Respiratory Care vs Nursing

Libby1987 · Dec 30, 2014

We had the best nurse come through our home health agency (we lost her to SAHM status). She had initially received her RRT (?) and worked a couple of years in ICU. She went back to nursing school because she found that as an RT her scope was limited and she wanted to get more into thick of patient care. Both were 2 year programs but even at only 2 yrs out of nursing on top of 2 years in RT in the units, she could go anywhere.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Dec 30, 2014

I like nursing because we get to treat the whole person, although I'd work as an RRT over an office job any day!!

Myself I've never worked anywhere where RNs are treated badly, and I'm sure there are parts of the RRT world that I don't know about, so can't really speak to that.

As far as autonomy, again it probably depends on where you work, but where I work they don't have as much as they seem to. They'll make changes on the vent and stuff, but still have to contact the MD for an order. Actually once when talking to one, he was kind of surprised that we had a dose range for drips (e.g. propofol, 5-80 mcg/kg/min). He asked, "So you don't have to get an order every time you adjust it? We have to get an order for EVERYTHING." We were like "If that were the case we might be calling the MD q 2 minutes."

It depends on what you would enjoy. The RN is more the primary caregiver for the whole pt; the RRT becomes very expert in one system. Both roles are vital!