Life and Breath

[5959512]

is it hard to find work as an RT

[mado1229]

I.m now a student (RT) and I'm loving every bit of it. Know your math thou. I work @ the hospital as a PCT and I see how RN stresses compared to RT. And by the way the salary is almost the same few cents different with RN. But they all need each other, nobody is better than the other. Just depends on what you love most and yes nurses has to help with pt care like cleaning when they are soiled, that is the reason you are taught pt care in your first semester. RT not even a bedpan is taught!!

[ChicksFly172]

i am thinking of becoming a respiratory therapist because i have several friends with cystic fibrosis and asthma. still deciding though. engineering or RT? not sure. i like both.

[SuperNeedy]

Try shadowing. Go to several of the facilities that you'd like to work, and ask the Respiratory Dept. if you can shadow their staff. Go to more than one person & hospital because there can be differences in each. Bottom line, if the experience does not turn you on,, then will you want to endure athe expense and time going to school for it. You can make more money in engeneering, but there is nothing more rewarding than relieving the suffering of another. Good luck with your choice. Joe L.

[lungfixer]

Love the shot of the helicopter taking off...but Careflite (as well as 99% of the other Air Medical services) do NOT use RT's. Their teams (aside from pilot)consist of an RN and a Paramedic.

[JinXuanJun]

dude, im very anxious to hurry up and get into the respiratory program

[archsword69]

I'm a respiratory therapist from the Philippines and really love my job.

[elidarossoneri]

I'm respiratory therapist from Panama!!!

[suzyqrn25]

RT also means Radiologic Technologist and not always Respiratory Therapist. Some people do not know this. To clarify the two Radiologic Technologists us this R.T.(R). The 'R' in the parenthesis means 'resgistered'. While Respiratory Therapists can use this CRT- Certified Resp Therapist.

[sitedoctors]

I agree, however, no one in the Radiology Dept does bedside care. A nurse may ask XRAYs per the doctor but whne they ask for an RT consult or assessment, they are looking for a RRT or RCP. It is good to know the acronyms though. There's enough confusion in the medical field as it is. So thanks for pointing it out.

[RespiratoryANBU]

You can say that again!!! And don't forget RC Week is in three weeks from now. I'm getting my RT labcoat ready.

L.Rodriguez, Future CRT-NPS

[1992peter]

An RT, is one of the best hospital workers you can be.

Because, the LUNGS ARE THE MAIN PART OF THE BODY.

[sitedoctors]

Spoken like a true RT. Of course a cardiologist or neurosurgeon would tend to disagree. But hey, what do they know.

[RespiratoryANBU]

I keep watching this to keep me inspired towards Respiratory Therapy. My mother's severe asthma inspired me to take care of patients like her since she was in the hospital most of her life. I'm especially triggered by my little sister's birth, who was born 2 months premature. I thank RTs everyday for helping keep my mom and little sister alive.

Thank You, Site Doctors!!!

[sitedoctors]

I too was inspired by my mother. It's good to see people still looking to help others instead of just getting paid. personally, i think it's foolish to go into nursing or a hospital setting period just for the money. Because the health risk are way too high. I've found many cases where a patient tested positive for the Swine Flu or even TB after being discharged. Then the staff that treated the patient is left to wonder what they may have picked up. Hope your Mom's doing fine. Take care.

[floydtorrent]

hello!

Im a new respiratory therapist! Im from Quebec Canada, and i love my new job!!!!

[limebint]

I cant wait to start the program this fall!! This video made it clear to me that I made the RIGHT choice! Oh god i love RT!

[krypton137]

hey can you tell me somthing more about it what are the prerquiremwnt to get in to the program especially what math u really have to take.

[limebint]

I think these depend on where the program is....but here are the Pre-Recs I had to take.

Math 65 (I think thats just algebra 2)

Bio 112 (Easy peasy....its baby stuff)

(Its also encouraged that you take the anatomy series as well eg. BIO121 and BIO122)

WR122 thats pretty much it.

You can avoid most of them if u place high on the college placement teasts.

