Nursing vs. Respiratory Therapy

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Jul 9, 2005

Darn, I thought it was a grudge match.

I think most people here would favor nursing

cursenurse · Jul 9, 2005

i, of course favor nursing. what you should do is find out facts about each profession-projected growth, salary, demand, etc. make sure that if you became a RT that there would be a job for you when you get out. i favor being a nurse because there are so many specialties to work in, you never have to be bored, and you will never be w/out a job.

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Jul 9, 2005

You know the old story about how the Creator chose between nurses and respiratory therapists?

He put them all in a pool of poop shoulder deep and hocked a big loogy (sp?). That ones that ducked, He made nurses. . .

:rotfl:

In terms of gross factor, I always thought it was 6 of one, 1/2 dozen of the others - so I guess there were other factors my becoming a nurse.

~faith,

Timothy.

SarasotaRN2b · Jul 9, 2005

I have struggled long and hard with deciding between Respiratory Therapy or Nursing (RN) as a career. I am 34 y/o, so I don't want to be in school forever! I can finish RT school in about two years, but my BSN would take four years. (ADN would take almost as long, there is about a 2 - 2/12 year waiting list at local comm. college). I am about 90% certain I am going to pursue the BSN. Does anyone have any advice/opinions regarding Nursing vs. Resp. Therapy as career choices?
Thanks :)

Diane,

I can understand your questioning as I'm having it now as well. What I would recommend you do is contact one of the hospitals to see if you can talk with an RT and shadow them if you can. This way you can have a better idea of what an RT will actually do.

Best of luck!

Kris

mattsmom81 · Jul 9, 2005

At one time I considered a change from nursing to RT so I'll share some of my thoughts:

An RT spends his/her shift running around the hospital giving treatments...lots of patients, often all ages including babies. They deal with asthma, respiratory failure, COPD'rs of all ages. They assist in all codes, managing the intubation process with the doc. In a small hospital, there may only be 2 RT's to cover the whole place and get all the work done. This can be difficult.A few codes and everyone's treatments are behind. Many RT's are just as stressed as the nurses. There are 2 levels of RT and the higher level makes more, but is still less than an RN from my conversations with my coworker RT's. Most of them are glad they do not have the greater responsibility of the nurse, but wish they had more time with patients like we do. Some go back to school for nursing after they decide they'd prefer it. I know a few nurses who changed to RT after a few years as a nurse. Vive la difference!

A nurse has a smaller group of patients to be responsible for, but is responsible for all systems not just pulmonary. A nurse can specialize in an area of interest like pediatrics, mother-baby, operating rooms....we have many more options than RT's do, in and outside of facilities. The nurse coordinates patient care with the RT and usually calls the doc for orders, altho I do know some RT's who like to call docs...if policy allows they can write orders in the chart as well. I've worked with some awesome RT's in ICU who have impressed me with their indepth knowledge of respiratory medicine....which is more than mine as a nurse. I've appreciated their input and assistance greatly!

If I were to become a RT I'd definitely go the higher level and specialize in critical care with the ventilators and the more acute patients. Some RT's prefer running the hospital wards (they tell me it keeps their weight down...hehe!) with less acute patients. RT's can work acute care or long term care. Some work with agencies and contract their services; some move into durable medical equipment companies, supplying home care and all that equipment for the home based pulmonary patient.

Both nursing and RT are good careers...it all depends on what YOU want! I hope I've helped a little! and good luck whatever choice you make! :)

DLS_PMHNP, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 11, 2005

Wow! Thanks for taking the time to give me some feedback, I really appreciate it.

I think I would enjoy the variety that nursing offers, as opposed to Respiratory.

I am already working at a hospital (Inpt. Pharmacy), I have a meeting set up for tomorrow to talk to our nurse educator. I'm sure she can give me some valuable input as well. Thanks again!!

Diane

mattsmom81 · Jul 11, 2005

You're welcome...and good luck to you! :)

Editorial Team / Admin · Jul 11, 2005

I have struggled long and hard with deciding between Respiratory Therapy or Nursing (RN) as a career. I am 34 y/o, so I don't want to be in school forever! I can finish RT school in about two years, but my BSN would take four years. (ADN would take almost as long, there is about a 2 - 2/12 year waiting list at local comm. college). I am about 90% certain I am going to pursue the BSN. Does anyone have any advice/opinions regarding Nursing vs. Resp. Therapy as career choices?
Thanks :)

My husband is the respiratory therapy instructor for the University here. I of course am biased toward nursing and he is RT.

