I decided to do a career change in my late 30’s. My preceptor who is in his early 20’s has made some remarks about my age and it’s getting to the point where I’m about to call him out.

However, I don’t want to look like I’m going to be a problem for future employers especially since I’m not an employee. I’m just a student going through clinical rotation at a notoriously toxic facility.

I’m 24 and currently taking healthcare prerequisites at my local community college. I can start a Respiratory Therapy program within the next year, but the Rad Tech waitlist is around 8 years.

My goal is to make good money, start investing early, and build financial stability. I also want a career where I can leave work at work.

I’m leaning toward RT because I enjoy helping people, but I’m worried about the emotional toll of dealing with trauma calls, critically ill patients, and people taking their last breaths. I’m not worried about bodily fluids or anything like that; it’s the psychological aspect that concerns me.

For current RTs:

* Were you worried about this before starting? Did it get easier?

* Do you find yourself thinking about traumatic cases after work?

* Are there RT specialties with less exposure to trauma and death?

* Knowing what you know now, would you choose RT again?

I don’t want fear of the unknown to stop me from pursuing a career I’d enjoy, but I also don’t want to regret my decision. I’d appreciate honest advice, especially from those who had similar concerns!

I have been an RT for many years. I just started working as a transplant coordinator. My god, have I been picked at for EVERYTHING. Asking too many questions, trying to take on things independently (under supervision of preceptor) too fast - but no one tells me I've made mistakes in real time or that I am doing too much. This is miserable. I come from a history in travel. I traveled for 5 years and it was... something. Are all staff jobs like this? Am I crazy? Do I just need to go back to travelling and not look back since I like to be so hands on in my learning? I feel crazy! I don't understand how asking questions is wrong, or how wanting to do things independently under supervision is wrong. If I mess anything up, I'm not notified and I am so frustrated. I have a preceptor who has never precepted before and my manager refuses to put me with someone else even though I have asked.

I’m torn between applying to a RT program or a Nursing program. I’m looking for some input from you all as to why you picked RT, and what advantages you think this career field has over nursing?

Hello, I am currently a student in the RT program. I need to interview a working RT for an assignment. I have 10 questions and should only take 10-15 minutes. Please message me if you’re willing to assist. Thanks in advance.

Hey! I’m a RRT and recently I moved to BC. I’ve reached out to the health authority of my area here in BC and have applied to numerous positions (a month ago) across many sites but I haven’t heard from any of them at all. I’m wondering if this is normal and if i should be waiting longer?

I’ve also emailed their hiring department for follow up and also have not heard anything back from them. Given there is an insane number of bedside/PFT RT positions out here I thought I would’ve heard back by now…?

Took another NBRC practice test today and attached my results. Could someone help clarify if this score hits the low cut or high cut requirement? Thanks! Took B in July and A today. I take my actual TMC on 10/24!!

I was offered a position in Pulmonary Rehab. I am not sure what to expect? In school I had one rotation long time ago in PR but from what I can vaguely recall the RTs assessed patients coming into the clinic. Then do a before and after assessment after exercise. Can someone tell me their experience of working in PR? I am interested in learning what the job has to offer. I am just nervous because I’ve only done ICUs.

Thank you for any advice!!

Hi, I’m new to Reddit, but have been doom scrolling all day on here everyone’s questions and answers on RT’s. Currently a 27 year old on my own first timer in college completing my prerequisites and I wanted to get some insight on the program. I’ve read it’s hard to juggle a full time job and the program since it’s very demanding and around 21 months here in Texas. I’m a full time manager at a sports bar and I couldn’t imagine quitting here going back to serving during the program. I’ve seen a lot of ppl on here saying they juggled the program a full time job AND kids but I guess my question would be if my job can’t accommodate to the programs schedule would I be able to have I guess my same lifestyle now? Is respiratory therapy as a career worth taking a step back for the next couple of years

Hello- graduated 5/25- been working as a CRT at a level 1 trauma county hospital in West Texas- looking to relocate in Houston. However, before I try and start even remotely looking at the job market out there, I’d like to know if any RTs on the subreddit work in Houston or surrounding areas and could tell me or recommend me some hospitals- for reference, I’m 26,F, and have nothing holding me back lol (I’d be open to ltach but would like to continue to broaden my knowledge in trauma since I’m a baby rt) . Thank you in Advance.

The easier thing would be tutoring because I would be able to probably study most of the time if anyone comes in. The pay is not that good compared to the externship which is like $7/8 more. I think the externship would be nice because I would be able to do what I do in clinical but getting paid basically as a prn. I am just thinking because next semster is going to be our tough semester and I don't know if I want to worry about driving 35mins to an externship while worrying about classes and my two clinical rotations that week.

Hey everyone!

I’m an incoming Pediatric Critical Care fellow trying to do some studying before I start. It’s been a while since I’ve had a rotation in PICU or level 3 NICU. When I was on those services, multiple RTs had explained high frequency jet ventilation and oscillation to me. I only understood on a surface level and struggle to make it stick. How do you conceptualize both and when would you use one over the other (besides institutional preference/availability)?

Any ventilation strategy resources you know of would be greatly appreciated as well!

Thanks!

