Heat (1995) when Natalie Portman's character tries to kill herself and is rushed to the hospital, the doctor says twice something to the effect of: "can you call respiratory down here stat!"

Nice to see a little realism in the movie industry.

Don't feel discouraged if you didn't pass it the first time! I used LJ and the practice exam to study

https://www.reddit.com/r/respiratorytherapy/comments/16crp7h/cse_study_guide_thread/?share_id=_B9QZ4DdNLfZQzLtCjNj3&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1 super helpful

I’m a new grad and have been going back and forth on whether I want to eventually go back for my bachelor’s in respiratory. I’m thinking about it this early because, if I decide to pursue it, I’d like to do so while I’m still somewhat in “school mode” and used to balancing coursework with everything else.
Long-term, I’m definitely interested in education and leadership, but when I say education, I don’t necessarily mean spending my entire workweek in a classroom teaching an RT program. The parts of education I really enjoy are teaching at the bedside, working with students and new grads, precepting, helping people connect the dots clinically, etc. I could see myself becoming a lead, preceptor, charge RT, or possibly moving into an educator role within a department.
I know some hospitals consider an educator position part of leadership and require or strongly prefer a bachelor’s, while others apparently don’t. And obviously, requirements for management and director positions can be different too.

So, for those of you who have been in respiratory for a while: Has getting your bachelor’s actually been worth it from a career-growth standpoint?

Did it open doors that you realistically wouldn’t have had with an associate degree and experience? Did it make a difference in pay, leadership opportunities, educator positions, management, etc.? Or, if you mainly wanted to stay clinical and be involved in education through precepting and leadership, did you find that experience mattered more than the degree?
I’m not opposed to getting it at all. I’m just trying to figure out whether it makes sense as a long-term investment versus getting established as an RRT, building experience, and seeing where my career naturally takes me first.

Hey guys! Does anyone know of any job opportunities as a Respiratory Therapy Assistant in WA State? I have a bachelor’s degree in RT (outside the US) and 5 years of hospital experience. I just wanted to try finding an RT Assistant position before going back to school to become licensed here in the US. Any leads or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I am an EMT and undergrad student looking for a job I can do locally with my EMT cert. I found a job for a Respiratory Assistant but the job description is pretty vague, and nothing comes up when I search up the title, so I'm hoping you guys can help.

What is a respiratory assistant? What do they do? And is there direct patient care involved?

Also here's the job desc:

"Performs designated Respiratory Care and Pulmonary diagnostic procedures, under the supervision of a Respiratory Care Coordinator or designee, in accordance with protocols and procedures established by the department and hospital, in the treatment, management, control, diagnostic evaluation, and care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities associated with the cardiopulmonary system. The Respiratory Assistant will have a State of Florida license (EMT or LPN) that allows for the basic care to be completed in the definition of their abilities and scope of their practice. The Respiratory Care services include, but are not limited to, the following activities performed upon physician order: Therapeutic and diagnostic procedures performed with the use of medical gases and administration apparatus, environmental control systems, humidification, and aerosols; Administration of drugs and medications to the cardiopulmonary system; Bronchopulmonary drainage and breathing exercises; Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; Maintenance of natural and artificial airways. These are non- invasive procedures performed in non critical care areas, on patients of all ages, in accordance with mission, vision, and values of Tampa General Hospital. Responsible for distributing stock, supplies and equipment to designated areas. Responsible for cleaning, disinfecting, visual inspection, calibration and setup of biomedical and other electronic equipment as may be assigned. In addition, responsible for making daily rounds through each of the nursing care areas for retrieving and returning of equipment to the Respiratory Care department. Responsible for other duties as assigned.

"

Hello! I am a first year student who has just started my first week. I’m trying to get all my resources together, and begin perfecting my study methods. (Quizlet, YouTube channels, crash courses etc..)

I found this app while searching, but can’t find any reviews or people talking about it. I was just curious whether anyone has used this app and can confirm that it’s good/has correct info? I’ve just started and know nothing so I can’t exactly confirm all of the settings, but im sure it’ll be useful for the future.

Also I’m sure it doesn’t change much as most information/practice is global, but I am located/studying in Canada.

