For Respiratory Techs, Therapists, Care Practitioners, Snotsuckers, and other Respiratory Terrorists
I am creating a list of RCP / RRT / CRTT bloggers. There’s nobody on the list at the moment except for me, and I barely count since I’ve not practiced in a decade. But I’m looking forward to hearing from other RT bloggers!
Hey dude,
You are not the only one that has deserted the respiratory field for the duration. I graduated in 1992, after working as an equipment tech in RT since 1989, and left the field, burnt out in 2001. At first, I enjoyed the action, and roaming the hospital (a teaching institution) and seeing the various interesting cases. But it just got so monotonous and boring after a while. And yes, you get no freaking respect from anybody, especially nurses, who inexplicably feel they are above RT’s even though our programs are the same length of time. Luckily the hospital I was working at at the time was very supportive of their therapists, and we had some great protocols to work with, not having to beg for every weaning order, or extra treatment needed asap in the middle of the night. I eventually moved onto peds, and nicu, wanting to “be the best.” But it broke my heart to lose my patients, and after being refused a place on the transport team, I left for a childrens hosptial that agreed to take me on. I had plenty of experience, coming from a teaching hospital, so I expected the same level of performance at the kids hospital. No such luck. The ventilation therapies they were applying, I considered 8-10 years outdated. We had been working with alot of nicu oscillators at the previous hosptial, and they had barely touched them at the kids place. I was shocked, as this was a nationally well known place, and couldn’t even provide proper percussion and postural drainage for their cystic kids. All this frustration, busy work schedules and work illness combined to exacerbate my depression, that had not reared it’s head until I graduated school. I was eventually diagnosed bipolar, and that made it really hard to work, being up and down. Especially since that is the nature of the biz, in critical care, and trauma, etc, my specialties. So, I left the field in 2001, and now in 2006 have recovered about 90% and am wanting to return to health care to teach. I am back at my local community college (albeit in another state) for a nursing degree. I can guarantee you though, you will not find me roaming the floors. I want to work with diabetic education, asthma education and the like. Sure hope it works out for me. any advice is welcome.
Burn out is common in respiratory therapist. I started working in resp ther in 1972, by 1980 I was getting pretty frazzeled and went to work in a small rural hospital that didn’t even have an ICU, this helped because there were very few emergency situations, few draining casses and a very quiet E.R. I was an RT for 30 years, and still have my license, but I also got tired of the lack of respect and decided to go to school to become a P.A. you know what, registered nurses still seldom show me respect. At least now I have a lot more to say about what my patients get and I’m making a much better wage.
Thanks for sharing your stories Doug and Stacie. I would like for others to share their stories as well.
You get respect if you demand it. I don’t give a rats a_ _ who respects me in the large hospital I work in. Who is the first person everyone calls when someone is coding (before anesthesia) or in resp. distress, us, the RRT. Resp. please call the trauma bay, sound familiar. If a nurse gives me a hard time I give it back but mostly just laugh at them and smirk that their job sucks alot more than mine. You couldn’t pay me enough to be a nurse. The reality is nurse’s are jealous that our job can be less involved and we can do what we have to do, chart it and walk away. I am not stuck at the bedside unless I am manually ventilating or making venilator changes or setting up Nitric Oxide or Flolan, etc… We care for patients that are usually very ill, unless of course we are setting up a routine cpap for a patient, etc… The job of an RRT in the acute care setting is what you make of it, I luckily am at a great institution and I mostly like my daily assignments, etc… Don’t get me wrong, there are days that I have run twenty plus arterial blood gases in the PICU or NICU plus all the ventilator checks/setting changes, fisher paykel heated cannula changes and I am wired for sound. Mostly though it is, “Feast or Famine” when it comes to workload. I am either very busy or sitting on my ass typing this stupid blog comment. Ok, see ya later almost time to leave.
