So I’m closing in on a year of experience next month.

My lease is done march of 25.

You think a year and a half would be enough time to start traveling?

Ideally I wanna start life over. Sell everything I have. Buy a nice little e bike to commute.

I’m currently in southern cali working at a good hospital as staff.

I’m a RT student so give me some grace in this question. I recently had an endoscopy and they put a NC on me at 15L. I saw it right before they pushed the sedation and was confused. Any reason why I thought only 6L with a NC. Also could that be the reason behind my headache after?

What are some options you can become after becoming a Respiratory therapist? I know PA, Perfusionist, AA, anything else?

I’m sure we’ve all seen this image floating around with a story of a patient ‘coughing’ it up…..anyone else?

Hey RT peeps. These two opportunities are available to me, which one do you think is the best one?

1. NICU RRT/ NIGHTS/ FULL-TIME / $37/hourly, i’ve only worked adults and picu so this would be new to me. There is a night shift differential as well but im unsure of how much right now.

2. ECMO SPEC. / NIGHTS/ FULL-TIME $33/hourly. I think this would be a great skill to have! At this moment i’m unsure if there is a differential for sitting pump.

To top this all off, i primarily work day shift. Night shift seems a little scary to me, but beggars can’t be choosers and i’ll do what i have to do to keep advancing my career. Thank you all

I always come to clinicals hoping that my preceptor will be nice and somehow forgiving. I think the workers are talking behind my back as 1 preceptor told me that I have to show to other staff that I can do it because she sees potential in me. She also said “See you know what you’re doing, I know you’re smart even though you don’t present yourself that way” I read that as you look stupid and I’m judging the way you look. One time this one staff who isn’t even my preceptor asked me to grab something, but I paged her on her phone to clarify what she wanted me to grab in the department and now I’ve heard that she told other staff that I had to call her back like I don’t know what i’m doing. It’s really tough as a student because I don’t want to talk back to these staff when I think they’re wrong or I somehow feel belittled and making a mistake that small means being judged even though i’m still learning. I also think one of them favors my classmate over me. I can go on and on about this, but I won’t make this post long. What are your thoughts on this? Am i just sensitive?

Is there any data that says inhaled medicine can throw off ecmo numbers?

currently working in Alberta and my hospital provides me $2 million in liability insurance. I am going to Saskatchewan or PEI and am unsure if there hospitals there will provide coverage and I have to sign that I will have that $2mil minimum of coverage before starting work. Anyone have CSRT? how long does it take to process? the website is actually awful at explaining what kind of coverage they provide, just how to apply and how much it costs ($290).. or maybe I'm not good at finding it?

any help would be appreciated! Thanks

edit: found a bit more info which says 5/10 mil so at least i know it covers the minimum

Ran into a nice guy out shopping. My wife has a non regional accent so it started with a “where are you from?” Him and my ended up doing a little chatting. He’s a former life flight pilot, his wife am former ER nurse. He asked if planned on doing it for the rest of my life. I told him I had some other things in the works (no bites yet) and possibly crossing over in something like cath lab or nuclear med. he said he did e-commerce from his house and I didn’t ask more about it. Feel like he would have offered me a job but honestly don’t know a thing about that line of business. My kid was also acting a fool which is why I had to cut it short a bit but they thought dawned on me walking out of the store

My pulse ox is finally giving out. Any recommendations? I have no idea what a good one would be, or if theyre all the same ? Ive only had the one I got from school 😅 Please & thank you.

As a recently minted RRT in California, should I choose to practice for 6 months, in say, Utah, will I need to license in Utah? Do travelers license in each state they work in?

Anyone have any tips on passing the decision making portions on the CSE? I always pass the information gathering but it’s the decision making that’s hard for me. I feel like I struggle the most with initial vent settings and making changes based on ABGs and that’s where I lose most of my points. I’m using tutorial systems and Kettering simulations

Have any of the Perfusionist here used the same CEU to renew their RRT and CCP certifications? How do you guys maintain both certifications with the least amount of effort? Lol

I graduated last year, I have my CRT just didn’t take CSE due to me being pregnant. I just had my baby & wanted to know if any hospital would hire me before I take CSE. Atl area

Can someone explain to me why inflating or deflating a cuff would change secretions so much. 16 month old trach/vent dependent. Pulm wants her cuffed at night but she can be deflated during the day as long as her stats are good. When I deflate the cuff, she has lots of oral secretions and some nasal. Nothing inline for hours! As soon as I put the cuff back up, she gets a rattle and I have to suction in line. She needs suctioned about every hour during the day, sometimes less (when the cuff is inflated 3ml). But why no lung rattling when she’s deflated or “uncuffed”?