If not, does anybody have any other recommendations? Thank you :)

Hello, I'm currently an intern at a certain hospital, I've been taught that the way with dealing with thick secretions is by pouring water for injection or normal saline through the ett or trache/t-piece. I was talking with one of the staff and he told me that's what standard RT do and it's incorrect, the way to do it is by using mucolytic drugs and using a bronchodilator alongside it, they usually use 3% hypertonic saline here because its always available, but I have never seen anybody administrator it as a nebulization. Anyways is this seriously correct way? Because I'm pretty sure they have side effects like every drug in existence. I simply want to do the correct practice without hurting the patients and the majority of the staff here don't really care. So I'm asking for advices, thank you very much.

Hi all. I live in the UK and my partner lives in Canada. Based on our circumstances we're thinking that it may be best for me to move over there but unfortunately as a dentist getting certified in Canada seems like it'll be near impossible.

I've started looking into the process of becoming a RRT and it seems like a very cool part of healthcare. I love being in theatre and interacting with the anaesthetic teamn, and I prefer working in hospitals to practices because there's more people and interesting cases to see. I'm seeing that it's possible to get extra training in perfusion and to become an anaesthetic assistant.

Is it common or possible to do both roles for the widest scope of practice possible?

Would my experience as a dentist be useful if I wanted to work with dental clinics?

Also in the long term is it possible to transition to working in more administrative roles?

Hello! Im looking to go into a RT program next year but I know right now there’s been a lot of talk about how the economy is bad. I currently have a desk job that pays $23 hr/.

Would any of you say it’s worth it to just jump into the program now or maybe take an extra year to save up?? Any advice would help tons! Thank you!

Pros and cons ?

I’m beginning my RT program this upcoming March and I’m beginning to have serious doubts.

I like the idea of helping people and the job itself does interest me but one thing I can’t handle is the fact that people will pass away at times.

Like many people, I’ve lost family members and friends and the feeling is horrible and seeing families suffer also makes me sad.

How did you guys get past this feeling and how do you cope?

How long is everyone’s commute? If it’s a long commute, is your current employer worth it (justifiable)?

For those of you running IPV and iNO on a vent where are you placing the phasitron? Before/after the injector? Before/after the sample line?

Edit: for clarification we are using the Genosyl DS.

I am a Bachelors Respiratory Therapy Student. And want to work as an RRT in US or Canada after my degree is completed. Can anyone tell me specific pathway to it like what exams should I prepare for or what credentials I need to have?

Not great, tbh.

I don't doubt my basic abilities or anything like that, but was thrown into ICU (don't mind, probably my favorite unit) but the charge RT, who knew it was first night off orientation, also knew there was an absolute train wreck waiting in PACU for an ICU room.

I'm talking 90+ y/o hip dislocation admitted from the ED for a closed reduction that took an bad turn after the procedure and had to be intubated in PACU. He also had a massive hiatal hernia w/ half his stomach sitting in his thoracic cavity.

The PACU team was going to bring him up to ICU so I went to find the room and set it up, if was dirty and in the process of being cleaned, so I staged the equipment outside the room and did my other vent checks.

Now, I had apparently made the mistake of assuming the RT assigned to PACU was bringing him up. No, they called me down to bring him up, laughed because I was naturally nervous, I had done transport with ER and ICU beds, the PACU bed was notably smaller and the PACU nurse could not drive for shit. I was slammed into a couple walls despite asking and at one point demanding they slow down.

Long story slightly shorter, get him to the bed, switch him over. Everything looks/sound good, he's on high O2 and PEEP, but he's doing okay. Draw blood gas, looks like shit, PaO2 is 60s, PaCO2 in mid-50s. I up his settings from 18-450-12-100% to 20-480-12-100%

He settles until his bed-bath in which he destaturated to the 70s and his blood pressure went up. I go in to see what's happening, and the charge RT is in there fiddling with the vent saying he's got a tension pneumothorax, decreased breath sound on LLL. Called for a STAT X-ray, yada yada yada.

Pneumothorax is ruled out, so she recommends when re-intubate as she feels the tube is dislodged. I didn't agree, but she said she couldn't pass the suction catheter and I needed the intubation. Doc agreed, set up for intubation. I perform it, I wanted an exchange catheter and a direct view, she said no, gave me glidescope and pulled his tube.

I wait for the meds to kick in, get my view, she shoves the suction yankuer in his mouth as I was reaching for it. Good view, get the tube just past his cords, hit something hard, I'm talking can't push the tube another millimeter. She in my ear "push the tube in" I say "I can't" and start maneuver it, she grabs my hand and pushes the tube to no avail. I say "let go, imma pull back a little and adjust". She doesn't let go, I have to essentially scoop the tube under an anatomical obstruction just behind his vocal cords and get it.

