Have they gotten rid of Respiratory Therapists where you work, also?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in NICU, Peds, Med-Surg.

Where I work, (NOT acute care, or we'd have RT!) we get some trachs, but not that often. And LOTS and LOTS of Albuterol/ Proventil nebulizer treatments, sometimes as often as Q 4 hours---(which RT *used* to do).

We were also informed recently that we will not have our Respiratory Therapist any longer :angryfire

I keep asking what is going to happen if there is a trach problem, because not all of our nurses (even the charge nurses)

are knowledgeable in this!

I'm getting ready to research the LEGALITIES of this with my state board of Nursing, because many of us have heard rumors that nurses "charging" for respiratory treatments is NOT legal. Annnnddd.....since we have no Resp. Therapists, we have even MORE documentation (oh, goodie!!!!!) that some of us feel is ONLY meant for a RESPIRATORY THERAPIST!!!!!!!!!!!

helllloooo, do they want us to go to RT school now, too? :eek:

So, before I research what my state BON says, I'm very curious what others know about this topic. And, I might add, this is just ONE more reason why I have been job-hunting!!!!!!!!!:cool:

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

I work in the emergency deparment and we do not use RT. We give our own neb treatments, collect ABG's, etc. the only thing we use RT for is to bring us down bipaps and collect RSV.

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Specializes in Pulmonary, MICU.

Believe it or not, anything an RT can do an RN can do (and theoretically should be competent doing). Unfortunately since RT has become so prevalent our nursing schools have started to fail us in this training. But yeah, you don't NEED an RT anywhere, technically. But they are damned nice to have. I work in an ICU and some of the stuff they do in terms of calculations on the ventilator are so far above my head that it would make a very stressful couple months while I learned their job in addition to my own. I just learned about calculating RSBI's and it makes me feel like an enlightened nurse, but simultaneously highly ignorant that I didn't know it before...

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Specializes in ER TRAUMA.

just curious to know....what state an facilities you guys work in where the RT's are being eliminated? In the state of NY,if there is a vent, facilities can be shut down if there is no Respiratory Therapist on board. wow....what's next?

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Believe it or not, anything an RT can do an RN can do (and theoretically should be competent doing). Unfortunately since RT has become so prevalent our nursing schools have started to fail us in this training. But yeah, you don't NEED an RT anywhere, technically. But they are damned nice to have. I work in an ICU and some of the stuff they do in terms of calculations on the ventilator are so far above my head that it would make a very stressful couple months while I learned their job in addition to my own. I just learned about calculating RSBI's and it makes me feel like an enlightened nurse, but simultaneously highly ignorant that I didn't know it before...

Ok then. I will call for a nurse the next time a 26 weeker needs nitric oxide and oscillatory ventilator management, or how about setting up an ARDS patient for pressure limited or APRV ventilation. The reason we have RT's and allied health professionals is the fact that health care has become so technical, that it would be impossible to cover all of these concepts in nursing school.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I think what Be Moore meant is, with appropriate education, the tasks of an RT can be within the RN's scope of practice. After all, the RT is not going to put in the chest tube either. I have not worked outside acute care, but certainly feel that RT's are appropriate LTC if for no other reason than to have a competent person doing procedures so the RN will be free to do something else.

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Specializes in Critical Care,Recovery, ED.

Well, I have been around long enough to remember when there was no such thing as a respiratory therapist. Now with regard to vents and NICU's I feel that the technicalities/specialization have evolved, to be beyond what most RNs are currently competent in handling. The giving of most repiratry treatments, pulmomary toilet etc is within the scope of RN practice. However by eliminating RTs (PRESUMEABLY TO SAVE MONEY) and dumping it on the RN is penny wise and dollar foolish. It will probably result in RNs leaving.

As to the occassional trach patient, they are well within the RN responsibility and you shouldn't be relying on the RT. You should know or refuse the patient IMHO.

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Specializes in ED, Med-Surg, Psych, Oncology, Hospice.

We have RTs on the day shift weekdays only. If they have a scheduled sleep study then of course, they aren't there during the day and nurses do their work. I work the overnight shift and in the ED we do the RT tasks. I am confused about the post where they remember when there were no RTS. I started my healthcare career as a RT in 1970! Didn't go into nursing until later.

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Specializes in Critical Care,Recovery, ED.

Started before the 70's.

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Specializes in ED, Med-Surg, Psych, Oncology, Hospice.

Wow okankhe you are a most dedicated nurse. My hats off to you!! (Thank goodness hats are no longer required, LOL!)

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i have great respect for the respiratory therapist!

i work in an ltach and my job would be way harder without them.

i try to do as much as i can as an RN as far as vent alarms and suctioning and whatnot though, as there are only usually two RTS working on night shift.

the RTs where i work do everything vent related, bipaps, they do all treatments and trach care, and they are a source of valuable information. theyre fabulous at teaching it, as well.

i feel very lucky to have them to work with.

:rckn:

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Specializes in ER TRAUMA.

well, gotta tell you, I get to speak for both sides of the field ( yeah!) LTC absolutely I think nurses can keep "maintenance" (suction, silence the alarm, and change a trach collar when its dirty)on vented patients. I am a Respiratory Therapist, and although I have added nursing to my background it can be pretty complicated to work with a vent patient in acute care, I've doneit all, assist with chest tubes, intubation, start A-lines, blood gases, PFT's...i think you get where im coming from. everyone always want to put them in A/C to manage the problem, but what happens when they start bucking the vent??? ooooh i know, lets sedate him! (lol) then you ask urself what happen to getting back to the quality of life. That's not true nursing.

i guess the moral of my story is, thank God I have Respiratory background (education 4yrs, acute care...8 yrs. ) I think Im gonna be ok!!! and for all my co workers on my nursing team....I'm going to educate them on everything I know about ventilators to be to function without a therapist. :smile:

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