RT program

Student Nurse WV,

If you really want to be Respiratory Therapist....Go for it!

I can tell you a little about my experience. I was a RRT for 13 years (1991-2004) and enjoyed it most of the time. RT is more technical in nature and we specialize in the cardiopulmonary system. Most schools are two years for entry level and there are some bachelor's degree programs out there. Most prereqs are the same for nursing and RT school so not much difference there. The actual RT classes will be different than nursing school. You will take classes such as Cardiopulmonary A&P, Mechanical Ventilation, Pediatric and Neonatal Respiratory Care, Therapeutic Modalities in RT, etc. In other words, classes relevant to the practice of resp care. Clinical experiences range from working in the ER at a level 1 trauma center to working in a level 3 NICU. This will depend on the school and the availability of medical facilities in the area. One of the best things about Respiratory Therapy is that we see the full spectrum of patients, from premature infants to crusty old COPD'ers.

I became a nurse in 2004 because my career aspirations went further than what respiratory therapy could give me. I did not leave the RT profession for any other reason. Overall, I was happy, my RT pay was satisfactory, and I was always able to find a RT job with minimal effort. This trend is expected to continue throughout all healthcare professions over the next twenty + years so job security in healthcare looks good. However, I do make a little more money as a nurse and there are far more jobs available in nursing.

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

Hope this helps,

Hawaii RRTRN

Thanks so much for replying! I think that I will really enjoy respiratory therapy, if not at least I will have the pre-reqs for nursing! I really want to specialize in neonatal. I read an article saying that the need for RT's with this certification is rising. So hopefully all will go well. I also am excited that my area has the top trauma center in our region and receives national and international attention. I think this will mean excellent clinical experience and job opprotunities. Also it is the hospital that is sponsoring the program! Thanks again for telling me about experiences!:)

I know this is an old post, but what is the difference in pay and job description/responsibility with a b.s. in RT or a associates in RT??

Thanks a lot!!!