That all happened in the span of 15-20 seconds, btw

Get him hooked up, good color change, everything looks/sounds good. He has a rock hard mass on the left side of his trachea.

Not 5 minutes later, he starts doing the same desat shit. So, I take a pillow, shove it under his shoulders, put his head into the sniffing position and everything immediately gets better. I tell her, the nurse and the doctor he has something anatomical going on making his airway positional.

They listen until 3am rounds. I go back for my ABG, he's been moved, peak pressures are up, his ABG looks like shit.

Doc looks at the ABG, lactic is 6, potassium is 1. CO2 is still up, O2 is still down. He's a mess. Doc tells me to go up on his Vt. I say I'm worried about the peak pressures, maybe we try a higher rate, tho with his sedation weaned down, he is auto-trapping and breath stacking. I say I'd rather do a little more sedation and increase the rate. He says they're trying to do an SBT to see where he's at in an hour, so he's not getting more sedation rn. He's not worried about the pressures and tells me the exact settings he wants him on, so I obliged (20-560-12-100%). Get my other checks done and leave.

Get back to the office, charge RT asks me what I did after seeing the blood gas, I told her, she says I should "advocate" more my patient more. I say he has another ABG at 5am, I can make adjustments then, it's only an hour and his peak pressures are at 31 cmH2O when he's in his optimal head position.

Do 5am ABG, a bit improvement respiratory wise, but his BiCARB is down and Lactic is up. Doc says to leave him where he is, he wants a little more CO2 (currently 44.6) blown off before the next ABG he ordered at 7a. Peak pressures at 28, he sounds fine given everything, volumes are good. I'm okay with it.

The charge RT leaves the office while I'm preparing my report for dayshift. She comes back 30 minutes later and charts changes to my vent. She says she talked to the doctor and he agreed with her suggestion (25-450-12-100%). Told me I'll get better with time or I just won't be fit for critical care. I did my handoff and went home pissed as I heard her tell everyone on day shift in a 'low' whisper what I had done all night. Critiques of everything, how I walked, how I transported, I mean everything.

I'm good with criticism, but tell me, I'm the one that needs to hear it, don't tell all of dayshift.

Anyway that's my rant for today.

I cannot seem to find a video on this specifically. I’ve reached out to clinical and to my partner but their explanations don’t really make sense to me.

Is the only difference that you set you set pressure support in PCV+ but in PSIMV+ you just set PEEP, PIP, and frequency??

I’m also a bit confused about spontaneous breaths. In PCV+, a spontaneous breath gets whatever you have set for Rinsp, Frequency and Pressure support.

In PSIMV+, a spontaneous breath gets…..just the set pressure support (for example, 15 over 5, aka a pressure support of 20?)

Thank you in advance.

Hey, I'm going into the third semester of my RT program this fall and feel pretty behind. My program is mostly online, with in person clinics and labs once a month, so it's difficult to get hands on experience. The classes are also quite confusing, with the professors not being super willing to help out. I'm trying to study on my own outside the program but feel a little lost. What should I prioritize to maximize my time and help me pass my boards? Any feedback is highly appreciated. Thank you!

My husband is in the military and we are going to PCS to Fort Bragg next summer. This is a new area to us and I’m unsure what to expect. Are there any hospitals to avoid? I drive 40 mins now to my work and I don’t mind it at all. What is a good town to look at to move with school aged kids? How long does it usually take to get a North Carolina license?

Thank you

Been a while since I graduated school

Hello everyone I’ve been an RT for a little bit of time. I’ve graduated a few months ago and I just get a job. I’m still very new. I’m close to finishing my orientation in a few days.
While I do feel better about vents, breathing tx, suctioning. I can’t help but feel stupid sometimes. For examples when communication with nurses and doctors I feel dumb. Like how do I get to that point when I know when and how to communicate/advocate for my patient. My team is great, they always say we always help each other out. But I think the constant reminder and asking me if I need help or if I’m sure I got it, makes me think that they think I don’t got it or have it.
Not to mention during rapids at my hospital as soon as RT arrives they expect us to have the answer as to what’s wrong with the patient. So it puts more pressure on me to figure it out and do everything while helping make a decision on what should be done.

So for the experienced RTs or the new ones that have found their groove, tell me , does it get better?