Covid19 fight a RT perspective

12/19/2021

Well that sucks

As strained U.S. hospitals brace for a new surge of COVID-19 cases caused by the fast-spreading omicron variant, doctors are warning of yet another challenge: the two standard drugs they’ve used to fight infections are unlikely to work against the new strain. For more than a year antibody drugs fr...

12/18/2021

What does a RT do? Many think we hand out inhalers and nebulizers all shift. While that's part of the job, it's only part of it. Here is a list, feel free to add to it...
Nebulizer therapy
MDI therapy
Chest physiotherapy
Sputum induction
EKG administering and reading
Arterial blood gas gathering and testing
Point of Care bedside testing
Pulmonary function testing
Heart stress testing
Post surgery care
High risk baby delivery care
Ventilation for any age human
Intubation or assist
Vaccine administration
Covid testing
Croup therapy
Advanced critical care.
Advanced neonatal critical care
ECMO
High flow O2 therapies
Non invasive ventilation therapies
Code Blue team
Rapid Response team
Policy maker
Clinical advice to physicians
Management
Directors of departments to facilities
We are expected to hold BLS, ACLS, PALS, & NRP at all times even when our counterparts don't.
Sleep studies for sleep apnea
& other sleep related issues
and more....
We do these things and more, usually on our own. What I mean is that we may be the only RT present when multiple nurses, aides, and MDs may be present. We must think on our feet very quickly and adapt to new situations as if we have encountered many times before. We must constantly educate on new science and techniques, as do our nursing colleagues, to stay relevant and competent in our job. Sometimes we are treated as if we just got out a 40 hour certificate course even though many of us have either an 2,4. or even 6 year degree.

All of this yet at most places we are paid less than our colleagues and given less opportunity to advance into management roles we are well suited for. We constantly have to fight or remind other staff why we are need even when during any emergency or code the first person anybody asks for is for the RT.

This is why RTs should be paid the same as RN in whatever role they hold. Don't take me wrong, we should all be paid more to our worth as wages have not been great at keeping up with inflation, but in saying that pur wages should be where the nurses stand as of now and/or if they increase to where they need to be for the amount of skill that is require to work in the field.

12/11/2021

I'm going to ask about equal pay. There is an argument for higher pay for what medical staff do but I'm going to focus on equal. What I have noticed going around the country is that RTs rarely get the same pay as a RN. I have heard the gambit of excuses why but the bottom line is that just like nurses RTs are expected to:
1. Get a degree
2. Sit for licensure test
3. Expect, for the most part, BLS, PALS, NRP, and ACLS current at all times.
4. We work throughout the hospital or facilities even in one shift
5. Save lives
6. Assume responsibility over many patients at a time.

These are just a few things. I will get into our scope at another time but what I have seen alot of these past couple years as we are in very high demand like nurses we get lower bonuses and pay, even as travelers, than nurses get even though we may be expected to perform very advanced skills for our position.

At some time we as subject matter experts must know our worth and expect that at the very least we get paid the same as our colleagues in nursing. RTs are vital in the care of a patient much like nursing. Sometimes the nurse may be more vital and sometimes it's the RT but we should not have to endure lower pay scales. Many times a RT department will be one of the very few departments in a hospital that actual stays out of the red for a budget but wages won't reflect that.

Anyways, my two cents

12/05/2021

Started another assignment. A little less busy then other times. I think now the focus will be on fair pay and conditions for all medical staff. Many people do not understand what is involved in education, training, and maintaining of our professional licenses compared to other industries. Also, some other stories of others who are still suffering from covid.

01/29/2021

Something to think of from a Guru....

Idiots do things they don't like to do and suffer their whole life because they think it's needed or their duty

Intelligent people do what they love to do and they enjoy life to an extent

A genius learns to do what is needed joyfully. Thats when your genius flowers because it's not about them anymore. There is a limitless way to look at life

01/28/2021

Just to throw it out there...Just because a small hospital does not mean they are less skilled or capable. In fact in some instances, with less available equipment and resources, to be a medical professional here you gotta rely on critical thinking skills much more to treat patients. This is true especially for covid19.

One other important detail for rural hospitals many don't realize...In some ways, even with the volume of the death toll smaller, it seems to hit harder for the whole community and the hospital workers as many know the patient, grew up with them, relate to them, or maybe they were an influence in their lives in some way. So when that person passes it hits harder for sure. Imagine seeing you aunt or teacher every week in the ICU and having to treat them. It's like that. Watching them suffer as they try to breathe, as they get worse, or they die on the ventilator. I think it makes the staff here put more of their heart and soul than they normally would in a bigger city hospital. What happens though is the emotional stress can be much higher having to deal with the suffering and death from this disease.

On a positive note though, using chest percussion, high flow O2, steroids, and just being more aggressive early in care looks to help patients recover and stay off of the vent. so, props to the long term facilities taking on the rehab part of it with high flow covid patients, and getting them well enough to go home. Keep doing an amazing job everyone.

12/24/2020

Full 5 minute post on getting the vaccine. No hoax, real deal, and didn't even hurt that much.

12/19/2020

I have been in WY for almost a month. Many things different but many things similar to NY. As I start again to record what I experience I invite other respiratory therapists to post their experience as well. Remember HIPAA but please give your raw perspective, if you like, on here for people to see. Keep in mind that some of what you write may be in a book later on and/or presented in front of Congress when I try later to lobby on our behalf for better wages and recognition.

Thank you

11/22/2020

Please help sign.

Respiratory Licensure Compact