[Sqeener]

it's not the breaths you take that counts, it's the moments that take your breath away Lol

[1992peter]

I'm gonna be a respiratory Therapist when I grow up.

I can't wait either.

Especially because I'll be helping people and I'll be using equipment such as suction machines, pulse oximeters, ambu bags, Ventilators, Apnea monitors, ECG machines, Blood pressure monitors etc

[angelg0ld]

I'll graduate in May 08. This video makes it sound great lol I hope I love it and more importantly I hope I can do it well!

[ibaloione]

i will be a respiratory therapist sooooonerr! thanks for this video.

[sitedoctors]

Glad to hear it. Which college are you attending and in which state? Any comments to add for other viewers?

[Phishyness]

I'm doing respiratory therapy in college right now. =) thanks for the video

[sitedoctors]

Great! Which college are you attending and in which state? Any words of wisdom for other viewers?

[Phishyness]

I live in Canada, so its a school in Ontario. Well so far we're really building a solid human biology foundation, lucky for me I have a university degree in biology. Fun stuff starts next semester, that is; procedures and all the practical stuff. To other future RT's, take this program seriously, it is immensely challenging.

[loverlyguy]

This is a good representation of the critical function of the respiratory care practitioner. They give the gift of life...one breath at a time. Heed the warning that this profession deals with end of life issues and often the prolonging of an inevitable death.

[sitedoctors]

I totally agree, but most issues are not nearly that severe. Most chronic issues last for many years and some issues like asthma can even clear up from childhood to adult. Never the less, a breathing disorder of anykind can be very frightening. So RT's are providing an extremely important funtion. It's too bad that many doctors and hospitals still don't fully appreciate the need and abilities of RT's.

[RespCareWorld]

audio is distorted if possible please record and upload again

[sitedoctors]

I've reviewed this video on several different computers and noticed no problems except when viewing it on coputers with slow connections. If you have a slow connection, I'd suggest placing the video on pause until it loads in your cache. Then you should be able to play it without interuption and have a better quality video and audio.

[suzyqrn25]

I agree with you SiteDoctor. At this hospital and the last one I worked at the doctors do not appreciate Resp Therapits and they don't give them respect. I see that alot here at Temple Hospital here in Philadelphia. Einstein Hospital also does not give RT's respect. Maybe a few doctors give therapists some respect but not all. Some Temple docs do give respect to them but not all.

[RespiratoryANBU]

I agree with that. Not even my family respects them. They don't really want me to be a Respiratory Therapist they'd rather me be a nurse. And I said heck no.

Happy RC Week Everyone!

[sitedoctors]

I think that the family situation is due to a lack of exposure and education about the role and need for RTs. Everyone knows what a nurse is and thus their value. As for RTs, ask anyone suffering from COPD and they'll quickly point out the value of their RT. I'd mention that RTs get the same training as RNs but they specialize in heart and lung issues. They are also much more independent and interact much more with doctors. In fact, many doctors rely on the advice and assessments of RTs.

[Ulquiorra4th]

nurses have to wipe peoples butt (gross) and respiratory therapist didn't do that

[lungfixer]

To Ulquiorra4th:

Not sure where YOU work...but in the facilities I have worked for an RN doesn't TOUCH a pt's ass (unless their doing their physical exam). Cleaning poo is left to CNA's, Patient Care Assistants, and nursing students!!

[Ulquiorra4th]

i was told by my sister in law that nurses have to wipe the pt's butt and i am a student right now

[sunburst29]

You are correct, in a lot of hospitals, especially ICU's. RN's wipe patient's butt. Most hospitals do utilize CNA's and such but RN's do care for the patient's appearance when the patient can't. Your sister-in-law was correct.

[sitedoctors]

Is the level of respect still about the same? I find that respect for someone or something new has to be earned and is slow to come by. I also see many nurses here in Calif, not getting respect but also not demanding it. I mostly work NOC shifts and have noticed that some units (generally medsurg) can be very noisy and unprofessional. I tend to find the opposite on critical care units. I also find the more professional nurses garnering the most respect while the chatty gossipers get little.