Why is everyone going to epic? I LOATHE EPIC. Did anyone start out hating it and grow to love it? Is it just the way it’s set up (or lack there of) at my job? I use it at a PRN gig that is a small critical access, and it just seems like so much for what we do there. It’s set up for all the things, and we just don’t do all the things. The training that was received on it was very akin to doctors offices and really was unhelpful to us, so it could just be a true lack of training on it. But it still just seems like too much. We use cerner powerchart at my other gig, and I love it, have always loved it. It is set up so perfectly and charting is effortless. Ordering things is easy, and in epic seems to be a nightmare, finding what I need is easy etc. I just heard they are moving to epic and I could’ve had a meltdown 🤣

I just needed to vent, I guess. I'm new to California and have started working at an acute care hospital. I'm very excited since this is my first experience working in acute care. Previous experience was in LTAC for 4 years. Anyway, its just extremely, extremely odd to me. The co-workers in emergency were absolutely hostile to me and so unfriendly. Ive been in this acute care for a year now. Its gotten better. I do not consider myself to be obnoxious, boastful, prideful, etc.

So just, idk, still wondering. For example, in my first week, let loose in emergency by myself. No one introduces themselves to me, even though I introduce myself to the nurses. Docs felt more intimidating. And this doctor i got stuck working with doesnt smile very much and I know for a fact she just doesnt like me very much. I tried telling them when had to intubate to please be patient; im very new at this. Instead, during intubation, an extremely rude tone pushed me around. The patient techs were the worst!!

The patient techs have a huge ego. Anyway, during intubation, the doctor sets up the cart, huffing and puffing, not giving me a chance, its a medical intubation, btw, not trauma. The stylet is missing for the glidescope, and I don't know where it is. Patient Care Tech (PCT) runs out of room. I follow to see, go into the supply room, grab it, and push me out of the way. I resumed my place by the hostile doctor. She gets secretions over the glidescope and hands it to me very sternly, and in an annoyed voice, she says, Clean it!! CLEAN IT!! FUCK! im new!! Its supposed to be sterile procedure, no??? So I am looking for a clean towel. She snarls at me and says, Just wipe it on the towel in front of you, God!! I do so and grab it out of my hand, rolling her eyes. Finally get tube in; the PCT at this point shoves me out of the way, pulls stylet and inflates cuff. Now the PCT moves behind me and angry doctor hands me the glidescope. I grab it, and PCT runs into me, and LMAO, at least this made me laugh, bashes into the dirty glidescope. But then, lo and behold! Starts complaining about how clumsy i am? Mockingly telling his nurse girlfriend who was with us, this RT man!!! Rolling their eyes. I once again state that this is my first day on the floor by myself. When we were being trained, we did not get any medical or trauma!! So this is my first intubation. I still thank the PCT and nurse for their help in assisting me.

Than we have to transport patient to CT. Grab the portable and, mind you, set this portable up once! Its circuit was honestly, in the beginning, a little confusing. So yeah, couldnt figure out how to connect patient end to circuit. PCT and nurse, annoyed, say, Man, we gotta go!! YOUR TAKING FOREVER! You know what? Just bag the patient!!! And just start moving without allowing me to get ready. I finally do call my lead, who comes by and shows me how to connect this old, confusing portable circuit. I'm used to it now.

No, my first-day disaster doesn't end there. So get the patient back to the medical/trauma bay. Grab ventilator. Do all the bla bla stuff. Than get a call, ICU room available; time to transfer. Here we go again with that circuit, lol. But no, I did it correctly and assembled everything quickly. Start transporting to the third floor. I just had the transport vent. No one bothered to tell me, Hey, roll the main ventilator with me to the ICU. First day, okay. So get to the unit. ICU nurses are like, Okkkkk, wheres the main ventilator?? Says I left in an emergency. Smiles all around. And man, God really testing me that day. As soon as I tell ICU nurse, im going to get the main ventilator.

