Respiratoryguy

I am thinking about waiting 3 months to see how it goes, and if I am not getting enough shifts I will look for a second per diem gig to help supplement my income.

Well luckily I have my own insurance that cannot be beat. I am more or less worried about how you set a home budget having no true idea of how much you will be making. I am an analytical person and it worries me when I don't know if the I's will be dotted and the T's crossed ya know :)

I have recently accepted a Per Diem position as a new grad respiratory therapist. A few things worry me about per diem though. How often do you typically get shifts ? Are there any real benefits to Per Diem other than salary increase? At what point do you take a second per diem job and how do you balance the two from conflicting? I appreciate the help in advance !

ICU is where I want to work actually. I have already weaned and extubated about 8 patients on my own , so I am looking forward to working with the critical care staff to help more get off those damn machines :) Only thing I wish was that more hospitals down here allowed RT's to do a bit more ( intubation is only done by RT at a few hospitals now, Arterial lines, bronchoscopy ... I think some of the RT's I've worked with could do a better job on bronchs than the physicians I have seen. )

Appreciate it everyone! I asked around and it looks like the starting rate for RRT is around 21-23 depending on the place. Seems like a pretty good starting salary especially with shift diff. working nights.

I think i may talk to the department manager today. She seems very down to earth and I think I feel comfortable asking her. I don't see what the problem would be just to ask , so wish me luck !

Thank you all for the responses! I appreciate all the feedback. Who knows, perhaps we will meet one day in the unit...

I have , without too much luck unfortunately. I am hoping for 20/hr or more to start here in south florida. Does that seem reasonable for a full time position ?

It doesn't need to be tenet , but I had my heart set on a tenet hospital. I have heard so many different stories from other therapists who said new grad hourly starts from $15/hr to $26/hr depending on who you ask. Mind you , these are people quoting what they started at 15 or more years ago. Haven't had the chance to meet a new therapist in the field yet. When I go on places like indeed.com the salary range is very difficult to understand considering that it doesn't tell you new grad salary , diff. included, etc. But thanks for the quick replies !

Hello everyone, I have been visiting these forums for over a year now while finishing up school for respiratory therapy. I know I know , its a nursing forum but I have a thirst for knowledge that doesn't just stop at the heart and lungs. I love critical care and I feel if more therapists out there learned just the little bit extra it would make all the difference for our patients. I applaud anyone who goes into healthcare , regardless of specialty. With my introduction out of the way I have a question that pulled me into registering an account here :) I am graduating and taking more boards in March and have a few job offers already. Unfortunately they did not quote me salaries just yet , and while I may have made the mistake of being timid asking them at the time ( just excited to get a few offers while other students cannot find work ) I find myself really wondering what new grad respiratory pay is like. I know this may seem like an odd place to look for this answer but trust me when I say I have torn through the internet left and right and have had zero luck in finding what I seek. I will be taking a job in the Boynton, Boca area. I have my heart set on West Boca/Delray ( tenet facilities ). If you could give me a solid idea of what to expect as a new grad I swear I will help you clean patients during my off time !!! Much appreciated in advance !