on a daily basis, everyone knows this. That’s why they have little techs/aides to help them do all but 10% of their job duty that requires a license to perform.

Hell, Bob, I bet most RTs know heart meds better than RN’s do. I mean FFS, I certainly know the different between rales and a wheeze and when a patient needs a breathing treatment and when they need Lasix. I can't say the same for 95% of RN's I have ever worked with. This is just the tip of a very, very , large iceberg. We can do this all day…

MPlants in Miami, Florida said: I don't know about Arkansas, but I can tell you that in SOME South Florida hospitals ( at least three I have worked in)RRT's make just as much as regular nurses and sometimes even more! As for respect for RT, it depends on your depatment manager/director and Medical Director and how strongly they work for you.

Where I work RT's intubate, draw ABG's, analyze them, report the results and make changes to the ventilators if needed. We also are in charge of hemodynamic monitoring (which we learned in school). We set up A-lines, set up IABP (balloon pumps) set up swanz' and do the monitoring of the lines as well. We downsize trachs, assist in the O.R. in open hearts with all the hemodynamic monitoring that goes on. We run the code blues and are able to administer ACLS drugs if we need to in a code because ALL of us are ACLS certified.

We work in NICU and intubate NICU babies if we have to, we assist in all deliveries of babies 36 weeks and under and all multiple births.

Our Pulmonologists refer to us as their right hand. We are respected by the RN's and when they're in a crunch they call "Respiratory".

The majority of our staff if asked a question by a Physician can answer correcly and intelligently. Our input in patient care is required/requested. Four of our staff teach the Respiratory program at the local college.

We aren't the best out there, but we are among the best.
Our manager strives to get us noticed/recognized. She strives for us to practice what we as therapists learned in school.

As for salaries, some of us make into the $40/hr range. some of us are flight therapists with local air ambulance companies, and we teach. We all have the RRT credential and the majority have the B.S. degree and some have even higher degrees.

There is hope for RRT's out there. But we need good leaders! Competent Therapist! and therapists that will keep pushing to gain more responsibility out there![/QUOTE I call bull__

Our profession is what we make of it. I have been an RRT for twelve years, worked in very large urban hospitals and small community hospitals, even did homecare. If your skills are up to par then no matter where you work you will get respect. MD's know when an RT is full of crap and doesn't want to work, is lazy and works harder to not get off their fat a___ than follow orders, plain and simple. Nurses will respect you if you communicate with them about patient care, not just turn a knob and walk off the unit mumbling about having to work. Our profession has just as many screwups as any other. The bottom line is if you COMMUNICATE appropriately with your fellow staff, MD's and Nurses, then you will have a good working relationship with them. Of course there are some that no matter what you do they will feel superior to you, but they are the exception, trust me. I do not have problems with MD's or Nurses often, it is usually with other RT's who are lazy and inept, they want to sit around all day and drink coffee and tell everyone how busy they are, lol. You get what you give, it rings true most of the time. Being a manager/director of a resp. department is a hard sell, our budgets are limited and most of the time we report to a VP of Nursing, or some other nurse manager that may not understand our role. A good director/manager can communicate effectively (also is qualified and not just a "yes-man") with the powers that be and prove through documentation that we are serving the hospital and providing quality patient care. Our services are usually not directly billed, we are paid by insurance carriers through DRG's, if the care is not appropriate the hospital does not get compensated for what they spend to heal the patient. Unfortunately the bottom line is what influences care, hospitals will never admit that, they say that patient care comes first. Anyway, enough ranting, respiratory is a good career choice but only for those who unerstand our role and can be producti

Wow Corey, feeling the love. Where to begin? I guess I'll start with how I'm not sure how my saying that unless RT's can consistentently show that they add value at the bedside, and aren't simply giving "breathing treatments" is an embarrassment to either myself or to the prefession. I would think that the RT's who are content to just do "breathing treatments" would be the embarrassment. We obviously differ on that.
As to RT being under allied health, well what's in a name. I'll simply refer you to Banner Estrella's own publication from May 2008 ( see page 3)
Transforming Care at Banner Health Through the EMR; page 3
www.himss.org/content/files/BannerHealthEMR.pdf
About middle of the page you'll find this breakdown of services/departments.
Coordination Rules Ancillary Department Applications (ie, Lab, Pharmacy, Radiology, Respiratory Care)
Oh dear. There has obviously has to have been some mistake. They said ancillary instead of allied health. Has anyone told the AMA?
Whining like a two year old? Where was that exactly? Granted, I can only speak about the scope of practise in the market I work in; but I hardly think that makes me an idiot. I can appreciate critisism, but I don't see why you had to get so ugly about it Corey. As I look back over my post, I can see neither whining or idiocy. Mererly someone stating that RT's are oft subject to budget restraints that RNs are not, and that managers often seek ways to justify their departments existence to the point that workloads increase, leaving RTs as little more than neb jockeys giving breathing treatments. I was in fact lamenting that with this increase in work load, we don't have the time to properly assess, educate, and work with our patients the way we used to, and the way we should. Yes, I guess I am an "old" RT. I've been in the field for nearly 25 years. As for keeping up, I split my time between ICU and NICU in a hospital that boasts a level one trauma center.
You're lucky to work where you do

