RT over-stepping boundaries?

1RN4Christ · Feb 25, 2014

Also, is it appropriate for them to initiate the discussion of hospice?

wooh, BSN, RN · Feb 25, 2014

It would depend on what you mean by "their own interpretation" and if they were right. As for talking to the family about hospice, why not?

1RN4Christ · Feb 25, 2014

Just a question. I'm just trying to have a better understanding of the role they play. They are not with the patient all day long, nor do they have direct interaction with the physician.

TamTamRN-RRT · Feb 25, 2014

You will be surprise how much a respiratory therapist may know due to the experience one has. It's more than breathing treatments and suctioning. And where I work we have plenty of interaction. We also participate in rounds and have every right to put our two cents in. There are times when we are trying to resuscitate a patient and or wean a patients and if it just isn't working , some doctors will appreciate our input. Of course some doctors just wouldn't want anyone to suggest anything. I still practice as an RT and won't be shy to tell a nurse to increase her sedation when an intubated patient is on the verge of putting out their tube. Regardless if it is comes off overstepping boundaries or not. We are all a team.

TamTamRN-RRT · Feb 25, 2014

But I wouldn't be discussing hospice with a patient's family. That is for the doctors tho. Sorry for the rant.

MunoRN, RN · Feb 25, 2014

It depends on what you mean by interpreting. Like Nurses, RT's can't "diagnose", although too often Nurses interpret that to mean they can't discuss test results and educate about what various results mean. It would be hard to know which side this falls on without more information.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Feb 25, 2014

You called the board of licensure in your state to ask whether the RT was overstepping their boundaries? Did you talk to the RT first? Frankly, I'm shocked.

brownbook · Feb 25, 2014

If I overheard RT discussing lab values....and IF what they were saying was correct I would praise the RT on how knowledgeable they were. I would want them to become my hospital BFF and hope they were the ones to show up when my patient needed them.

Many Dr's ask RT or x-ray techs, or any other various "techs" what they think, what do they recommend, etc.

If the information was incorrect I would take them aside and say something along the lines of, "I felt uncomfortable with what you were telling the family about lab values, I heard you say"....then fill in whatever didn't sound correct. If that discussion didn't go well I would mention it to my charge nurse or whoever was head of the tech's dept.

nynursey_ · Feb 26, 2014

I'm not 100% sure of the answer on this one, as RT's role in patient care is relatively new to me. I came from small, rural hospitals that allowed the nursing staff to actively place O2 on patients when they needed it. Presently, I'm employed where RT has 100% control over every aspect of patient care as it relates to oxygenation. If a patient even complains of chest pain, I cannot place O2 on the patient. I have to call RT to do it. I have to call RT for *everything* lately.

Anona-mouse · Feb 26, 2014

There is a BIG difference between a doc and a RT discussing what lab values might mean and a RT interpreting lab values for a patient or family. Even as nurses we have to be careful about telling a patient or family what lab values "mean", lest we step out of bounds and give our own medical diagnosis. IMHO, this RT is guilty of practicing outside their scope and should be disciplined for it.

1RN4Christ · Feb 26, 2014

You called the board of licensure in your state to ask whether the RT was overstepping their boundaries? Did you talk to the RT first? Frankly, I'm shocked.

I also work in small rural hospital where I do not have quick access to the RT department (as they float everywhere) and often need to be paged. I was going to ask. I'm not trying to get anyone in trouble and did not report this person. As I said, I am just trying to understand the role they have, better.