It is strictly a personal choice. Yes, you should research and shadow an RT. He has people do that all the time. I must admit, his classes are tough, but, he teaches them so well. His program is degree and soon will be 4 year.

I am an NP in OB-GYN and teach OB at the University. So, we can answer questions for you if you would like to pm me.

Good Luck in your choice!!

KCEG · Jul 18, 2005

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Wow! Thanks for taking the time to give me some feedback, I really appreciate it.
I think I would enjoy the variety that nursing offers, as opposed to Respiratory.
I am already working at a hospital (Inpt. Pharmacy), I have a meeting set up for tomorrow to talk to our nurse educator. I'm sure she can give me some valuable input as well. Thanks again!!
Diane

Hi Diane,

Ah, the age-old debate, nursing or respiratory therapy. :)

I am 34, as well, and I've been a Registered Respiratory Therapist for the past 14 years. I also have a BS degree in Health Information Management. I'm seriously considering nursing school, hence my presence on the allnurses forum.

Educational programs are similar, as you can become an RN or RRT in two years, or 4, depending on if you want to get an Associates or Bachelors degree.

Nursing will offer you many more opportunities, but the job descriptions make it difficult to compare the two professions. Respiratory Therapy varies greatly depending on what type of facility you work in, where you're located geographically, etc. I currently live in the midwest, and I was stunned when I first arrived at the variance in practice compared to what I was used to in the South. I went to school in southeast Kansas, but moved to Louisiana as soon as I graduated. Therapists in the South are responsible for intubations, arterial line insertions, etc., and are viewed as a type of physician extender who specializes in pulmonary issues. The doctors simply write RT consult and treat, and you call a pulmonologist with any problems.

The place I work at now is much different, in that Anesthesia does all of the intubations, emergency or otherwise. We still have Respiratory Protocols, however, which means we are consulted whenever a physician writes orders. We are then responsible for evaluating the patient and ordering the appropriate interventions. Respiratory treatments and modalities are frequently overused by physicians, especially those who haven't specialized in diseases of the lung, stemming from a time in which hospitals were reimbursed for every procedure that was done, indicated or not. My job is very satisfying at the hospital I am at, but we are the only hospital in the city with protocols that allow us to dictate the therapeutic modality and frequency of care. Our hospital has won numerous awards for quality of care. Other departments I am familiar with in this city have to do what is ordered when it is ordered, which oftentimes results in large percentages of their workload being a waste of time, as far as helping your patient get better. For example, I am working a PRN shift at a cross-town hospital today, and of the 19 patients I am seeing, 6 have diagnoses and accompanying symtpms that support the care I am delivering. I do provide them with some companionship, but that is the extent to which I am helping them get better. I do, however, have time to peruse this board, which is nice. :)

The main difference in respiratory vs nursing, as has been mentioned, is that a nurse usually works in one area and is totally responsible for the patient, while I am used to being responsible for only the pulmonary issues and complications. Nurses have much smaller patient loads, with much more care involved, and lots of paperwork, compared to what I am used to. Therapists are in demand, and I can move to almost any city in the country and have a job within a couple of days. I may work CCU one day, MICU the next, and NICU sometime next weeek. That aspect of being a therapist is something I like, as I know most of the nurses throughout the hospital, and I get a lot of variety in my patients.

The nursing shortage, when compared to respiratory, is overwhelming. My hospital works 8-9 therapists a shift, days and nights, with one or two positions available at any given time, whereas nurses have probably 100 plus positions available within the hospital. Those numbers mean lots of flexibility for the nurses that are there, with clinical ladder programs that ratchet salaries up for new grads relatively quickly.

It's been a difficult choice for me personally, as I really enjoy being a therapist. One of the deciding factors for me has been the fact that I like to work, and an agency nurse or travel nurse will make significantly more per hour than a therapist will. On a full-time basis, however, that isn't necessarily true. I will probably take a $5 or $6 per hour cut as a new RN unless I can negotiate a special exception.

Good luck in your decision. If I was in your shoes, starting from ground zero, I would choose nursing without a second thought. :)

Let me know if I can answer any respiratory-specific questions.

Good luck in your studies!

Sincerely,

KCEG

DLS_PMHNP, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 19, 2005

I really appreciate your great advice; My gut instinct (and life long goal) is nursing. Today I turned down a pretty significant scholarship at the hospital I work at, to study Respiratory Care. (They are giving F.T. benefits, stipend, and tuition reimbursement, etc. to RT students). I have to go with my heart. Financially, Respiratory would be a good decision NOW, but in the future, I will be much happier (and, hopefully better paid) as an R.N.

Again, thanks for the post. Good Luck in Nursing School, I'm sure you will be awesome