Respiratory Nurse Career Guide and Counseling

Question: Which career is better, speech pathologist, surgical nurse, or respiratory therapist? i would like to do either 3 of these things, but i cant decide. which involves TONS of medical knowledge?? which is good for someone who likes science, and is a leader???? whats ur opinion????

Answer: I think it really depends alot on you. I am a speech pathologist so I can tell you that you have an opportunity to work in a very wide variety of settings...kids, adults, medical, educational. I would image that speech pathology requires less medical knowledge than nursing or respiratory therapy. As an SLP, i do interact with respiratory therapy. In the medical setting, i commonly deal alot with dysphagia (trouble swallowing), aphasia, tracheostomy patients, stroke (CVA) patients. Check out www.asha.org to learn more about the speech pathology field. I do enjoy it, I help improve a patient's quality of life by improving communication skills or a patients ability to swallow effectively. Speech pathology not in demand? Absolutely not true. I'll add that the field of speech pathology is in VERY high demand. I can have a job anywhere I want in the country, no problem.

Question: Pls help me about registered nurse and registered respiratory therapist? im 17 years old/male i already graduated from highschool from my country philippines....i am studying e-sol classes right now in annandelle,virginia, u.s.a.... i want to graduate an associate degree....but i dont know what should i pick...becoming a respiratory therapist or becaming a nurse..... my parents can only afford me an associate degree... so my plan is to study associate and just continue bachelor while working...to tell you frankly i want a job that can pay me higher in the future. so if i have a family i can give them a normal life....pls help me....i cannot decide weather becoming a nurse or a respiratory therapists....which of this job will be suitable for me...i will tell you my major....i am good at biology but bad in chemistry...i am good at algebra but bad in trigonometry.....which job will suits my taste...and i hear many persons here in U.S.A are stereotype and i want to get rid of them... i am afraid in those kind ofpersonsbecause they aredestroying my confidence

Answer: According to the US Dept of Labor: What do Respiratory therapists do? Respiratory therapists and respiratory therapy technicians—also known as respiratory care practitioners—evaluate, treat, and care for patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders. Practicing under the direction of a physician, respiratory therapists assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care therapeutic treatments and diagnostic procedures, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Respiratory therapy technicians follow specific, well-defined respiratory care procedures under the direction of respiratory therapists and physicians. In clinical practice, many of the daily duties of therapists and technicians overlap; furthermore, the two have the same education and training requirements. However, therapists generally have greater responsibility than technicians. Training required: An associate’s degree is required for entry into the field. Most programs award associate’s or bachelor’s degrees and prepare graduates for jobs as advanced respiratory therapists. A limited number of associate’s degree programs lead to jobs as entry-level respiratory therapists. Mosts state required that you also get a liscense as well. What should you study in high school?: High school students interested in a career in respiratory care should take courses in health, biology, mathematics, chemistry, and physics. Respiratory care involves basic mathematical problem solving and an understanding of chemical and physical principles. For example, respiratory care workers must be able to compute dosages of medication and calculate gas concentrations. What will you study in college: Among the areas of study in respiratory therapy are human anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, chemistry, physics, microbiology, pharmacology, and mathematics. Other courses deal with therapeutic and diagnostic procedures and tests, equipment, patient assessment, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the application of clinical practice guidelines, patient care outside of hospitals, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, respiratory health promotion and disease prevention, and medical recordkeeping and reimbursement. Wages: Median annual earnings of respiratory therapists were $43,140 in May 2004. Nurses: What do they do? Registered nurses (RNs), regardless of specialty or work setting, perform basic duties that include treating patients, educating patients and the public about various medical conditions, and providing advice and emotional support to patients’ family members. RNs record patients’ medical histories and symptoms, help to perform diagnostic tests and analyze results, operate medical machinery, administer treatment and medications, and help with patient follow-up and rehabilitation What do you have to do to become a nurse? The three major educational paths to registered nursing are a bachelor’s degree, an associate degree, and a diploma from an approved nursing program. There are three major educational paths to registered nursing: A bachelor’s of science degree in nursing (BSN), an associate degree in nursing (ADN), and a diploma. BSN programs, offered by colleges and universities, take about 4 years to complete. ADN programs, offered by community and junior colleges, take about 2 to 3 years to complete. Diploma programs, administered in hospitals, last about 3 years. Generally, licensed graduates of any of the three types of educational programs qualify for entry-level positions as staff nurses. Many RNs with an ADN or diploma later enter bachelor’s programs to prepare for a broader scope of nursing practice. Often, they can find a staff nurse position and then take advantage of tuition reimbursement benefits to work toward a BSN by completing an RN-to-BSN program. These programs combine 1 year of an accelerated BSN program with 2 years of graduate study. What courses will you take in college: Students take courses in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology and other behavioral sciences, and nursing. Coursework also includes the liberal arts for ADN and BSN students. Wages: Median annual earnings of registered nurses were $52,330 in May 2004. FYI: Some RNs start their careers as licensed practical nurses or nursing aides, and then go back to school to receive their RN degree. Good luck!

Question: who is a respiratory nurse?

Answer: I am a respiratory therapist. Respiratory therapists are not nurses. We recieve different training, although many of the things we learn are the same. We specialize in the respiratory system, and the other closely related systems, such as the cardiac system, and the renal system. Alot of people think all we do is give breathing treatments. We also take care of patients in the intensive care unit on ventilators, do pulmonary function tests, work in pulmonary rehabilitation facilities, work traumas in the emergency room, transport critically ill / injured patients, do arterial blood gas tests, respond to "code blue" emergencies in the hospitals, and much more. For more info, see the links below.

Question: what are the duties and responsibilities of a charge nurse in a respiratory unit?

Answer: The responsibilities of any charge nurse on any unit is to see that the unit is run efficiently without problems if possible. Facilities differ in the duties of the nurse. If you are having a problem or think that there is a problem talk with the head nurse of the unit or the Director of Nursing or Administration. Some units only require that the charge nurse does admission and discharges and sees to it that all of the orders from Md's are transcribed correctly.

Question: Does anyone know how much a full-time respiratory therapist and a Registered Nurse makes per hour??? I want to major in RN and Minor in Respiratory Therapy but I want to know on an average at a hospital how they make per hour... I was wondering in Saint Louis, Missouri.

Answer: I dont know why you would want to do both- if you work in a hospital, you wont want to do both. Trust me, if people know you are an RN and an RT, then they'll have you doing two jobs for the price of one! ha ha. Anyway, Im an RN in a Wisconsin hospital. I make about $32 an hour, and have about 7 weeks of payed vacation a year. I also have payed sick time, and a good retirement plan. What I do not have, is good health insurance. Isn't THAT ironic!

Question: Is there a program that will allow me to go from a respiratory therapist to a registered nurse? I received my A.S. at Concorde Career College in Respiratory Therapy

Answer: why do you want to change career from RT to nurse. I am curious and deciding which career path I should take. I leaning towards RT. Please contact. There are many online programs but it is better to get LPN then RN.

Question: Respiratory therapist or nurse? Experience only please!? I'm looking at two careers that I'm very interested on. ONLY respiratory therapists or nurses answer this please with your experience. Pros and cons of your job and schooling and why I should pick nursing or respiratory therapist. And yes, I DO know that nurses get paid more.

Answer: I am a respiratory therapist. There is a lot you can do with only a 2 year degree. People work in hospitals, nursing homes, pharm sales, transport teams, sleep labs,home caree companies, pulmonary function. You get to work in ER, ICU, NICU, PICU, OR, floors, and much more. There is room for advancement. You can get additional training and them more money You give respiratory meds, do trach and vent care, intubation, CPR teams, suctioning, assessment, pulmonary rehab, pulmonary function. Respiratory therapist can make good money based on the exam level passed, additional training, on call , overtime, and shift diff. Respiratory therapist can start at 15 hour and go up to 30+ depending on the area of the country. Con--High stress job at times, schooling is difficult and crammed into 2 years. Best wishes.

Question: Registered Nurse or Respiratory Therapist? Which job is better if you want to go back to school to become a dentist in general, and work at the job at the same time. And which is more worth the money you earn. I will be choosing a best answer, just try your best to explain =]

Answer: Registered nurses make more money than respiratory therapists. Neither of these professions really have anything that will actually help you in becoming a dentist. You must realize that you are looking for a job that entails a lot of education to do and a hefty amount of money to get the training. You need a college degree for the RT. There are still some 3 year RN programs but they make less money than the ones with a college degree.

Question: I'm undecided on which career should I go for respiratory or nursing? I'm thinking on pursuing one of this careers. I pretty much took all the science class.. (even physics.) I just want to have an idea which is better in the long run and give me some tips to not rejected when I apply. I need to do the associates degree first before I go take the B/S, because I dont qualify for anything pretty much, so I pay school out of my packet and an Associates is all I could afford for now.

Answer: I will admit I am a little bit biased as a nurse, but my reason I would say nursing is because with nursing there is a much wider variety of the types of jobs you could do. There are so many job settings (facility types), specialty areas (geriatrics, pediatrics, ICU, OR, ED, home care, hospice, cardiology, oncology, etc.), opportunities for academic and professional advancement (education, management, administration), and there is a well documented shortage of nurses which is only going to get worse over the next couple of decades, so that means long-term job security. You could get your ADN first, get your RN license and work for someplace that pays for you to complete your BSN later.

