LisaRRT

I am an RRT and RN, but not a CRNA (yet). Good luck to you, it can only help you to have both. I know nursing school was a breeze for me because of my 12 years as an RRT and the RT program. I have only been a CVICU nurse for a little over a year now and there is not a day that goes by that another nurse doesn't come to me with a pulmonary/hemodynamic/ventilatory/etc. question. Lisa

The Mirena IUD is a coated (hormonal) one. I haven't had a period in almost two years thanks to it.

Thanks Ken, you worded it in a way my emotional self is not able to. I agree about the public displays and such. My son's friend even tried to protect his family (as much as he could) by calling the cops right before he did it (that way they found him instead of his mom or sister) and by (avoiding the mess in the house) going out back instead of staying inside. He even mentioned those things in his note. I still don't think this child was selfish, he was in such pain. I don't think my cousin was selfish either. She suffered for over 30 years and held out until her children were grown and had families of their own.

I didn't post a response originally because I was so put off by the label "selfish" being used in the op to describe those that commit suicide. Unless you have been to that point yourself you have no idea. Those that commit suicide are not selfish in my opinion and I have a hard time with the people I knew and cared about that killed themselves being labeled as such. You try sticking around for 5, 10, 20 years in soul crushing emotional pain with physical symptoms to boot.

I agree

I was an RRT first then an RN, I have never heard of an RN who then became RRT. If I were you I would not. I love being an RRT like the other posters have stated too, but it is the 12 years of RRT experience that will help me in a CRNA program, not just the degree/registration itself. Lisa RN/RRT

Speaking of being admitted for just tests; I myself was admitted for two full days as recently as 1986 for testing purposes only. As for the OP: Harder in some ways, easier in others

Sorry you are having the troubles with getting the position you want. It sounds very fustrating. Perhaps it is the location. In my town I could pretty much get a job in any department at any of the hospitals. We are just that short here. On the otter side of this coin that others in this thread are mentioning; I would like to say that I know nurses with one/two years experience that are more knowledgable, more skilled, more compassionate, and better clinicans than a few nurses (at least three) I know with 16, 20 and 30 years experience. Experience does not make the nurse. Some nurses do not need five, ten, twenty years to know how to perform well in this profession. Some people do not need five, ten, twenty years experience to be a good employee. Employers are looking for not only competent nurses but, good employees too. I also realize what experience does bring, it brings more opportunities to see and help treat various disease states, different patient populations, more times to practice getting difficult sticks, more chances to do eveything, and etc... Just wanted to throw the other side out there.

Hello Hawaii, Thanks for responding. Your situation sounds great. I guess mine is not so bad either, save the therapist or two that is O' so territorial (just like you mentioned). I also have the nurse or two that is perhaps; jealous, intimidated, or whatever? and gives me a hard time about doing things respiratory. "They" make little comments such as, "Well, your not respiratory anymore." When in fact I am, my RT liscense expires after my current RN liscense does. Besides that, 95% of the respiratory tasks are in the nursing scope of practice for my state. Then there are the RN's who really appreciate me and love to hear me teach about respiratory. I am hoping in time things will just fall into place and ALL of the staff will be more accepting of my somewhat dual role. I love it and as you know, want/need to keep up on all things respiratory for my future acceptance into grad school. Eventually I may take a PRN position at another facility as RT just to keep up with intubtions and the like. As far as the RT's not responding to wean, do vent changes, or ABG's, well it is 99% usually one of two things; 1. extremely short staffed and only two therapists are on for the enitre house or 2. the therapist assigned to our unit (CVICU) is out in the butt hut. Thanks again for responding, I hope to hear more from you and would love to hear more about the path you are taking to anesthesia school. Lisa RRT/RN

Wonderful opportunities. I had the same desicion to make. I was offered a job in a LDP and nursery at one hospital and a CVICU at another. I wanted to do the LDPN so bad, but ultimately went with the CVICU as it is in line with my career goals. The OB manager (I worked OB as a student nurse t/o nursing school) told me the door was always open if a position was available and if I ever wanted to come back. They frequently hire in nurses from other specialties. I "think" it is easier to go from being ICU trained with lots of skills under your belt to being an OB nurse, but I think OB nurses with no other skills may have it harder when looking to try a new area. This comes from the OB nurses that wanted to try something new. Many of them could not find jobs because they had no other experience and ended up remaining in OB even though they wanted out. This could have been just in my area though and not the same for the rest of the country. I think your decision should also be based on your time frame. If you plan to do advance practice sooner rather than later, go straight into OB, but if that is more longterm, then I would beef up on your critical care stuff now and then go to OB later. This isn't to say that OB nurses don't have critical care skills/abilities because you can get some pretty highrisk/sick OB cases too., but you see what I mean. Good luck to you, I wish I could give better advice. Lisa RRT/RN

