What do you nurses think of these allied health professionals?

[Inspired By Silence]

I'm interested to learn about your views of hospital chaplains, occupational therapists, radiation therapists, and respiratory therapists.

Each of these professionals bring a unique talent and set of skills to the hospital. Chaplains share the power of prayer and get to see patients in some of the most vulnerable states in their lives to offer spiritual and emotional guidance. Occupational therapists help people get back to where they were before a procedure damaged their abilities. Radiation therapists work making use of powerful beams of energy to destroy cancerous and non cancerous growths and tumors. Respiratory therapists are trained to manage patient respiratory conditions, monitor breathing, and even intubate patients during some cardiac arrests.

All the above professionals are amazing. Especially when we get the golden opportunity to see them come together for the sake of a patient. Truly a beautiful display of teamwork.

I'm interested in your thoughts of these professionals because they are possibilities for me should I choose to opt out of nursing school. No offense to nurses, your skills are also highly valued, but may be too general for my taste.

[NeoNurseTX, RN]

On nights I never see PT/OT/child life but I'm quite a fan of child life. Love our chaplains, RTs, techs of all sorts! They make my life easier for the most part.

I don't see how nursing is general at all. Nursing SCHOOL is very general but in the real world, you usually have a theme to your unit.

[BluegrassRN]

That's not been my experience -- the hospital chaplains (real, trained chaplains, not just someone's pastor who happened to wander into the hospital) I've known are educated and work v. hard to respect and work with each individual's personal beliefs and values, not to impose their own. Of course, I'm sure there's a wide range of possibilities out there, and always a few "bad applies" in any barrel.

This.

I'm an atheist, and I'm possibly a little over sensitive sometimes to religious assumptions and bias that I feel I see on a daily basis against those who are not Christian. I have *never* seen it from any of our hospital chaplains, though.

Our current hospital chaplain offers a blessing to any patient who wishes to see or speak with her. I have seen her work with a variety of people from all religions, and even a few nonbelievers who simply wanted to speak to a kind, gentle ear. She is amazing.

As far as the OP goes, all of the professions you mentioned are very important to me in my job.

[rngolfer53]

I call hospice chaplains with some regularity to help dead/dying Pts and grieving families.

They're absolutely priceless.

[RespiratoryGirl011]

As an aspiring RT, I am always open to advice if you guys/ladies have any!

I know during clinicals I have always loved the contact I do get to have with the nurses.

Most of them are very sweet and offer words of encouragement when they know I am stressing about school.

The experienced nurses are pretty knowledgeable in respiratory issues too!

Thanks for all you nurses do...

I think as health care professionals, we all need to have team work and cooperation.