RT vs. RN? Is RT a useless profession?

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What is the purpose of Respiratory therapists when nurses can do all of the same things that they can do. Is there anything that a respiratory therapist can do that an RN cannot?

Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

I always had a hard time with resp/metabolic, acidocis/alkalosis. I whined to an RT once because I felt so stupid about it. She very kindly told me she'd not spent classroom hours or days on those issues, she'd spent semesters.

I really like that RT. I still work with her.

I can't even begin to describe what she can do and I can't.

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RTs are legit, it baffles me people on this site huff and puff about RTs, lab techs and MAs getting more responsibility. You want to handle all breathing issues, art sticks and lab draws go right ahead.....

Nurses once again trying to be the jack of all trades....

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On the M/S unit I worked on, we had a lot of CF pts, and RTs seemed to be helping them the most, all I ever did was hang an IV abx or 2 during the shift. In ICU, I think RTs know more than the doctors! All I know how to do is silent the vent when I am suctioning. I would say they are VERY valuable to the pt as well as the doctors and nurses. You dont know what you dont know in regards to RT unless you are one, just like a nurse, or a doctor, or any other professional.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
RTs are legit, it baffles me people on this site huff and puff about RTs, lab techs and MAs getting more responsibility. You want to handle all breathing issues, art sticks and lab draws go right ahead.....

Nurses once again trying to be the jack of all trades....

Note: OP is not a nurse or a nursing student.

If you'll notice, 100% of the responses have been pro-RT's. Not one actual nurse has huffed or puffed regarding an RT's value.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Your post itself betrays a lack of knowledge about what RTs do.

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RNs do not learn about the respiratory system, the physics of mechanical ventilation, and the physiology of bronchodilators for example, in much detail.

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RNs do not learn about the respiratory system, the physics of mechanical ventilation, and the physiology of bronchodilators for example, in much detail.

Have you been to nursing school?

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Respiratory Therapy is a very specialized field of medicine. Because of that, we spend two years on a subject that nurses spend a few weeks on (my sources are two of my c/w). If you are asking what an RT can do that an RN can not LEGALLY do, I don't have an answer for that. However, in many hospitals, RTs are responsible for things like intubation and vent management and drawing ABGs. From my own personal experience, I was in clinicals about 3 weeks ago and one the RNs in the ICU didn't know how to silence the vent alarm, another RN didn't know what low VE meant, and a different nurse said that she didn't know how to draw an ABG. The list goes on. This is in no way meant to demean nurses. They just have WAY too many responsibilities to try to manage a vent patient on top of that. If you are interest in RT, then check out your local hospitals and see if they have a shadowing program you can sign up for. I think everyone should experience was RN and RT school are like before deciding to make a career doing it :) I hope that clears up some things for you. Feel free to ask any questions and Ill do my best to answer or find out.

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Have you been to nursing school?

I have never been to nursing school. I took one nursing course at the University I attended but it was simply an intro to nursing course. The information that I shared with you was actually information that a nurse at my job gave to me. She told me that she went to a 2 year college and that information was skimmed over. Also, another coworker of mine who is going to a local community college now told me the same thing. The coworker who is a nurse told me that's probably why an rn will order a bronchodilator for pneumonia, for example.

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I asked because you said that RNs don't learn about the respiratory system. Which simply isn't true, obviously yes, RTs will know more about the respiratory system, that I agree.

But it really doesn't take a genius to press a button to silence the vent... Oh and RNs don't write orders either...

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I asked because you said that RNs don't learn about the respiratory system. Which simply isn't true, obviously yes, RTs will know more about the respiratory system, that I agree.

But it really doesn't take a genius to press a button to silence the vent... Oh and RNs don't write orders either...

I said that RNs don't learn about the respiratory system in much DETAIL. Pay attention to detail. It's important whether you are an RN or RT :)

As far as vents are concerned, you have to know which button to press and each brand, or even generation of ventilators, is different.

Lastly, as orders are concerned, you are absolutely correct. Nurses do not write orders. However, hospitals have policies called standing orders which nurses, like RTs, can implement if they deem it necessary.

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I said that RNs don't learn about the respiratory system in much DETAIL. Pay attention to detail. It's important whether you are an RN or RT :)

As far as vents are concerned, you have to know which button to press and each brand, or even generation of ventilators, is different.

Lastly, as orders are concerned, you are absolutely correct. Nurses do not write orders. However, hospitals have policies called standing orders which nurses, like RTs, can implement if they deem it necessary.

Oh sorry, I forgot, in edition to being experts at respiratory stuff, you're also an expert on nursing practice and being snarky on Internet forums for nurses.

Carry on.

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