Respiratory Nursing - new RT??

Specialties General Specialties

Published

Specializes in Anesthesiology, General Practice.

General question/assessing interest...this is all theoretical...

Are there any RNs out there who would be interested in undergoing formal coursework to become certified to perform the duties typically performed by a respiratory therapist (RRT) in the inpatient setting? This would be a new role, Certified Respiratory Nurse or something like that. I understand many of you out there may already be doing this. 
 

There has been some national discussion of nursing should fill this vital role. Thoughts?

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.
KetafolDNP said:

General question/assessing interest...this is all theoretical...

Are there any RNs out there who would be interested in undergoing formal coursework to become certified to perform the duties typically performed by a respiratory therapist (RRT) in the inpatient setting? This would be a new role, Certified Respiratory Nurse or something like that. I understand many of you out there may already be doing this. 
 

There has been some national discussion of nursing should fill this vital role. Thoughts?

Why do we need to create another speciality to do what the RT's do?  What is the point?  I remember in olden times when we had what were called respiratory nurses and they simply delivered the vents to the ICU and hooked up the patient but did not care for them in the unit.  It would require first a deep dive into  respiratory physiology which would be a full three credits before you can move on to applying what you have learned.  Most hospitals are looking for a bachelor's in RF so it's not something a person can just take an online class or two and call themselves "certified."

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Anesthesiology, General Practice.
subee said:

Why do we need to create another speciality to do what the RT's do?  What is the point?  I remember in olden times when we had what were called respiratory nurses and they simply delivered the vents to the ICU and hooked up the patient but did not care for them in the unit.  It would require first a deep dive into  respiratory physiology which would be a full three credits before you can move on to applying what you have learned.  Most hospitals are looking for a bachelor's in RF so it's not something a person can just take an online class or two and call themselves "certified."

I agree - it would have to be a formal program as part of a university. How many credits I'm not sure. 

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Where would they work and who would hire them? They'd surely be justified in asking for a meaningfully greater pay rate than standard RT's, but what hospital system would see that as a reasonable trade off?

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

I think it would be beneficial for all nurses to learn more about how to manipulate the ventilators and to perform ABGs. It would provide the nurse with more knowledge about how to critically assess ventilator issues and patient's tolerance.

However, with the current stretching of responsibilities in many hospitals - I think this increased nursing knowledge could led to less  hiring of respiratory therapists.

In my opinion, floor nurses do not need anymore responsibilities since so much is already on our shoulders.

So overall, the knowledge aspect of this concept is great but the functionality of a nurse as RT too might be too much

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Former NP now Internal medicine PGY-3.
KetafolDNP said:

General question/assessing interest...this is all theoretical...

Are there any RNs out there who would be interested in undergoing formal coursework to become certified to perform the duties typically performed by a respiratory therapist (RRT) in the inpatient setting? This would be a new role, Certified Respiratory Nurse or something like that. I understand many of you out there may already be doing this. 
 

There has been some national discussion of nursing should fill this vital role. Thoughts?

IDK the division of labor between RN and RT serves some purpose. If anything it lets each stay fresh in his or her role as we tend to get good/stay good by doing what it is we do frequently. 

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in VA-BC, CRNI.
Tegridy said:

IDK the division of labor between RN and RT serves some purpose. If anything it lets each stay fresh in his or her role as we tend to get good/stay good by doing what it is we do frequently. 

Except in many states that line is largely blurring. In Arizona they fired almost all of the vascular access/PICC nurses in favor of RTs since they can pay them $10 less an hour. We are seeing a greater encroachment of scope into what has historically been nursing since RTs and hospital systems are aligned in expanding the scope of RTs since hospitals are better able to control their wages. 

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.
Bug Out said:

Except in many states that line is largely blurring. In Arizona they fired almost all of the vascular access/PICC nurses in favor of RTs since they can pay them $10 less an hour. We are seeing a greater encroachment of scope into what has historically been nursing since RTs and hospital systems are aligned in expanding the scope of RTs since hospitals are better able to control their wages. 

Who made PICC lines within the scope of RT's?  Do they have any training in their programs and what does a PICC line have to do with RT's?  Is this only in Arizona?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in oncology.
subee said:

Who made PICC lines within the scope of RT's? 

When the RTs show up in a timely manner for treatments I am thrilled. Otherwise it is always a call to say "patient in rm 200 needs a treatment now

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in VA-BC, CRNI.
subee said:

Who made PICC lines within the scope of RT's?  Do they have any training in their programs and what does a PICC line have to do with RT's?  Is this only in Arizona?

Being a relatively young medical profession they do not have as well of an established scope of practice. Their scope is what they want it to be. A side effect of being a young profession is they do not have the political organizations like the ANA or the unions to lobby on their behalf so it is very easy for hospital systems to control RTs and pay them much less. 

This is not just an Arizona thing, I believe there are around 30 or so states where this is the case and they do not just insert PICCs but often CVCs and even hemodialysis catheters. 

When the RTs are pushing for expansion of scopes and the hospitals have uniquely gotten behind them (again because they can pay them less) it is easy for things to happen. 

This is one of the reasons why I support the expansion of nursing in any and all areas. The more nurses there are the more power as a profession we have. 

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.
Bug Out said:

Being a relatively young medical profession they do not have as well of an established scope of practice. Their scope is what they want it to be. A side effect of being a young profession is they do not have the political organizations like the ANA or the unions to lobby on their behalf so it is very easy for hospital systems to control RTs and pay them much less. 

This is not just an Arizona thing, I believe there are around 30 or so states where this is the case and they do not just insert PICCs but often CVCs and even hemodialysis catheters. 

When the RTs are pushing for expansion of scopes and the hospitals have uniquely gotten behind them (again because they can pay them less) it is easy for things to happen. 

This is one of the reasons why I support the expansion of nursing in any and all areas. The more nurses there are the more power as a profession we have. 

RT 's have been around for decades.  They are even having to move into BS degrees to get hired.  They've certainly been around long enough to have a scope of practice.

 

 

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in VA-BC, CRNI.
subee said:

RT 's have been around for decades.  They are even having to move into BS degrees to get hired.  They've certainly been around long enough to have a scope of practice.

 

 

I apologize for the confusion, they certainly have a scope of practice. When you look at nursing the scopes of practice are relatively well defined since it has a very long history. When you look at respiratory therapy scopes of practice, comparatively, tend to be much less defined as there are not hundreds of years of history and precedence. 

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment