Decisions Decisions

nktxo · Jul 16, 2015

It's really up to you, your goals, and what you want for yourself because you honestly can get burnt out from both professions. I am currently a neurosurgical RN and I am at the bedside the entire shift for my patients, managing and carrying out their entire plan of care and all the nursing interventions involved. Our respiratory therapists float to different units and see patients who require respiratory care. For nursing, you have the capability of transferring to different specialties to find a patient population you enjoy working with. The respiratory therapists that I've shadowed during my internships in the past floated to several units and attended codes but they focused on each and every patient's respiratory care.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 16, 2015

You would do well to do some research into what the employment options are for RTs in your area. In many areas of the country, respiratory therapists are going the way of the dodo, either by not being replaced when someone retires or quits, or by having positions eliminated altogether.

Why? Respiratory therapy, as a profession, arouse as a bit of a luxury: taking a duty away from an already-burdened nurse so she/he can focus his/her attention on other nursing duties.

In this climate of healthcare costs rising and reimbursements dropping, many facilities are finding this luxury to be unaffordable; the job of RT is being punted back to the RNs who are ultimately responsible for the patient's care anyway.

If you feel strongly that the education and expense of pursuing RT employment will be worth it in the end for you, then you should do that. But if the job prospects aren't what you think they are....you might want to reconsider.

Good luck in your choices!

akcw1981 · Jul 16, 2015

RT looks good here in TX as of now I've been following new job postings on indeed for several months and within an hours drive I always see plenty. Thank you for your help! I do get what you mean though since I had never heard of respiratory therapisys at all! I don't know if I just wasn't aware or if it's just not very important. Either way as of today I think I will apply to both when the time comes and go from there!

Miss Infermiera2b, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2015

Over here in North Florida, we have respiratory therapists, and they don't seem to be on their way out in this area. Best of luck with your future career goals!

akcw1981 · Jul 16, 2015

Thank you all so much jobs look to be plenty for each! Naturally there are hundreds upon hundreds more for nurses but nursing is a much larger market. I needed this input. On another note I have read that the two professions tend to sometimes clash. Yikes! Is this across the board or a rarity?

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 17, 2015

Thank you all so much jobs look to be plenty for each! Naturally there are hundreds upon hundreds more for nurses but nursing is a much larger market. I needed this input. On another note I have read that the two professions tend to sometimes clash. Yikes! Is this across the board or a rarity?

Clash? I don't think moreso than any other multi-disciplinary patient situations, really. If there's an RT who does or doesn't do something that is needed according to the RN responsible for the patient, then yes there is undoubtedly going to be a "clash". But overall.....I liked having RTs around! They took off of my plate the many routine breathing treatments and some of the PRNs I had to do. Who doesn't like an extra set of hands? :)

I'm glad that the job prospects for RTs look good in your area. Just wanted to caution you since that is most certainly NOT the case across many others. A former facility of mine has exactly THREE RTs on staff now, for the entire facility and spread across all shifts, down from about a dozen several years ago. The RNs do everything they used to do....

Good luck!