I’m considering going to school for respiratory therapy, but i have heard many stories about low pay(unless you work for travel med agency) and no respect at all. i like the idea of helping people as i used to be a mgr at a med supply company and loved it. Is the school very difficult( i would be working at my current job for 25-30 hrs a week). my wife said its too difficult to go to med school and work at same time. what advise do you have for me and is it true that hospitals dont refer to rt’s as “professionals”? Is the pay pretty good? do most hospitals offer retention bonuses for rt’s?
Hi jason —
I think the thing to do is to visit a few hospitals and to try and talk to someone in the RT department and get an introduction to what the job entails, and that you’re interested in the profession. Ask all your questions there. I would also advise you to connect with the AARC and your state’s RT organizations.
Best of luck!
I am a Director of Respiratory at a local sub-acute unit. I have been there three years and honestly I totally get no respect from nursing or the DON hardly ever. The only time they “respect” you is if someone is circling the drain, or they need a favor. It’s grueling and unfair and yet I am blessed with a staff of 22 therapist I adore and residents whom are more like family over the years. But still- I am faced with considering a career change after ten years of being in the field I still think there’s got to be more out there than managing the “phlegmsuckers”. Any advise from anyone who left resp for something else???
I was hoping to read more positive things on the RT end of the spectrum. I guess the reality is Respiratory therapy is a thankless job, with very few good quirks. I have been in the field since 1990. At this time burn out is my name. I moved recently to a small rural hospital hoping for a respit from the hectic trauma of the larger ICU/Hospital. To my surprise this small 25 bed hospital in Minnesota is actually worse than what I was working at in Colorado. They have no clue what respiratory is about. I actually was called the oxygen lady. WOW! what a hit to my ego. Especially after working Air Life, a 25 bed ICU etc. Not only is the pay bad, but the hours are worse. If you want your back patted once in awhile I would highly recommend a large facility with some knowledge base. Better salary, and respect, (if not by others from within yourself). In the meantime I begin my search for a better position elsewhere. So much for lake Wobegone!
It’s great to see folks posting here, though I wish there were more favorable stories to tell with regards to the RT profession.
Any of you commenters want to blog for Rhonchi.com to talk about your experiences?
Joe,
I agree with you about a more positive outlook, but reality is that the health profession no matter what you are doing is still a very tough job. I think that people need to be more supportive here on this web site, but still allow them to ventilate ( no pun intended LOL). “I love my job, I love my job, I love my job” sounds all to familiar.
There are some great hospitals out there which respect, admires and shows appreciation for the RT. I have been there and I have seen it first hand. A lot of it comes within the RT dept. So here on this paticular website. It is a great job, but I think it all depends on where you work. Like Matt from a previous blog wrote, You definitely have to demand it!
@Laurie –
I completely agree — I want this to be a space to vent, positively and negatively. 
Good thoughts, Laurie. If you’d like to do some blogging here just give a holler!
I blog and I’m a student respiratory therapist.. check out my blog
rtstudentblog.com
Hey Mark — I added your blog to the sidebar!
Does any one know of a Respiratory therapy blog site that lets people who are in the market know if the ratings are good for a specific hospital/company etc.. If a therapist was going to search out the good and bad of dept. where would they go for that RTs’s experience whether they were a traveler or permanant employee? Let me know. Thanks
Laurie — that’s a great idea. Sadly, I don’t know of any such site for RTs. Not a bad idea. Anyone else interested in something like this?
Interesting blog. I’d have to agree with most that the field of Respiratory Therapy is shit. Sorry Laurie and Joe. I’am embarassed to say that I’ve been working as a Respiratory Therapist since 1979 and I have nothing good to say about it at any level. Its all “Shit”and I would not recommend working as Respiratory Therapist to anyone, including my worst enemy. I am considered a positive and well educated individual who does not curse, but the only adjectives that accurately describe Respiratory Therapy are four letter words, and the nicest four letter word I can think of is shit! What everyone has so far stated is true. The amount of bullshit in the field can only be explained in exponential terms. Its starts with the incompetent instructors who teach you, the greedy organizations that misrepresent you, the coworkers that dump on you, the employers who take advantage of you, the pay that undermines you, the hospital staff that demeans you, and the patients that piss, shit, bleed and cough on you as well as inhaling their unnecessary breathing treatments with them; and don’t forget constantly being harased to prove the skills you learned but can never use, with continual CEU’s, CPR, ALS, hospital inservices, mandatory dodo meetings, and overpriced conferences that at best induce comas. To those who read this and desire to become an RT, heed my warnings and move on to something else.