i am interested in what tasks you do as a nurse that could be considered the respiratory dept.s i am in the process of figuring out (on paper) with my manager and with the respiratory dept. at my facility what tasks i should be allowed to do on my patients (as a nurse, who also happens to be an rrt). i work in a cvicu and the management would like to see me be able to continue the care of my assigned patients who need to be weaned off the vents in a timely manner post op. i would love to keep up my rrt skills by way of abg sticks and vent weaning. i am currently licensed as both and my scope of practice as just the rn in my state allows me to do all of the tasks that respiratory does at my facility. i really hate waiting 10-15 minutes for a vent change or to get gases, when there is a completely capable rrt (me) already there for my patient. i would love to hear what tasks you do at your facility that could be considered respiratory personnel's. i am getting some, flack?? from the rt's that i used to work with before i became an rn about all of this. i don't want to fight them, but i want to do what i am allowed to do and what is timely and competent care for my patients. advice please. lisa rrt/rn

I always took the 1 year of experience to mean: one year totally off orientation, taking complete ICU assignments on my own without a preceptor, etc.. That is how I am counting my ICU experience anyway, am I wrong to count it that way? BTW, I am NOT including the 12 years of experience intubating, managing vents, trachs, A-lines, ABG's, & etc as a RRT. I probably could use that a little though in the interview process.

I started as a new RN grad in a CVICU/CVSD unit. The clincal manager already knew me from working there as an RRT, so I think that might have helped. Both hospitals in the town I live hire new grads into all of the ICU's except for the CVICU at the hospital across town. The orientation and critical care preceptorship/classes last almost a year.

:yelclap: To gatermac, carolina, deepz, etc.. TO the OP; I have wanted to become a CRNA since I first learned of them at approx. age 12, well over 20 years ago. This was well before I had any idea about the financial rewards of the career, in fact I NEVER even looked into that aspect of until about five years ago. Unfortunately life circumstances prevented me from obtaining this dream career, but recently things have changed and I am on the fast track to reaching my dream. I became a mother very young and needed to get a career FAST, so I entered a program that involved the skills that I wanted to be doing anyway and also one that had a seat for me the soonest. I have been a respiratory therapist for over 12 years now and recently completed my RN. I entered RN school a couple of years ago with the full intention of becoming a CRNA, otherwise I would have just remained a RRT. Too bad they don't let RRT's with BS degrees enter CRNA school. (BTW, I understand why they don't). There was no other reason for me to become a nurse other than to someday practice as a NA and if that makes me a bad nurse in some other nurses/crna's eyes, well that is most definately their problem. Go for it, I am. Lisa RRT and RN

Good luck. I am sure you did great from what we hear about the number of questions with the level. I don't understand the wait either. Respiratory Therapists find out within minutes of finishing the board exams (you have three exams with respiratory). Although when I first passed my respiratory tests they were pencil and paper and the wait was six to eight weeks, but now it is given to you before you leave the exam center. Try to relax and feel the weight lifted off your shoulders Lisa RRT and RN

I am sorry. You can do this. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to study right now with three under five years. I have five children but there ages are more spread out. You can do this. I used so many different materials to prepare from Mosby's CAT, Saunders, MedsPub (required by my school), to review for nurses and a few others. I did approx. 6000 test questions and tested 1 month and 1 day from graduation. Please don't give up, if you can mother three little ones, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING. I will be keeping my fingers crossed for you. Good Luck Lisa

Congratulations.:balloons: Go celebrate or sleep(that is what I am planning)! Lisa

Thank you Cheson85, will still be thinking of you waiting on your results.

Ohio has really quick results. I just checked the license site and I have passed. It has not even been 36 hours since I took the exam. Thanks to all Lisa RRT and RN

Good luck hopenfaith, we are all awaiting our results.

Thank you both and good luck too Nate. It sounds like you had quite a difference in your test this last time. I bet it is the last time, you deserve it after all your hard work.

Hello everyone, I just returned home from the exam (RN) and really don't know what to think. First of all, I frequently hear of others stating and/or remembering some of their questions. I do NOT remember a single one! I remember generall what some were about, but do not really recall any specifics and it has only been 2 hours since I left the exam. The big thing that I can remember is that I had 6 (I kept track) select all that apply and approximately as many who would you see first. That had me worried during the exam, I figured I missed those questions over and over so they kept giving it to me. I also did NOT have a single calculation question, which sucks because I am pretty good at math. I only answered 75 before the exam was completed and I felt good at first, but then I started to think I must have done really bad and just don't realize it. Anybody else not have a feeling one way or the other? Lisa RRT (and RN hopefully)

Oh my, I am sorry to hear you have to wait so long, especially for results. We only have to wait approx. a week and a half for mailed results (free) or we can pay and get phone or web results in about 48 hours. BTW, I got my ATT yesterday. :)

Thank you Nurse Rozy. It has been fustrating because everything on my end (money, backround checks) was cleared and ready to go on March 3 and here it is April 3. Just this one last piece (which is out of my control) that I am waiting on. It is good to have company and know others have experienced this too. I was beginning to wonder if it was just my Dean that was a pain. LisaRRT