Respiratory Therapist in Massachusetts

vanilla bean · May 17, 2015

Hi Sean - welcome to allnurses! You may find some helpful tips and advice by checking out the "TEAS Exam Help" forum. I can be found under the "Students" tab. Good luck with your exam!

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · May 17, 2015

Hi, and welcome to AN! :)

I will give you one bit of advice: make very VERY certain that what you are looking for is an employable field in your area. Respiratory therapists, which made a big splash at the time there really WAS a nursing shortage, have found themselves increasingly unemployed as facilities realized they could have nurses do the very same thing RTs did without hiring RTs. It is within the RN's scope of practice to do RT work, and with budget cuts and reimbursement rates plummeting from insurance companies, you should be warned that this is not a lucrative field any longer.

If it's what you want to do, so be it. But go in with both eyes open!

Asystole RN · May 17, 2015

Make VERY certain you want to be a RT.

A RN can do EVERYTHING a RT can but a RT cannot do MOST of what a RN can.

Also, in most states there is a very significant pay difference, RTs usually make 20-30% less than a RN for the same length of schooling plus RTs have very few employment options compared to a RN...

julz68 · May 17, 2015

Also, in most states there is a very significant pay difference, RTs usually make 20-30% less than a RN for the same length of schooling plus RTs have very few employment options compared to a RN...

It also depends if you are an RT or RRT. RRTs makes as much as RNs or more at the hospital I work in.

sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN · May 17, 2015

I am a ~43 yr. RN, in 2003 I went back to school just for the fun of it, and in two years obtained my RRT........ The test you are fearing was not particularly difficult.more of an applitude exam.... but of course my decades of nursing probably made it appear easier......There is an even less of a shortage of Resp Therapist than there is of nursing.......look at occupation assistant or physical therapist assistant avenues ....best wishes

sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN · May 17, 2015

you will also find additional information at the national credentialing web site : NBRC.org

dishes, BSN, RN · May 18, 2015

I don't know about anyone else, but in the last five years, I have seen an increase in the number of patients who have developed sleep apnea, if this is happening in other parts of North America, there may be an increased demand for RTs in the near future.

BR157 · May 18, 2015

I don't know about anyone else, but in the last five years, I have seen an increase in the number of patients who have developed sleep apnea, if this is happening in other parts of North America, there may be an increased demand for RTs in the near future.

I thought they were RTs also but when I had my sleep study done, I got a long lecture about Registered Polysomnographic Technologists. Went right to sleep after it. Not many RTs involved at all since it requires more education an another exam and licensing.

tmw73 · May 22, 2015

Performing sleep studies is apart of Respiratory Therapy..i should know,I use to do them.Im not so sure about a lack of jobs for Respiratory Therapist either.We have plenty of jobs all around.There are still alot of travelers in Respiratory as well.Ive been Therapist for over 20years now and have never found it hard to get jobs.Also there is a difference between RRT vs CRT.Its like comparing LPN to an RN.Theres not much paring.Its also hard for anyone coming out of school fresh to get jobs.Its just as hard for Nurses as it is for Respiratory Therapist.If you need places to find Respiratory info I can give you what you need.There are plenty of website where RT'S discuss topics if the day.Like one person on here said.The need for Respiratory Therapist is only going to from with baby bombers and more COPD,sleep apnea patients grow.Also a nurse can't do EVERYTHING a Respiratory Therapist can do.Respiratory Therapist specializes in critical care so while we cover alot of the same material the approach is much different.Some places will have you crossing over.Like where I've worked we operated Ballon pumps,placed picc lines,pushed narcotics while doing bronchoscopies and being in on every baby delivered.Its a wonderful field and I think you'll love it.Your getting in at the right time to because it's only going to grow.Just remember to never argue with your constituents because one day you might need them..Good luck to you.If you have any questions let me know.I can answer any question you may have and if I can't I will find the answer.Good luck man..

tmw73 · May 22, 2015

Also if your talking about CRT'S they probably can't find jobs cause no one will hire CRT'S anymore cause they're doing away with that license.RRT is now the entry level so in that since she was correct but you don't want to stop there.The things you learn at the RRT level are far more diverse than the CRT..Not to knock them but it wasn't even a full year of education.In the RRT portion you really dive into hemodynamics and critical care.I don't remember doing that when I was in school for the first half of school.Remember don't stop there either.Further your education and continue to the P.A.

BR157 · May 22, 2015

Performing sleep studies is apart of Respiratory Therapy..i should know,I use to do them.Im not so sure about a lack of jobs for Respiratory Therapist either.We have plenty of jobs all around.There are still alot of travelers in Respiratory as well.Ive been Therapist for over 20years now and have never found it hard to get jobs.Also there is a difference between RRT vs CRT.Its like comparing LPN to an RN.Theres not much paring.Its also hard for anyone coming out of school fresh to get jobs.Its just as hard for Nurses as it is for Respiratory Therapist.If you need places to find Respiratory info I can give you what you need.There are plenty of website where RT'S discuss topics if the day.Like one person on here said.The need for Respiratory Therapist is only going to from with baby bombers and more COPD,sleep apnea patients grow.Also a nurse can't do EVERYTHING a Respiratory Therapist can do.Respiratory Therapist specializes in critical care so while we cover alot of the same material the approach is much different.Some places will have you crossing over.Like where I've worked we operated Ballon pumps,placed picc lines,pushed narcotics while doing bronchoscopies and being in on every baby delivered.Its a wonderful field and I think you'll love it.Your getting in at the right time to because it's only going to grow.Just remember to never argue with your constituents because one day you might need them..Good luck to you.If you have any questions let me know.I can answer any question you may have and if I can't I will find the answer.Good luck man..

It is not like that everywhere. I learned a lot when I had my sleep study. I thought RTs were part of it but it seems they gave it up many years ago. No money in it for RT department if outpatient.

Most of what you mentioned is not part of the RTs' scope of practice in the states around. Not even the ones who participate on transport which is why they also have a Paramedic on the teams. Paramedics also replaced the RTs on a couple of transport teams in the NW. I also know there are no RTs on the transport teams in Mass. like Boston Childrens nor are they on the Community Asthma program by that hospital. I have never seen an RT do any of what you mentioned at other hospitals I have been around in Massachusetts. Just like Paramedics, states set the scope of practice and then the medical director decides on what can actually be done. It is a hit or miss.

Name one thing an RN can not do and only an RT can do.