Robert — thanks for your thoughts. It sounds like you need to make a career change away from RT if it makes you so unhappy. I will say there are working situations for RTs that are much more favorable and have more respect, but your words do not shock me anymore. Sadly, health care keeps getting squeezed financially — and that sh*t runs downhill, as they say. I wish you the best.
we dont get any respect seems to be a recurring issue with rts. my answer to that is why do you need respect? honestly, do you need someone to pat you on the back to make you feel better? be grateful you have a good job, do it to the best of your ability and take the money at the end of the week with your head high. and whatever you do dont wipe any asses , thats the nurses job.
Hello Eric,
Thank you for your reply. However, your
mentality represents why the field hasn’t progressed much over the decades. You appear as a trained monkey who does what their told for the paycheck, requiring no respect. I’d bet your propably one of the lowest paid employee’s of your department. But, keep jumping through the hoops, I’m sure a raise is just around the corner. Your definition of a good job and mine are obviously different. I need to have influence on the work I do, as well as the respect of the people I work with. You can give the Q2 normal saline treatments, check the unweaned ventilators, and set up the 95 year old 17.5cm home CPAP system. The field is full of sheep like yourself who will do it for a paycheck. I won’t and that’s how I hold my head up at the end of the day.
Robert,
It’s amazing that Mark, the student, who posts a blog on his experiences through clinicals is more optimistic about his future career as an RT. than you are about a profession you’ve been in since 1979. I am twenty years old and plan to start the respiratory program at my local community college in the fall. I first came across Mark’s blog on his thoughts of becoming an RT and his experiences in the field…then I came across this blog, where people are just trashing on the profession. Since most RT jobs only require a 2 year degree why would you complain about the pay and lack of respect you feel you’re shown at the hospital? Truth is, I agree somewhat with your statement about respect from co-workers being important but I also agree that one should be thankful of having a secure job in healthcare. Anyone with a positive thing to say about RT, should post a blog and give me some reassurance in my decision. (My blog wasn’t intended to be rude but, I do still have time to change my decision and become an RN…)
Hello all, I have been a therapist for about 20 years now. I agree that all jobs have its shares of ups and downs. Yes working holidays, nights, weekends is a drain. But this is the field we choose. I also agree that there are demeaning people out there, but I am also a trained lawyer, and the same crap you hear complained about on this blog, are also in the legal field. If you are totally about money, wrong field. If you enjoy helping people, welcome.
Hey Mike,
Your right most of us choose the field we work in. Almost 30 years ago I chose this field through research and talking to a few people who worked in RT. It sounded pretty good until I actually worked in it. I’ll spare the details, but at every level of this so called profession I have been disappointed and often disgusted. You have been in it for 20 years, you should know what I’m talking about unless you are like most RT’s I’ve worked with, working drones with no interest in self improvement or professional advancement. I wish most of the people I worked with stayed at Wal-Mart and Burger-King. I beileve most organizations need people who can’t see beyond their face, so they created RT’s. I chose another field and only work prn. All my classmates I’ve heard are also out of the field. Working prn helps with the vacations and Christmas presents. Although many times I thought about mailing the NBRC my license and telling them to stick it in a dark hole. I’m very surprised you went to law school, but work as an RT. Did you know the bar exam is cheaper to take and you don’t have to retake it in five years. I could go on an on about what an embarresment this field is. Do I sound a little upset? Of course I am! It’s the result of working in the healthcare environment, thank God I’m out! I’m surprised most RT’s put up with the nonsense. As far as helping people, like you,I went into the field to do that, but I have made more difference in peoples lives outside of the healthcare setting. An example, How can anyone help the sick giving 30 treatments ,caring the ER pager, and doing EKG’s. At the end of the shift you don’t want help them, you just want to smack them silly and tell them to go home. My way of helping people is making them aware of what RT is really all about..