To clarify any confusion, Respiratory Therapist is listed under Allied Health. I copied this information directly from The (AMA)American Medical Association's website.

The AMA's Health Care Careers Directory lists information about 81 careers in health care (see PDF files below) and more than 8,100 accredited educational programs in those fields.

For more information or to order, contact the AMA or consult our online catalog. You can also obtain an order form by sending an e-mail to meded@ama-assn.org with the phrase "HCCD" in the e-mail's subject line.

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Allied health

•Anesthesiologist assistant
•Anesthesia technologist/technician
•Athletic trainer
•Cardiovascular technologist
•Electroneurodiagnostic technologist
•Emergency medical technician-paramedic
•Exercise science (personal fitness trainer, exercise physiologist, and exercise science professional)
•Kinesiotherapist
•Medical assistant
•Medical illustrator
•Orthotist and prosthetist
•Perfusionist
•Polysomnographic technologist
•Respiratory therapist
•Surgical assistant
•Surgical technologist

There has been a strong, yet silent push by nursing to take over many RT duties. I was laid off because the company I worked for found it easier to have a staff of 3 RT's (I was the 4th RT) and use RN's for more RT duties. This company is now finding their nurses are not properly trained or competent in RT duties, but yet compromise patient care by not hiring an extra RT. I am still looking for a job, but there are none to be had. I might have to either A) take a position in a hospital in central supply just to get my foot in the door, or B) drive 1 hour and 45 minutes to a hospital that has RT positions. I think I made a bad career choice becoming an RT.

Some years back, a friend of mine who had become a nurse warned me that one of the goals of nursing was to "take back all that had been lost", starting with respiratory. He recommended that I consider going to nursing school. I didn't think much of what he said at the time, but have thought of it often in the years since. It really doesn't matter to upper level hospital administrators if RN's are qualified, so long as it doesn't effect the bottom line too much, or impact the hospitals liability. In other words, if they can convince the patient, oh sorry, "customer" to buy hamburger steak at filet mignon prices, so much the better.
As to what the AMA labels us as, it really doesn't matter. What matters is what the hospital that signs your paycheck considers you to be; and if that is "ancillary", ie: "extra, something added, but not essential", then you need to be considering how you can make yourself indispensible.
The bottom line is that nurses have never had to justify their existence. Professinal nursing care is the bedrock of western medicine. Respiratory Therapy is a fairly unique nitche profession, found primarily in the US and a few other countries. Look at the UK. They don't have RT at all. All aspects of patient care are performed by some type of nurse. Granted, they do specialize, but they are still nurses. Look at the largest healthcare system in your area, if they announced they were going to stop using nurses in their facility, that would be front page news. There would be protests. If they announced that they were going to stop using RT's, it might make page four of the business section, and other than people who worked in healthcare or had a relative with chronic pulmonary disease, most who read it would probably say "Hmm, wonder what they did."
For RT's not to get pushed out, we have to be able to show, in a measurable, quantifiable way, that we deliver added value at the bedside.

My Lead RT has worked with our current employer for over 25 years and has seen it all. She shared some interesting information with me. Apparently years ago, before my time as a Respiratory Therapist, their Respiratory Department was disbanded and Nursing took over all responsibilities. Some RTs were trained and absorbed into other positions....Cath Lab, Cardiology Stress Lab, Echo Lab, etc. Others chose to work for different employers. Well....it didn't work out. Nurses just don't have the specialized skills or training we have as RTs to administer Respiratory Care successfully. The Respiratory Department was reestablished and Nursing relinquished all responsibilities to the RTs. I'm happy my employer's first concern is our patients and I know I am appreciated. Recently, upon my return from a 2 and a half week paid vacation, my Lead RT said "You were gone for a long time", and my (RN)Nurse Manager said "Welcome back. I'm glad you're here". I feel very fortunate. Good journey everyone.

