RN to Respiratory therapist

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I need some advice here. I'm an RN but is it possible for me to be an RT also? I would really love to work in ICU or CCU someday. Do you think it's worth to study again? Will I gain something from it? Please, I really need some inputs here. Thanks in advance fellow nurses.

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Specializes in Wilderness Medicine, ICU, Adult Ed..

Of course you would gain something from RT school. However, the real issue is, what kind of care do you want to provide to your patients? Can you do that as an RN, or only as an RT? Critical care nursing is a board certified specialty within nursing, and the work is very satisfying if you have the energy, intellegence, and interest it requires. Take a look at the American Association of Critical Care Nurses at http://www.aacn.org/DM/MainPages/AACNHomePage.aspx?enc=9RdxXufgiNKQ0ZMRg/3r99HD5ipLXLk3gXr4YPV1a7k and see what you think.

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thank you so much! i'm really considering it :)

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Specializes in Med Surg, SICU, MICU, CCU, Pulmonary.

I have looked into this very same thing. My problem was this: RTs make a lot less money than RNs do, (at least in my state they do). I hate to have to take this into consideration, but I have mouths to feed.

Good luck in your decision!

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