In reply to Robert — it sounds like you have a grudge. But it also sounds like you stayed in environments that really sucked. Your disdain for fellow RTs is pretty palpable. I’m not sure why it’s so important for you to warn people away from being RTs, I know there are RTs who would be happy to recommend their own experience to other people. Your experience is not the sum total of what it means to be an RT. To claim otherwise is simply lying.
To people investigating RTs - talk to RTs in a number of different settings, look at the responsibilities they have, listen for how they are regarded by other medical staff, see how seriously they take education, and judge for yourself.
Hello from Montreal ! I can’t believe that people are SO trashing this profession. I’m only a first year student but damn, maybe it’s also because I’m not in the States, but up here the job is great. We are able to work in 4 different sectors : anasthesia, icu, respiratory care either in hospitals or at home and pulmonary functions diagnosis (sorry, i’m not to sure how it’s called in english). Do you guys have the same fields of practice ?
Anyways, I just wanted to share my love for the job ! Call your local hospital and ask if you can have a day of observation with an RT, you’ll know fast enough if you like it or not ..
Julie
While in my Sophomore year in high school at the age of 15 I started in Inhalation Therapy as an O2 tech back in 1973. The new thing that year was IMV using the anaesthesia bag and bird one way valve.
I have been in the field since that time. I have worked every specialty including NICU, Hyperbarics, Peds, Critical Care, Trauma, Sleep, Department Director, classroom and clinical teacher, home Health, and I was also a program director at a local RT school. Today I only work one 12 hour shift per week as an RT, the rest of the time I sell fishing products on-line.
I love being an RT, always have, always will. I do the 12 hour shift for fun and to keep my skills intact. I enjoy going to work, and I always have. At my age what I have grown to hate is working holidays, and weekends. I love to fish, and I am very active in that area, hence my decision to get into e-commerce.
To this date, I have never felt “burn out”, in my years I have come across a few RNs here and there that had no respect for RTs, but upon careful examination, those RNs, like other people in other professions, including RT, had no respect for anyone, and at times including themselves. Most were un-happy people that had no lives in or out of the hospital, people like this, I avoid. Negativity breeds more negativity, God knows there is enough of that. Surrounding one’s self with negativity keeps you in a rut, and deprives you of both professional and monetary success. I don’t have time to waste, I like to learn, I love $$$, and I love spending, so I go out of my way to distance myself from things that are going to keep me from learning and making $$$.
As far as burn-out goes, I don’t believe in it. I think burn-out is a result of getting into something that wasn’t your “niche”. As far as respect goes, I think that is earned, obviously you can only earn respect from those who respect themselves first, and second they must have the education and knowledge to recognize knowledge and talent when they see it. If you have the talent and knowledge you will earn respect. When you possess both, you need not worry about those who don’t respect you because those that don’t are incapable of doing so, because they lack the talent to recognize talent.
Live life to the fullest and have fun. If you are reading this because you are considering becoming an RT. I urge you to DO SO! Respiratory Care has been a very positive thing in my life, it has brough me happiness, and much success. I strongly recommend it.
Wow! I am SO thankful that I have never run into anyone like some of you during my clinicals! I can’t say that I am surprised that you hate what you do, your attitude sucks. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the field that I have chosen. I am going to be entering my second year of studying and after struggling through high school and some college with C’s….I’m making Dean’s List now. I finally found not only something that I am interested it, but something that I am good at.
I refuse to let your negativity affect me,and so to offer a ray of sunshine to those who are debating this field, I LOVE IT!! And after the first few months of school, you will know if you will love it to. I have been fortunate to have a completely different experience than that of Robert and others. Even as a student, I am respected and encouraged. Go for it!!
Dennis,
Congratulations on a great career choice. I wish you all the best in your endeavors. This is a great profession and you will get the blessings that come with it.
