need help with Respiratory therapist

[thongvo89]

I just talked to my aunt and uncle today (one is pharmacist and other is a doctor) and they both told me to look up respiratory therapist. They said that career is pretty decent money and satisfaction and i might interest in it. I have the general idea for that career such as only need 2 years of school, decent money = 40000-50000 a year thats about it. What I really want to know is the possibility for advancement in this career. I found out that this career is unique in a way that I make a decent money but theres no chance for advancement, no chance for me to rank up and make higher salary is this true? so if i make 40000 - 50000 a year then i will make around there for the rest of my life, is this true?? If possible please tell me the more accurate salary range for this career. Also is there really really no way to get advancement in this career?

[dannyc12]

Can you go back to the beginning and discuss more about what you are looking for out of a career? You mention salary and advancement, but not much else - is that it? If so, is a career in healthcare a good choice?

[caliotter3]

It is true that respiratory therapy has limited opportunities versus say, nursing. In nursing you have a myriad of different specialties you can explore and an education and career path that leads up to doctoral degrees and prestigious jobs in education, research, or administration. You have plenty to choose from. With respiratory therapy, you are pretty much limited to providing well, respiratory therapy.

[rachelgeorgina]

I'm curious about what a respiratory therapist actually does. We don't have them here in Australia. At the moment, my understanding is that they're sort of like a cross between a physio and a nurse with a focus on respiratory issues. What sorts of things does an RT do? Do they do chest physio and postural drainage sorts of things? (& if that's the case, is physio not utilised in this department?)

[pamelaRN/RRT]

Can you go back to the beginning and discuss more about what you are looking for out of a career? You mention salary and advancement, but not much else - is that it? If so, is a career in healthcare a good choice?

I agree with the above quote; you need more incentive than salary to go into a particular field. Salary is important and there is nothing wrong with being concerned about how much you will make, especially in today's economy, but you can be miserable while earning a lot of money.

As a Respiratory Therapist who switched over to Nursing, I can tell you that the opportunities are very limited when compared to nursing. In respiratory your options are bedside therapy, deparment director (which brings in more than 50,000), home health, educator, or department educator. You can work at two different hospitas in the same area and be allowed to do everything that you went to school to learn how to do and only be allowed to do a few of those things at the other. In nursing the opportunities are numerous, which is one of the reasons that I switched over. I am really enjoying what I am doing and have no regrets about making the change.

[GilaRRT]

I'm curious about what a respiratory therapist actually does. We don't have them here in Australia. At the moment, my understanding is that they're sort of like a cross between a physio and a nurse with a focus on respiratory issues. What sorts of things does an RT do? Do they do chest physio and postural drainage sorts of things? (& if that's the case, is physio not utilised in this department?)

You are on the right track. RT's are considered allied health providers like physiotherapists. ( We call physio's physical therapists in the the United States.) However, the RT does not have any nurse related education, theory, and typically does not perform nurse related modalities. RT's in the united states focus on assessment and management of cardiac, respiratory, and related conditions. This also includes cardiac/pulmonary rehab, testing, obtaining lab samples and interpretation such as ABG's, education and sleep medicine. Additionally, seemingly obscure concepts such as hyperbaric therapy and special gas mixes (Heliox, Nitric Oxide) are also part of the RT skill set.

The RT education is also quite different from nursing. For example, concepts such as gas physics, ventilator management, and a very comprehensive understanding of respiratory pharmacology is emphasized in RT school. The concepts of aerosol deposition, inertial impaction, and particle size versus generation of penetration and deposition are all concepts that were left out of my initial nursing education. In addition, the ventilator education is quite in depth. While nurses in the United States may be involved in ventilator management, many do not have comprehensive education regarding air flow patterns, graphics, compliance issues, and utilizing specialized modes such as oscillatory and APRV ventilation.

So, the RT is similar to say a radiological technologist. They both have a highly specialized area of knowledge and have learned a highly specific skill set that consists of technical modalities that most other general providers do not understand or understand as well.

[rachelgeorgina]

^ Thanks so much for this.