I got into the field because I wanted to actually make a difference and advocate for my patients. 99% of what I do could be done by a toddler with little to no training, my day mostly consists of getting screamed at because a neb treatment was 5 minutes late. I’m starting to hate my job and hate the medical field and I haven’t even been doing this very long. I’m thinking this isn’t for me but I want to do something for a career that I feel actually makes a difference. Any ideas as to second careers I can go into? I thought about administration but I don’t want to be a soulless paper pusher the rest of my life. I tried being the helpful and knowledgeable RT who advocates for their patients and gets involved any way I can, it just hasn’t done anything. Sorry to be a downer, I just don’t know if I can do this anymore.

So as the title says i’m starting a two year respiratory therapy program next fall and i’ll be 26 but almost 27. Once the program starts it’s a two year program so i’ll be 28 almost 29 when i graduate. I know that im still young but truthfully im really struggling with this. I never finished college, i dropped out to go to hair school and then realized i dont even like doing that. So over the last few years i started doing my pre reqs online while working a full time job that i dont necessarily love, but did this job because it worked with my academic schedule and financially made sense. I just feel like i haven’t actually gotten to do the career in life that i feel like i truly want and it’s taking a toll on me. I think knowing that im still about a year away from being into the actual program while also knowing its another two years once im actually in the program just feels like im always waiting for the next best thing. I feel like ive been in this transition phase for all of my twenties. Like when i turned 20 i was like okay just wait until we are 21 life will be alittle “cooler”, and then once i was 21 i was like okay let’s go to hair school and then it was okay let’s wait until we are 23 and a full time hair dresser. Then it was okay let’s start doing pre reqs and by the time im 26 i can hopefully get into the program. Now im not trying to take away from the progress ive made, but i really just feel like my twenties has been “okay just wait until …. the next step..” and then once the next step comes its another new step im waiting for. I’m sorry for the rant i just feel behind in life and im just so eager to get into this career.

Hey everyone, I got I question and it might be a dumb question.

Do non-COPD patients with chronic hypercapnia need the same SpO₂ target as COPD patients?
COPD patients with chronic CO₂ retention are often said to rely more on hypoxic drive to breathe. If a non-COPD patient also has chronically elevated PaCO₂, does the same mechanism apply, and should we target an SpO₂ of 88–92% in these patients as well?

It seems like their points system is not too bad compared to PCC's medical programs. I know they only take up to 40 students a year but have no idea how many people apply and are turned away.

Work I work, large hospital with at least 6 CCUs, RTs generally are pretty passive and don't really have authority to make independent changes. New vent comes in, RTs set the PEEP at 5.

A couple of us are a bit more involved. My starting PEEP is higher than what people are used to (baseline 8, higher when other factors are involved, like a high BMI). That leads to the providers always wanting to decrease it to get to 5.

Pt has atelectasis, turn them down anyway (from 10 to 8, and then 8 to 5 even). Not even close to extubating (which might at least make sense)

In one unit yesterday:

Pt on 5 has atelectasis and I suggest going up a tad... vest CPT ordered QID for persistent atelectasis and secretions, but won't increase the PEEP to open up those areas.

Looking for something evidenced base to make more of a case.

I'm currently a respiratory therapy student and will be graduating in a few months. Throughout my clinical rotations, I've had several preceptors tell me that the actual job isn't necessarily the hard part. It's the hospital politics that can make or break your experience as an RT.

Whenever I ask them to elaborate, I feel like they sugarcoat it. They usually mention dealing with coworkers, patients' families, nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals, but they never really explain what they mean specifically.

Since Reddit is mostly anonymous, I'm hoping some experienced RTs can be more straightforward about this.

What exactly are these hospital politics that everyone keeps warning me about? Are we talking about favoritism, toxic coworkers, management, conflicts with nurses and physicians, or something else entirely?

I'd especially appreciate some real life examples of situations you've experienced and advice on how to navigate them as a new grad.

I'm not trying to go into the profession with a negative mindset. I just want to understand what I'm potentially walking into and how to avoid unnecessary drama while doing my job well.

Hello everyone,

I’m an RT in Canada and was just curious what settings/requirements the patient is required to have before their extubated for context the hospital I currently work at has SBT settings as follows and some further requirements

PS 6 PEEP +5
FiO2 0.30-0.40

We also measure cuff leak volume, NIF, CPF, RSBI (measured on a CPAP of 5)

Of course the pt has to be completely off sedation and able to coordinate as best as possible and we get an ABG after placing the patient on the SBT settings. Of course other factors such as secretion management also play a factor.

Anyway thanks!!

Sorry if these are dumb questions.

I am an RN on a step down floor. On my floor we take trach patients who are not on vents. And we take non-invasive BiPAP patients.

Recently there was a controversy with a patient getting admitted and which unit to place them and what some words even mean. The patient has a long-term trach and, according to coworkers, they are “on home BiPAP” at night.

Now my understanding is that in the common usage of the term “BiPAP” refers to a non-invasive bi-phasic pressure support device. Once you put a “BiPAP” onto an invasive device, isn’t that essentially the same as a ventilator?

Then there was debate among nurses over if the device this patient uses had “BiPAP settings” versus “vent settings.” But aren’t all ventilators capable of biphasic pressure, and isn’t that the default unless they’re in CPAP mode?

ICU was trying to refuse the patient because “it’s a BiPAP,” while the respiratory therapist department was insistent that it was, in fact, a vent.

Can anyone clarify? Is “BiPAP” attached to a trach just a vent with some convoluted name? Or am I not understanding something about this situation?

Least favorite therapy… Go!

Mine: CPT

Moving to Savannah and looking for opinions on where to work. I’m coming from a rural hospital out of state.