As for me, I am just now graduating from respiratory school and have found a job… I have run into alot lot lot of people who have trashed the profession as well! Its amazing to me why people stay in a place where they are miserable for thirty and fourty years! Thats more that half or most peoples lives. I dont believe in spreading negativity but I have as well chosen to go back and abtain my bachelor’s degree in something totally different because of the things I have learned in my two years of respiratory school. My advice is that respiratory is a great stepping stone to something else in the medical field and I highly recommend using it for such, but if you are looking for advancement, prestige, and job market…plan for alot more college.
WOW! I seemed to have stirred up some controversy, which is good and should be the purpose of this blog. But, my attitude remains the same concerning the JOB of Respiratory Therapy. Hey gang, I’m not a negative person. You guys need to reread my comments which are directed toward the field of RT. My comments are more realistic then negative. If I speak bad about the field its because thats how I see it (reality) not because I’m negative. I’m sure we can all agree that shit stinks. Are we negative because we said something bad about shit?? On the contrary, I view myself as a very content and positive person and live a comfortable life. I’m sociable and contribute to my community. I feel the people in my life care about me, as I do them. So lets get off the notion about me being negative and focus more on the reality of Respiratory Therapy. After reading your comments, not one of you gave specific detailed reasons why the field is so positive! Dennis Carreiro wrote ” I LOVE LOVE LOVE the field I have chosen “, and wants to offer a ray of sunshine to those wanting to enter the field. Dennis, my thoughts are you are a ding bat, and I agree we should never meet. Your a student, your opinons mean nothing concerning this field. Your so called ray of sunshine is more like a pair of sun glasses blinding the truth. Get some experience before commenting on the field or at least be more specific on why you like the job. You could say “I enjoy giving CPT to patients with UTI’s. That is, I’m assuming you know what a UTI is. Louis Jimenez, you represent what I wrote about earlier, the RT drown. Day in, day out, neb here neb there, check a vent and go to the ER. Blah, Blah, Blah,. Thats why its a job. The field is full of drowns like yourself and thats why the field of Respiratory Therapy will never change. Joe, no grudge here, although I understand why you would write that. Honesty, grudges are nonproductive, and I don’t have time for them. I am angry with the time I wasted doing RT, but so be it, I’ve moved on. Julie your from Canada and a student, know more needs to be said. Cstep! If a lot of people trash the field wouldn’t that be a red flag to most. Also, I never stayed in a field I was miserable in. I’m very happy doing what I do now. Hopefully you will be to with the new career your searching for. Did everyone read what Cstep wrote? He has just graduated and is searching for something different! I guess he doesn’t LOVE LOVE LOVE RT like Dennis. My advice, don’t waste your time. Follow your heart, take risks, and be happy. The so called RT stepping stone maybe be quicksand.
These are some of the funniest comments to read on the web. I wonder if there is any one person who is happy with the career choice that they have made…? You know, I have even talked to alot of doctors, lawyers, nurses, etc.., who wish they would have chosen something else…mind you its not respiratory, but being happy for me comes from family and friend time, serving God, and enjoying life. We don’t have long to live on earth and few things really matter in the end. Keep that in mind when you look at your next paycheck! For those who love love love respiratory, you are the future of the field and can change the way people view it! Go turn respiratory into the job that you want it to be and maybe the negativity will cease!
Robert,
A drown? With all due respect my friend, you have no clue. A field that doesn’t change? See this is where you have missed the boat. Your attitude has blinded you, and on your blind ride you have missed much.
This field has been about change since it started! Respiratory is the MOST dynamic of all the allied health fields you can get into. CPU’s have forever changed the face of respiratory. The innovation of new modes,(PCRV, etc.) and the revival of old modes such as NEEP (Exp. Assist) are keeping this field on an upward trend with change after change. New medications, medication delivery devices, etc. If you can’t see that, then you are blind, or working in the wrong place. I must agree with you on one thing, not all departments are as progressive as others, HOWEVER that is not always because the therapists don’t want to be, a lot of the times it has to do with the hospital and it’s budgetary restrictions, HOWEVER in those hospitals, nursing, radiology, lab, etc. are all in the same boat, so the problem is usually hospital wide, not just respiratory.