Bob excellent!! - MEASUABLE, QUANTIFIABLE WAY WHILE DELIVERYING ADDED VALUE.

Hospitals need to be more Patient-customer focused. Key performance indicators should be ready and more availble from inception to completion through out all levels of the organization. I am business major for the healthcare industry, it does not make me a subject matter expert but I like to see things for the better.

Bob, its clear that you have been disgruntled for sometime, "I wonder what you did?" Obviously you have a passion for nursing. I think that's great, you should go back to school to become a nurse, it's a great profession. Fortunately, I am from the new generation of Respiratory Therapy, and we were warned about people like you, so you only prove to us that they were telling the truth. It's very funny to me to see these rediculous posts from you, and I laugh at some of it because I reflect back to school and remember them talking about disgruntled old timers. We have some old timers here, but they are much different than you, they have become leaders in the profession. They have contributed to the profession and defend it to no end. Maybe thats why here in Arizona we are a respected group of trained healthcare practitioners. We are viewed much different than what you describe. Those old timers here are directors in our hospitals because they got rid of people like you, only to mold and solidify the youger generations of RT's that are willing to take the profession to the next level. We have gone back to school and obtained Bachelors and masters degrees. We contribute to the profession and stand up for each others decisions instead of whining..wink....to everyone and to each other. Bob, I salute you for the years that you gave the field of Respiratory Care, you have laid a foundation and a path for the rest of us to follow. We are ready to follow that path and make it much bigger, you can either join us, or get the hell off the path. It's to bad that you probably allow this type of negativity to be visible to the young RT's in your department, hopefully they see through your bitterness, and maybe they will help you back on your feet and help you back onto the path. Good Luck Bob.

Corey,
Once again you come back with snide, negative, hateful comments. If I do need help with anything, I will definately have to turn to my fellow RT's here, because apparently I will get nothing from you but ridicule and the back of your hand. It is a rather smug position you take, and a presumptuous one. Your situation is the exception rather than the rule in RT. If you'd stop being so dismissive, and making fun of others frustration long enough to see what they're experiencing, you might come to understand that not everyone in respiratory thrapy has the wonderful opportunities you have. Some of us work chronically short staffed. Our attempts to get leadership to focus on patient outcomes are brushed aside with more talk of productivity and budgets. It's not that we're old, out of touch, or just don't "get it"; some of us out here are doing the best we can to try and keep our institutions focused on the patient, and when we cry out to our fellow RT's for help, support, or a sympathetic ear; you tell us to get out, quit, and get the hell off the path. I don't envy your attitude Corey, but I do envy the job you have. It sounds like a great place to work. The kind of place we in other parts of the country get frustrated trying to create where we're at. Treasure it. Oh, and maybe try a little compassion. It won't kill you, promise.

About NRTC (National Respiratory Training Center)
The National Respiratory Training Center (NRTC) is an independent, 501(c)3 nonprofit educational organization. Our mission is to improve the health of patients with respiratory and allergic disease. We fulfill our mission through education of the health professionals who care for these patients.

Founded in the United Kingdom in 1986, the NRTC has trained more than 40,000 health professionals from over 45 countries around the world. In 2002, the organization established national headquarters in the USA offering accredited training programs and educational resources to health professionals throughout the United States.

In the United Kingdom, the NRTC is now known as Education for Health. Education for Health is a nonprofit organization that fosters a consistent, comprehensive, and innovative approach to professional health training across the fields of cardiovascular disease and respiratory health. This umbrella organization was formed in 2005 to broaden its educational focus to additional areas of chronic disease management.

Our Vision
The NRTC's vision is the development of a healthcare team in which allied health professionals have the skills and confidence to support the day-to-day management of patients with chronic illness, including asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

In this scenario, everone wins:

Patients develop improved self-management skills and increased satisfaction with care.
Allied health professionals assume additional responsibility for the management of chronic illness, increasing competence and job satisfaction.
Physicians can depend on skilled team members to support delivery of best care.

Who We Serve

The NRTC provides accredited continuing medical education for: nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, registered respiratory therapists, and case managers. Often pharmacists and physicians do our program too.

Respiratory in the UK is not a recognized specific profession, but a specialization route available to Physicians, Nurses, Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists. Common titles include Respiratory Nurse, Clinical Respiratory Physiologist, Cardio-Respiratory Physiotherapist and Cardio-Respiratory Occupational Therapist.