respiratory therapists becoming CRNAs????

[mommy2BCD]

I am doing a preceptorship in the SICU and heard one of the respiratory therapy students talking about becoming a CRNA. This poses several questions for me... How are you a NURSE anesthetist with no nursing experience??? How do you get the year minimum of critical care experience if you aren't a nurse? I understand that they do work in the ICUs but definitely not in the context that a nurse does. They suction, gives nebs, manage vents, etc. etc. etc. They have no experience managing Swans, multiple vasoactive drips, etc. I am really perplexed! My preceptor also was very against this as he has been an ICU nurse fo 16 years! What are your thoughts on this? Is this common? Do you feel a respiratory therapist can have the skills and knowledge to become a good CRNA?

[RRT2RN2CRNA]

The only way to become a CRNA is to somehow get an RN and then go, or I think Columbia has an entry to practice program that takes RRTs straight through to CRNA buts it a long program.

I am an RRT working in CTICU, and am doing my nursing AS through Excelsior while getting CTICU experience as an RRT. Then once I pass the nursing boards, I plan on working as an RN in CTICU and do PRN in the OR. I will probably also do an RN-BS online along with the CCRN during the year or two that Im waiting it out as an RN before I can applying to CRNA school.

The scope of RRT practice changes from facility to facility. In some hospitals RTs are treatment jockeys, in some they are advanced practicioners that place A lines and monitor swans and IABPs... it varies a lot.

It's always nice to see nurses that appreciate what good work critical care RRTs do.... and to those who don't ppbbbbbttttt

:)

[yanka12]

AMEN,girlfriend!!! I am with you 100%!!!

RRT/CCRN,CRNA class of 2009 here! Love my RTs!

[/They have no experience managing Swans,QUOTE]

This is not true. I have attended both respiratory school and nursing school. I learned (and had to know in order to graduate and pass the board exams) so much more critical care in respiratory school than in nursing school. In fact, I was highly disappointed in nursing school after being an RRT for 12 years.

Less than four years ago the respiratory department turned the management of a-lines and swans over to nursing at my facility. Previously they assisted with all insertions, did all line pulls, shot the outputs, wedged the PA caths, etc.. Nusing still, on occasion, calls respiratory to help with insertions and with trouble shooting.

It is a shame that respiratory doesn't do a better job of promoting the profession, nurses rarely know and/or acknowledge the knowledge and experience the RRT can bring to the unit.

I know many CRNA's hate to hear this but, the only reason I went to nursing school was to someday gain entrance to a CRNA program. My years of managing vents, intubating, drawing gases and intrepreting them, pushing meds down ETT's, and etc. doesn't mean a whole lot for admission to CRNA school. The thing that will probably count more will be my 2 years experience in the CVICU as an RN.

Lisa RRT/RN

[perfectboi85]

I am doing a preceptorship in the SICU and heard one of the respiratory therapy students talking about becoming a CRNA. This poses several questions for me... How are you a NURSE anesthetist with no nursing experience??? How do you get the year minimum of critical care experience if you aren't a nurse? I understand that they do work in the ICUs but definitely not in the context that a nurse does. They suction, gives nebs, manage vents, etc. etc. etc. They have no experience managing Swans, multiple vasoactive drips, etc. I am really perplexed! My preceptor also was very against this as he has been an ICU nurse fo 16 years! What are your thoughts on this? Is this common? Do you feel a respiratory therapist can have the skills and knowledge to become a good CRNA?

Respiratory thearpist cannot become a CRNA. But a RT can become a respiratory therapist anesthetist or a anesthesiologist assistant which is the same as a CRNA. Respiratory therapist anesthetist have to work under an anesthesiologist whereas a CRNA can work independtly. Yes, they are capable, sorry nurses!

[manusko]

Respiratory therapist cannot become a CRNA. But a RT can become a respiratory therapist anesthetist or a anesthesiologist assistant which is the same as a CRNA. Respiratory therapist anesthetist have to work under an anesthesiologist whereas a CRNA can work independtly. Yes, they are capable, sorry nurses!

If they were the same, then they could work independently which they can not. AA's are also only in some states. They are not recognized as independent practitioners. Same, but different is not the same.

[ckh23, BSN, RN]

Respiratory thearpist cannot become a CRNA. But a RT can become a respiratory therapist anesthetist or a anesthesiologist assistant which is the same as a CRNA. Respiratory therapist anesthetist have to work under an anesthesiologist whereas a CRNA can work independtly. Yes, they are capable, sorry nurses!

They are not the same and this thread is over 5 years old.

[MeTheRN, BSN, MSN, RN]

A friend of mine in the program used to be an RT. She went back and get her RN and worked in the ICU. Now she's a year into CRNA school and she smokes me anytime we get tested on anything pulmonary!