Today health care budgets are a reality. In other professions, not just the medical ones, other budget realities are/shall be coming into play, so hang on, this new job/new found happiness of yours may tank.
I have no idea where you are now or what you have accomplished, however just because you couldn’t make respiratory happen for you, doesn’t mean someone like myself, or anyone else who is being successful is a drown. I have accomplished much, and have a lot to show for it, but most importantly I am happy, enjoy life, have seen and continue to see the value of what I do and how it has made a difference in people’s lives.
I could sit here and write down every single new thing in respiratory since 1973, but I don’t have time, I’m too busy doing more important things other than convincing you that there have been changes. Assuming that someone is going to do that is ludicrous.
Your post is entertaining to say the least. Your lack of professionalism is obvious, your choice of descriptive “4 letter words”, and other descriptive language opens up a world of perceptions regarding your character, community involvements, and successes.
By the way, who made you the “God of Reality”? Have you met Dennis? Just because he disagrees with you he is a dingbat? I guess you are the only one who is right about everything and everyone who disagrees with you is always wrong. Most people will agree that being narrow minded is a requisite for failure.
Cstep, there is no negativity in respiratory, only in those who want it to be there. Negativity is a matter of choice, no one can force you to be negative, or be in a negative place. The medical field is not for everyone. I too know doctors that wish they got into something else, I also know stockbrokers who feel the same way, nurses who feel the same way, and business owners who feel the same way. Cstep, you are right, there are many who are not happy with the career choices they have made, however within those careers there are many who feel they made the right choice, that doesn’t make them dingbats, drowns, or whatever other derogatory description there is out there, including the 4 letter words.
Robert,
I got your vile reply, but I don’t see it here, however I did get it in my email. There is a reason why you complete the code after you post, it’s called an IP address. This may be a forum, and you may think that anything goes here, however you are responsible for what you write, including slander. IP addresses can be requested to pursue legal actions, in other words, these can be subpoened and the website owner is required to release the information, if not they too can be held liable. If you look at some recent supreme court rulings, one of them dealt with slanderous comments on a forum. I suggest you do some research on this and that you govern yourself accordingly.
It’s called pressure regulated volume control, the Maquet Servo has it, and the second thing is called expiratory assist, and it is a NEEP. The Cardiopulmonary Venturi ventilator has the exp assist mode. Exp assist is a NEEP that is applied to the first 20% of the expiration to decrease exp airway resistance, it also helps to decrease inadvertent PEEP.
A note to the board moderator, I appreciate you deleting the post, however you may want to elaborate on the first part of my post. This is something you may want to put on your terms and conditions of forum usage, it it is not already there. There are plenty of internet law attorneys that can help you with the wording if need be.
Ok fellow Rt’s ( I still work PRN!), I have been pondering for sometime about continuing to respond to Joe’s RT blog (I do hope you recieve it!). But, as a service to fellow coworkers and future RT’s , I strongly think I should, at least one more time. Joe’s Blog is a place for me to vent and and to share my thoughts about a career that has the potential to be respectable and professionally rewarding, but as yet is far far for it. I believe most can tell I am extremely disappointed, frustrated, and in fact embarrased, concerning the job of RT. To me the only difference between housekeeping and RT is what you make and hour. Not to be disrespectful to housekeeping (I love you guys, respect what you do, and believe your job is very important. !), However, RT does require a college education (At least a mail order degree!)
I do have hope that one day RT will be the carreer it was originally designed for. However, so far I view us as subordinates to hospital administration, nursing, and dermotology physicians (Yes, Albuterol does dilate the airways, improves the circulation and gives a warm healthy glow to the skin, at least thats what I’m told!) Our leadership is more concerned about making money then improving the field. Our educator’s have common knowledge of the field and know little about educating students. Our Director’s are middle management that bend over to every hospital demand. Our departments are often in basements usually not to far from the morgue. Currently, most departments are run by nursing who are clueless to what we do. We have no unified protocols, and basically do what we’re told. We continually have to prove our competence, yet can rarely use the skills we learned unless the curtain is pulled.