Tier 1 trauma. Go intubate again. This time they got mad at me because i didnt grab all the equipment (they didnt give me time). As soon as I get back, pull me to the trauma bay, mockingly saying, Cmon, RT!! Lets go! OH MY GOD! U DONT HAVE THE END TIDAL!??!!? I had it, had put it on monitor, and someone had moved it. This is very common, as I have observed other RT's go through this as well, and doctors, PCTs, and nurses smile and say, Hey, can someone grab bougie for my co-worker RT? No annoyance, nothing. But for me.....U DONT HAVE THE END TIDAL?!?!?!?! Oh LMAOOOO not to mention, i have left the transport vent in ICU and now they immediately wanted to take patient to CT but guess what?!?! THAT RT, IDK ABOUT THAT ONE... so yup got yelled at by the nurse. Yes, I yelled at. She did apologize in CT. Fucking bipolar bitch. Yelling at me and now in CT, telling me, Oh, its ok to make mistakes; we are teaching hospital, you know. And your new... like, WTF!!!?!

THAN!!! LOOOL. I just tried to help move the patient from bed to the CT table. IDK, WTF did I do, ok? Everything went well, i felt. But not according to the CT tech!!!! I heard about this from my lead. Lead at some point asks me, Hey, what happened in CT...? I say IDK!! NOTHING! And I'm new. I tell one or two coworkers that I'm close with all my fuckups. And I am new; I'm bound to screw up, so I'm not embarrassed or going to hide if I do anything wrong. So lead says, oh, idk, that CT tech just told me, MAN, THAT NEW RT, JEEEEZZZ. My lead at the time is awesome. Straight up. Lead tells me, I checked that CT tech and just told him, Hey, don't be like that; hes new; if hes making a mistake, help him!! Kept asking lead, why what did i do wrong in CT and lead says idk, CT tech didnt say anything after....fucking weird no...??

I thought it was finally over. But nope. An angry, annoyed doctor complains to my lead. Oh my God, that RT. Doesnt know how to prioritize and doesnt grab right equipment......like Wow. And how unprofessional of the doctor to do that to me! Like, I thought we were fucking adults here and that you couldn't respectfully come to me and talk to me. I have to talk sh*t behind my back!?!! Unfortunately, I am not a confrontational person and kept all this inside.

This was my first day. So let me tell you. Its been a rough 5–6 months. Im a year into this. And let me tell you, just 3 months ago, everyone in the ER now calls me by my name and not Hey RT!

I mean, WOW. Im sorry, this is HUGE. I just had to get off my chest. because I see how they treat new nurses and even the new RT!!! They are so nice. Why me?! Why treat me that way in the beginning? I'm 38. Some co-workers make fun of me and say I look older. Perhaps when they first saw me and my age, they thought, Oh, this is experienced RT...?

Yeah i just, idk, feel maladjusted. i mean, with work, im fine now. Confident. Just with making friends, etc., I thought the west coast was supposed to be friendlier......

Some RTs I know give an insane amount of detail about patients during report, like laundry-listing their entire medical history or giving a ton of treatment info that you have to look up on their work list anyways. It’s annoying spending the last hour of my shift rewriting everything about a patient knowing that I’m just trying to please the one or two people who take report too seriously. Ps, I know there is some info that is important and vital to pass on. I just think some people take it too far. Thoughts?

Hello I’m a future student my situation is a little weird and am wondering if you have encountered someone in my shoes.

First I am in the US Navy as a hospital corpsman currently attached to a marine corps unit as a field med tech practicing combat medicine and witchcraft field medicine/s . Before I worked in med surg as essentially an LVN who could give meds orally and intravenously as well as do IVs and various types of bed side patient care wound care, suction trachs etc. and have experience being in RRT (rapid response teams).

The navy offers a 9 month program to become a RT which grants you an associate’s(pre requisites are required and you do them before being being accepted at a college of your choosing) and is CoARC certified. I have applied and been accepted im tracking they use eagans as the primary lecture material what are some suppliess you recommend for school? I have a litman 3 which I have tactfully acquired throughout my naval career that’s about it.

Have any of you worked with prior military members? Would you hire someone who has done what I have or prefer someone who took the usual route of becoming a RT? Also having said my experiences is there any special type of RT work you suggest I look into once I get out? Looking to work in California or Texas when I’m done with navy. Also planning on getting my associates in nursing for shits and giggles as there are several bridge programs for prior hospital corpsman.

