So I was on track at my local community college for my RN. With my pre reqs finished up with last semester I was on the hunt for a BSN program to transfer into, as you need a BSN in my area to get a job. I was accepted to a few places but now I'm thinking I don't want to do this anymore. ( I also can not afford a BSN program)
For the past yeah I have worked as a ER tech in a VERY VERY busy level 2 trauma center. Before that I was in MICU/SICU for 4 years. I was in the ICU when I decided I wanted to really be apart of the healing process and make a difference. Now I'm starting to think I do not want that at all.
I'm 13 weeks pregnant, i dont know if that has anything to do with it but I'm thinking I rather go for respiratory therapy.
I want to stay in health care and I want to continue to work with people, and I still want to be able to get that adrenaline rush with traumas and codes. But I honestly don't want to be responsible for the TOTAL care of the pt. Is it bad that I don't want that responsibility and stress?
I have watched the RN's for years be put threw hell and back with politics, doctors, pt's, and the stress from short staffing... why would I put myself threw that???
I know with nursing there is much more I can do then just bedside, acute care, and with respiratory my options are limited but that is okay with me.
RT is so appealing right now because it is so focused. I can still get the rush i get from traumas and codes, and I can still make a difference because I would be helping people breath easier :-)
I talked to RN's and RT's at my job and some say go for RN because it's more money and you can advance, some say go for RT for the exact reasons I have already stated.
Ultimately I need to do what I feel is right for me but I would still like some advice and comments... thanks
Well I was an RT first and then got my RN through Excelsior so I have seen both sides! I left respiratory because my options where I live are very limited. As an RT I can really only work in the local community hospital (which is a 35 min drive, the next hospital is 1+ hour away and the teaching hospital/medical center is 1.5 hours away). I had worked there 8 years and wanted some more flexibility and job options because I have 2 young children. So I got my RN and I'm finishing up my new grad orientation now. I have to say I MISS respiratory a lot, but I really do love the interaction I get with having my own patients. What I miss is the ability to move from place to place in the hospital and the adrenaline rushes from the codes and stuff in the ER/ICU. Nursing is hard work, a thousand times harder then respiratory ever was for me. But I have learned so much in the 6 months of orientation. You can put all the pieces of the puzzle together instead of just focusing on one aspect of the patient. I'm excited about my future, about my options for advancement beyond staff RN (not many options like that as an RT). I love that I was able to do both and I hope I can still do some time as an RT to keep my license current.
If you have any other specific questions please don't hesitate to ask :-)
Im an RRT pursuing my RN degree. At the hospital i work at we have to attend all csections, all high risk deliveries, set up and manage vents and bipaps, abgs, codes, rapid response, nebs, intubations, ekgs, o2 therapy, and more. We work with 3 on days and only 2 at night. That means covering the ER and all the bad stuff plus routine tx. With all that said i see how super busy RNs are and not to mention all the charting we all have. I have seen days with no lunch. I cant imagine as an RN ever being able to do my job plus RT work. There's no way. I am doing this for opportunity. I am thankful for the respiratory experience. That helps a lot cause u learn to appreciate that profession and value their expertise. I am currently working thru Excelsior. With God all things are possible.
My hospital has 5 RTs and over 300 nurses. Nurses make substantially more money than RTs and due to our larger numbers have better bargaining terms regarding benefits and such. All of the politics you cite as reasons for not going to nursing school will be there as an RT as well.
GCmomRN
186 Posts
Well I was an RT first and then got my RN through Excelsior so I have seen both sides! I left respiratory because my options where I live are very limited. As an RT I can really only work in the local community hospital (which is a 35 min drive, the next hospital is 1+ hour away and the teaching hospital/medical center is 1.5 hours away). I had worked there 8 years and wanted some more flexibility and job options because I have 2 young children. So I got my RN and I'm finishing up my new grad orientation now. I have to say I MISS respiratory a lot, but I really do love the interaction I get with having my own patients. What I miss is the ability to move from place to place in the hospital and the adrenaline rushes from the codes and stuff in the ER/ICU. Nursing is hard work, a thousand times harder then respiratory ever was for me. But I have learned so much in the 6 months of orientation. You can put all the pieces of the puzzle together instead of just focusing on one aspect of the patient. I'm excited about my future, about my options for advancement beyond staff RN (not many options like that as an RT). I love that I was able to do both and I hope I can still do some time as an RT to keep my license current.
If you have any other specific questions please don't hesitate to ask :-)