It has been this way for years and I see no change (but do hope for it). People like Louis prove it. He calls my last entry vile. In addition, Joe sent me an e-mail and wants me to modify my entry and change my tone before he posts it, as well as asks me to be more polite, or I am not welcome. To update fellow bloggers, I used the “F” word multiple times. I insinuated Louis was a “F” ing retard as well as other comments. I used these words because thats how I felt, frustrated and angry about his ignorance.
Did you know the FCC will no longer slap indecency fines for using the “F” word because the word is so commonly used for FRUSTRATION vs sexual obsenity. In addition, In March 2002 our great president Bush interrupted a meeting Condoleezza Rice was holding and yelled “Fuck Saddam. We’re taking him out! ” Our Vice president, Dick Cheney once told Patrick Leahy to “Go fuck yourself” on the senate floor. The “F” word is a form of expression and will always be used as such. Thank God for the “F” word, otherwise my knockles would be bleeding from hitting the walls. Our profession often uses the “F” word as well, just listen to any surgen. No Louis I don’t go in a patient’s room and say, “Are you ready for your “f” ing treatment?” Louis , you did not write “PRVC”, you wrote, “PCRV” and my gut tells me it was not a typo. I don’t even want to comment on your statements anymore. Your words prove mine, and now I see you as a baby. I will gladly tell that to your lawyer, judge, jury,mother, father, brother, sister, wife(husband), first born, dog, cat, as well as their fleas ( Come here kitty, kitty. Robert picks up Louis’s cat and yells in his ear, “Louis is a Baby!!) Get the picture! If you desire, I will fly to your home and we can discuss this blog over milk and cookies.
However, to be fair, I will say my words were aggressive and somewhat “Jerry Springher”, For that I apologize. I NEVER met to insult or hurt anyone, I’m just responding to words and a long history of RT bull*&% ! Joe, I hope you post this? By trying to censor your blog you do your reader’s a great injustice. Let your readers judge, that’s how I learn and they learn. “Freedom of Speech”, through dialogue and expression we all grow. If my last post was so bad, I’m the one with the red face not you. I’m not here to pretend, I do that enough PRN. If you continue to censor, I’m out of here. Speak real issues and the RT’s will come. Is’nt your blog for mature audiences only? I’m sorry but I can’t always be polite to dingbats! Although I will try. I hope the next blog enteries do not batter ego’s, but discuss specific RT issues. Maybe then this blog won’t be viewed by others as a “Bitch session”.
Robert,
I fail to understand why you feel compelled to criticize and slander others that have a different opinion than yours. You can post your opinions without using foul language, name calling, and making assumptions about fellow professionals that you do not know. You don’t know me, you have never met me, you have never worked with me, you have no clue on what I know and what I don’t know.
If you used the language you used on here at your place of work, you wouldn’t be working there for long because eventually someone who is offended would call you on it, or even worse file a formal complaint. This would not only be unfavorable for you, but also for your profession.
I think this entire blog is quite interesting, sadly not too many RTs know about it, because if they did, I am sure there would be hundreds or replies on here. In an effort to make this a more popular blog, I am going to put this out in the community through our state associations. Like you said, contrasting points of view would be good.
BTW, slander unfounded, and unsubstantiated statements about others is not CENSORSHIP. Joe was correct in asking you to change your tone, which you obviously haven’t. I can read through the lines and your insinuation of the p word referring to a kitten, something I really don’t think you would ever say in to me in person. If I were the moderator or owner of this board, I would have revoked your privilege to post here, not because of your unhappiness with the field, but because of your lack of respect, language, and slanderous remarks. While you have a right to complain all you want, you don’t have the right to slander or degrade others.
The internet does allow you the freedom to use any language you want, however the internet also affords the website owner to control content as he or she wishes, language being one of them. Despite the freedoms the internet has given us, we are still responsible for what is said and/or implied. I am sure the Disney Channel website wouldn’t allow you to call Hannah Montana an f retard on their website. You can call it CENSORSHIP if you wish, but it isn’t. Last time I checked, being polite, courteous, and professional was not politically incorrect.
