Vent Training

Xolily · Nov 21, 2024

This is an old post but I will elaborate. This is not to insult nurses because it shouldn't be. I and the rest of us RTs can agree, it is insulting and annoying when a nurse thinks they can do our job. Imagine someone acting that way about nursing. There would be outrage!! Doctor proceeds to turn a patient, take their labs, their vitals, handle the IV etc** and what would be your role then? A new doctor tells a nurse something about something they went to school to learn and it's a big no no. I worked in one of the best hospitals in the country. I've also worked at the one of the top 4 best children's hospital in the country for pulmonology. These hospitals have something all in common. Nurses don't touch a ventilator. Ventilator management is something that requires intense training. Not a few slides or a few hrs of class time. It involving the cardiopulmonary system, should require the training and credentials that the RT has (RRT). And we still learn everyday using our ventilators on chronic and acute patients. Experience overrides what you learn in school and I know that's something nurses agree with so why would it be appropriate to not apply that to someone's literal role. I certainly know with all the responsibilities of a nurse and the time spent in school, you as a nurse wouldn't be able to cover the concepts in the depth they should be covered for patient safety. My sister is in nursing school and I can sense for some reason she is being taught that she's in charge because she's the nurse. I have a coworker who is has his BSN as well and I just want to clarify on behalf of all RTs, we care about our patients too. And our license and job is on the line. I believe and plenty others for the sake of patient safety and long term safety that nurses should not touch ventilators. I have my BSRT, would you allow me to do manage your IVs? (I didn't learn about it in school). NO!

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Nov 22, 2024

FYI, some countries do not have the position/career of Respiratory Therapist. Registered Nurses provide the vent setup and maintenance.

I took a Respiratry ICU course in 1979 after a ventilator dependent patient suddenly appeared on my medical unit: as night shift LPN I was in charge of patient along with 25 other patients and ONLY nurse on the unit. Paged Ponze my night RT for crash course in suctioning/ambu/hooking vent back up to ET tube.. Bless him, he stopped by every hour to check on client and ME!

Later that year post course, transitioned to 14 bed Respiratory Telemetry unit as sole night LPN; got my RN BSN in '82. By 1985, we had 8 vents on unit, 3 patients per RN.

Started perdiem home care in 1985 caring for vent dependent patients at home along with home infusion-- cleaned vent circuit, adjusted settings per Pulmonary MD discussion, changed established trach tubes + treated trach granulation tissue. One patient requiring 24hr care since I was first RN in the home. so fell to me to establish nursing and respiratory vent care plan which all staff followed -- she lived for 10 years afterwards with care plan poster still hanging in their room. RT only came monthly to check vent

BY 2018 my husband developed Pulmonary HTN requiring 10 L O2 continuously@home. Post Respiratory arrest --in my car + successful CPR, came home on a Trilogy Ventilator living 2 more years till body wore out.

SO I fully support nurses learning Respiratory and ventilator care understanding its an important part of OUR nursing practice.

Sampling of courses available:

I attended many Society of Critical Care Medicine conferences in 80-90's in Las Vegas: Airway and Mechanical Ventilation Management

Mayo Education: Mechanical Ventilation Conference Online CME Course until Nov. 2025

Mechanical Ventilation Essentials

Vent and Trach Course California -inperson or online