I'm trying to figure out what medical job I should do that only requires an associates. I am 24 year old male near Cleveland Ohio. I have narrowed it down between radiology tech and RT. I am looking for a job with a good sanity to money ratio which ill always have a job in easily. I come from the IT field which is very saturated. For those RTs here which one do you think I should go for? I'm planning on starting a family in 5 years and want a field with good job security and money where if anything happens I can always easily find a job.

Hello everyone, I have been working full-time as a transporter in a hospital and just got accepted into Respiratory Care! Honestly I wasn’t expecting it. I’m really excited, but I took AP 1 and AP 2 for a while ago. I hardly remember anything, and my classes are starting next month. I am really anxious!!! The classes that I will take Introduction to Respiratory Care, Introduction to Healthcare Leadership, Practice, Practicum, Respiratory Care Orientation.

I am going to restudy as much as I can before it starts. Do you think with these first classes I am going to struggle a lot? Maybe I should start to program next year, I am very confused :(

Thank you!!

After about 7 years on the road, I think I have finally gotten to a point where I am hanging up the car keys and suit case.

When I started years ago, my take home pay was almost what I was making staff, and the opportunities to go different places were there as well. It was a hell of a ride, especially during Covid.

Seven years later, my how things have changed.

And it’s not even the pay packages that are the problem right now, it’s the cost of living. Duplicating expenses becomes very expensive with pre-Covid wages, and at the end of the day, I’ve determined the value just isn’t there anymore, and my bottom line ends up being close to what it would be as a staff RT in my area.

The worst part is that job opportunities are tougher to come by now, it’s hard to even get offers now, and when it comes to negotiating anything with the agencies like pay, or getting them to pay for anything like licenses, certifications, or relocation expenses, you may be able to get it done depending on the agency, but now it’s like pulling teeth. And with facilities, it can be a challenge for them to even approve time off.

It’s like this now unfortunately because the agencies and the hospitals simply can, because the market is flooded.

I’m at a point now where I am going to work two PRN jobs. I’ll be able to at least be home more, make a higher PRN rate, and then at least I’ll have the flexibility to make my own schedule. Ironically the pay rate is close to what I’d be making agency right now.

For those staying with the travel journey; enjoy it, it can be a fun ride if you find a good position that’s worth it.

Hello everyone. I am interested in becoming a respiratory therapist. I have been a hair dresser/barber for 22 years and I am looking for a new profession. I obviously love working with people. The idea of having my own patients really interests me. Snot and phlegm don’t bother me. Wages appear to be competitive for a shortish program. Could anyone chime in and offer their perspective on the industry? Pros and cons? Anything you would do differently. It’s sort of a vague question, but would appreciate any input. Thanks!

I graduated two weeks ago on the 2nd, passed my TMC on the 6th, took my first CSE (and failed by 27 points) on the 10th, and just passed my second attempt at the CSE today by 41 points! HERE IS WHAT HELPED ME:

Kettering ONLY helped me for the TMC. I used Kettering audio and the study guide by writing it over and over on a whiteboard and listening to the audio consistently for the TMC but it did not help for my CSE.

The CSE: what ACTUALLY helped is one of the practice SAE that you can purchase from the NBRC/PSI website ($70) AND respiratorycram! respiratorycram is $39 a month and it helped me SO much to understand why the things I was choosing was wrong. This is what I used to study all day right before my test and what helped me pass. I tried Kettering tokens, I tried tutorialsystems, but THESE 2 helped me the most!

Good luck to everyone out there and thanks to everyone on here for the tips and tricks! RRT out babyyyyyyy!

I just want to thank all of the amazing providers in this group that actually care about the future of our profession and the ones that are willing to answer student questions without making them feel stupid for asking. We all start somewhere, right?

I have lurked on this page since I started respiratory school and have taken in as much information from it as I could. The advice and tips/tricks have been invaluable.

With that being said, THANK YOU. And as of today, I am officially an RRT!!!!!

I had one of my special trauma docs ask me “what was his joules” in relation to his WOB

I have never been asked this before trauma was insisting that it is measured on the Trilogy-AVAPS

I know that work of breathing can be expressed in joules but my understanding of how one would use this to assess a patient is beyond what happens in 99% of hospitals

Seems like some clinical study type stuff

Anyone have experience or input on this?

Hi everyone! Can someone explain to me the difference between the Shiley inner cannulas? Specifically, a flex, an XLT, and a regular IC? Forgive me if this is a silly question. Thanks in advance!