Here are some links that may shine a light on some of this:
http://www.aarc.org/resources/professionalism/
http://www.aarc.org/career/professionalism.asp
BTW, the points mentioned in these two links not only apply to Respiratory Care, they apply to all professions.
I have had a persitent productive cough since, well….Thanksgiving! 
Have had 3 courses of antibiotics; Z-Pack, Amoxil and then Levaquin 750mg. to no avail. My doc thinks it’s viral and is just telling me to continue with my Advair and to increase my rescue inhaler to 2p QID. My asthma is well controlled w/ Advair alone. I have no fever and am asymptomatic except for this pesky productive cough. BTW my white count is WNL. Any thoughts???
@Sputum_maker — maybe get another Physician’s opinion?
As site owner, maybe I need a disclaimer about any medical case discussion that occurs here. It sounds like you need a second opinion — best gotten by someone who can do a physical examination of you.
Best of luck!
I think Respiratory is one of the best professions to get in to. It is very exciting and challenging. I have this attitude because I luckily get to work in a hospital where respiratory is respected and have many protocols. Maybe one day down the road I will go back to school to pursue something else, but for now Respiratory is my field, and I love it!!!
Hi, WOW!! I guess no one can say that Respiratory therapists aren’t opinionated!!
I’d just like to pre-empt my discussion with this thought: After more than 5 years in the field- somedays I love being a RT and somedays I get in my car after work and just cry. Here’s the thing— I’ve found, as an agency therapist, that my love or hate is directly tied to the institution I work for. If you hate the hospital, hate their protocols, think your fellow therapists are a bunch of mindless drones, and think worse of the management, nurses and physicians– go work somewhere else. You spend more time at work than you do at home and these people and this job become your first family. If you hate it every day- please, for everyone’s sake, go try a new dynamic!!! Now- if you hate the patients, and their families, and can’t stand people anymore– for everyone’s sake get out of the field!!! Even when I’m most upset about a stupid new policy or being undermined by a nurse, I take joy in taking care of my patients that are sick, who look forward to my coming and helping them breathe and also in knowing that I helped save someone’s life, EVERY SINGLE DAY!! I know that half our patients don’t need albuterol, but it’s the few that truly do that make me happy. I know that all those 95 year olds should not be intubated, but it’s the trauma patient that has a massive head injury that I see six weeks later talking to me that I take delight in, don’t you???
Okay, and with that said- please read my link about why I’m being forced to leave this field…. (ha! bet you didn’t expect that,did you?
http://artlung.com/blog/2006/01/15/are-you-a-respiratory-therapist-do-you-blog/
I’m at the bottom- Sick in Chicago, jennifer
I’m looking for an RT school in Georgia I live about 30 minutes north of Atlanta, is there something I should look for. I see everst school every place I look. Is this school any good? Is there a certain accreditation I should only look for. Some schools it seems that you have to give them a lung just to get in. Any suggestions on an online class. Please help, I have been out of work for over 2 years from an injury that now I have fully recovered from. The old field I worked in was computers and for me to get back in I would need a degree which I do not have and I’m not getting any younger I’m in my 40’s and was always interested in the medical field.
Thank you for any help.
ArtLung Blog » Blog Archive » Are you a Respiratory Therapist? Do you blog? on 15 Jan 2006 at 5:50 pm
[...] Get over to Rhonchi.com now! [...]
ArtLung Blog : Archives : » Some Updated Things on 07 Feb 2006 at 1:47 am
[...] Rhonchi.com is getting comment spam! That was pretty fast. Luckily Spam Karma 2 protects it! There’s more lung-y news out there than I ever could have anticipated. I still have not heard from any RT’s who blog, but c’est la vie. They’ll turn up eventually. [...]
ArtLung Blog · Housekeeping Miscellany on 29 May 2008 at 9:00 am
[...] see my moribund respiratory care site, Rhonchi.com, be active these days, particularly this post: Are you a Respiratory Therapist? Do you blog?—which was originally supposed to be a post trying to find RTs who blog, but has turned into a [...]