RRT vs RN

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Pedi/Tele.

Yes I know there are other threads about this but I wanted more opinions from you on this. I am enrolled in a nursing program but I am seriously considering switching to the respitory therapy program instead. I am currently only taking my pre=req's so I want to make a decision pretty soon so I don't waste more time on classes I might not need.

I have researched salary, job satisfaction, environment, and job prospects and from what I've found all of them of equivalant to nursing. The starting pay is equal to new grad RN's, job prospects seem to be a little bit easier for new grad RRT's than nurses right now and I work in a hospital and have asked the therapist's who I see working on some of our patients how they like it and they say the same thing.. it has it's pros and cons.

What I like about it is the flexiblity to move through out the hospital and work on a different type of patient as apposed to being "stuck" on one floor and only caring for a certain type of patient. I also like the idea of being knowledgable and proficient in one aspect of health care instead of knowing only a "little" about each aspect.

To all the RRT's and RN's out there what is your honest opinion of this? I appreciate all feedback and thank you for your honesty. :D

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