What can RT's do that RN's can't?

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It seems nurses can do everything an RT does plus their own duties... is that true?

As a nurse, I have given respiratory treatments, certainly talked to the Pulmonologist for orders etc. The only place I ever drew ABGs were from a-lines in ICU. I have never drawn a peripheral ABG. So, in my case, yes and no!! I have not maintained a ventilator or set up a BiPap/CPap machines.

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Specializes in ICU/PACU.

There's a thread about this already. Try the search function at the top of the screen.

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Paramedics can also do everything an RT can do and much more.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

OP you have asked this question before...threads merged

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Yes, but why would I want to?

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.
What can an RT do that a nurse can't?

Can a nurse do the job of an RT or would they need to be certified?

Respiratory therapists are registered--it's RRT--not certified. Please see the multiple responses we've already posted to this question.

Here ya go--requirements from a job posting for an RRT where I work. So no, an RN would not qualify.

Completion of a two or four year Respiratory Care program approved by the Commission on the accreditation of Respiratory Care (CoARC)

Registered with [state] as a Respiratory Care Practitioner

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This was my experience at a large teaching hospital as well. At my current community hospital, RTs are everywhere. It's a totally new experience for me. I think it's great, for the most part, though there are a few times when I've questioned their assessments (these are for non-vented patients). I love the collaboration--particularly the instant ABGs. I don't love the "hands off" for nurses when it comes to less complicated respiratory stuff, like spirometry teaching/observation/reinforcement, applying CPAP or bipap at night (mostly because a lot of my patients refuse when initially asked to put it on, then the conversation ends with RRT documenting "pt refused"). I also think that chest PT is a basic intervention--at the large teaching hospital (the only place I'd ever worked before), we all participated in a little chest PT--including PCAs that felt comfortable with it and demonstrated good technique.

I think there may be more specialized respiratory care at the community hospital, but I can't say that the care is "tighter" or more effective than the constant barrage of teaching, ambulating (which nursing can easily get rest and exercise sats), spirometry, and frequent poundings on the back that nursing (and some aides, and some providers) incorporate into their patient interactions.

I would rather participate with general pulmonary hygiene (because this gives me a great pt exam) knowing that the skills of the RRT are being used to assist with the vents and get the ABGs. At my last job, all nebs/mdi's etc were given by nurses as well.

I actually don't remember the names or faces of the RRT at my last job...

Some of the things mentioned here are why RTS should be around.

A little CPT is not therapeutic. Commit to the full therapy which may also include a bronchodilator and mucolytic or don't bother. No one (like a PCA) should be doing CPT unless they can give medications including oxygen and suction to undo what complications CPT can cause. Parents and family members are given extensive training for CPT, meds and suction. Pounding on the back? I don't know many nurses or RTS who still do manual cupping, not pounding, on backs for 20 minutes. It is like CPR. After 5 minutes you can get pretty fatigued and the therapy ceases to be a therapy. But, what nurse can stay in one patient's room for at least 30 minutes which is about standard for a neb and CPT on a regular protocol. For bronchasoectasis and CF, it takes 45 - 60 minutes. If you have 2 patients getting CPT 2 - 3 times a shift on your time, don't expect to do much else. Half-assed therapy wastes everyone's time and money.

Just checking SpO2 is not how you qualify the patient for home oxygen. This is the reason why patients don't get the equipment they need at home or end up paying $500 - $1000 out of pocket per month and still don't get a portable. Don't expect case managers to work miracles if you failed to meet CMS charting guidelines.

As for teaching, when RTS do the treatments they have 15 minutes every 4 hours to go over something rather than just lumping it in with a handout and squeezing it in with all the other nursing things you must teach.

it is hard for RTS to keep up with all of the quirks of every different inhaler on the market. Some nurse are not properly trained on the meds, priming and cleaning all the different devices. Nurses are also strict on times and may tell a patient they must wait until 0900 to take their bronchodilator even if their day begins at 0500. Yet, we still label a patient non-compliant if they fail to follow the rules rather than a commonsense care plan or they can not afford to pay for oxygen when the hospital failed in meeting CMS qualifications.

Yes a Paramedic can doing some of the skills of the RT but don't have the knowledge. I recently had a very upset patient saying the Paramedic making home visits told him we were stupid for placing the patient on 4 liters at home. Never more than 2. It took several Pulmonologists and RTS to undo what one Paramedic did. The nurses had the same issues with what they had taught about insulin and other meds.

I also get patients who will take 4 puffs of albuterol in one breath. They are hard to retrain to a more correct and effective way because that is what the nurse of paramedic taught them.

if you have the correct training, that is great. But when things get done half-assed because you blow off learning more because you think it is easy or no big deal, then the patient suffers and high readmission rates continue.

I can be cross trained for wound care and many nursing things also but a nurse would still in most of these situations be more appropriate. However, I (RT) Should do wound care when it concerns a complication from a trach.

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Respiratory therapists are registered--it's RRT--not certified. Please see the multiple responses we've already posted to this question.

Here ya go--job posting for an RRT where I work. So no, an RN would not qualify.

Completion of a two or four year Respiratory Care program approved by the Commission on the accreditation of Respiratory Care (CoARC)

Registered with [state] as a Respiratory Care Practitioner

https://www.nbrc.org/Pages/examinations.aspx

Actually we are both certified and registered at this time. As it is now, there are exams for each we must take to become registered. Some don't take the Registry and stay certified. Some became certified before the Associates degree was required.

Several states do recognize RRT and CRT in their licensure title. Those states generally give RTS more respect.

The term RCP is state dependent. Several states used that term as a catch all for everyone from OJTS to certified to registered to OJT with CC status. It sounds good but the whole devaluing of education by one lumping term sucks.

California and Ohio finally got the right idea to make the RRT the entry for license. But that is currently being challenged and may not happen or at least not in California.

I would prefer the entry to be a Bachelors degree but that will not happen. The better Bachelors programs are closing like University of Central Florida.

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Just because RNs can adjust settings does not mean they actually know what those settings are doing.. just saying

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There's a huge difference between just regular floor nurses and critical care nurses when it comes to respecting RRTs and that's sad. A floor nurse thinks that they are able to give orders and demand an RT to do something when it's not necessary. A critical care RN treats us with respect.. the only person that is allowed or able to give an RT an order is the doc. Nurses are no better than RTs even tho they think they are we rank the same when it comes down to it.. we each have our scope of practice. Sure a nurse can do a lot of stuff an RT can but do they? No they don't in most cases. When a trach pt rips out their trach is a nurse trained to put it back in? No they aren't.. when a pt is on the vent especially some crazy settings do they know what it's doing to the lungs no they don't... My point is RTs need respect from RNs. Nurses do not know it all that's why there is a special field for the lungs and heart..and trust me I am not saying I am able to do a nurses job nor do I want too.. that's why I went for RT not RN.. get over your selves and think about who is the first person you call when a pt isnt doing well other than the doc..

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OK, settle down there, RTalltheway. You got your digital panties in a bunch and came on here ranting in a thread that's over three years old. You may have some salient points to contribute to this topic, but please realize that when you come at the discussion all finger-wagging and fist-waving, your points get overshadowed by all of your righteous indignation.

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