Question: Does anyone know how much a respiratory therapist and a Registered Nurse makes per hour???

Answer: I guess it depends on where you live. I live in CT and the rate for Respiratory Therapists that are new grads is anywhere from 18.50 - 25.00 per hour. It depends on what kind of hospital you want to work in. I have heard that new grad Registered Nurses start at about the same rates. God Bless

Question: In YOUR opinion, based on personal experience, which is better; Nurse, Respiratory therapist or Pharmacist? I really want your personal experience!! I've shadowed each, but of course, each said that their career was "The best ever!" oh yeah, like thats gonna REALLY help me make the decision. Well, I liked all of them equally. So, on the long term scale, which is better? Im REALLY REALLY outgoing and friendly, yet, caring and understanding. Im the best in my class at biology and chemistry,but only ok at Pre-Ap alg. 2.I LOVE health science and applying it (Im in high school, and already am reading the Merk Manual). So, what do you think? p.s. I heard that a pharmacist or respiratory therapist career is REALLY repetitive. is this true???? THANK YOU ALL!!!!!

Answer: Nursing is more diverse than resp. therapy. But a Pharmacist makes MUCH more money than the other 2. People don't think Pharmacist can do anything else other than fill prescriptions, but that isn't true. They work in hospitals as well as working with experimentation in labs. So you have to think about that, but the higher level up you are, the more responsibility..... Plus if you are great at health science, why don't you look into becoming a Doctor. There are many specialities. Or you could be a biologist.... many many options out there for you, GOOD LUCK!

Question: Respiratory therapist or registered nurse? I have applied to the nursing program at a community college , and there is a 2 years waiting list. Therefore, I was thinking about getting into Respiratory Care school. Which I wont have to wait that long. But I was wondering if I will be able to continue my education and get a bachelor degree in nursing. Because I dream of being a a practitioner nurse someday. I know i can get a 4 year degree anytime , but i know a RN can get a BSN in 2 years or so, I was just wondering if it also apply for a RT. And how much does a RT make an hour? Thanks a lot!! BTW sorry for my horrible english.

Answer: http://salary.com/ Skip the RT. Start LVN/LPN then go to RN. It's the best route.

Question: What is the average salary of a respiratory therapist? Should I stay in nursing or switch to RRT? I am getting ready to enter the nursing program but I am weighing my options of respiratory therapy as well. I have always been interested in the both fields but lately have been drawn to RRT. I was hoping to get information for both RN's and RRT's to know my options. I want to weigh my salary options as well. Thanks so much.

Answer: I have been an RN for 10 years, I work in an ICU with resp. therapists. They make about a third less than then RN's do....but then again, they have a totally different job too. It's alot less "dirty work" if you will, and less stressful. The thing with the nursing field, is that you can do so many different things with it. If you tire of hospital nursing, there is always clinics, home health, school RN, travel RN, long term care, rehab, psych,...... the possibilities are huge. I'm not sure there is that great of diversity with RRT. There is also a huge need for nurses right now- all over. It won't be hard for you to land a job. I would stick with nursing, but of coures, it's up to you! good luck!

Question: respiratory therapist to a registered nurse. how long will it take at a vocational school?

Answer: It probably differs from state to state and school to school, but my local community college (in Spokane, Washington) has a two-year nursing program. Some have argued to me that it is not possible to get your RN in two years, and that a bachelor's degree is necessary (they tell me I must be talking about an LPN program), but this program really does give you an RN in two years. Contrary to what some people think, when it comes to income level and employment opportunity, employers do not differentiate between two-year RN's and four-year RN's. The only possible exception may be that some employers want every RN in a management position to have a four-year degree. Even though you already have medical experience, you will most likely be required to enter and complete an entire two-year program. However, since RT is very similar to nursing, it is also likely that some of the RT classes you have already taken will overlap with some of the RN classes, and you may be able to opt out of those courses, especially if you completed them relatively recently (my school requires that they be within the last five years). Good luck!

Question: Is the Respiratory Therapy program easier/harder than RN nursing program? I just got back from a med school in India, I stayed there and tried for 3 months but it was just impossibly hard for me. Now I'm back and I need help on what to do with my life. What's something easy and pays good? I was thinking of Respiratory Therapist or Registered Nurse, but I heard RN is really hard and I've heard RT is alright. How do these compare?

Answer: I'm an RN. It's harder. But the pay is better than a Respiratory therapist.

Question: what do you think about the medication management by the respiratory therapist and not by nurse departmet? JCHAO JOINT COMISSION DETERMINE

Answer: respiratory therapist specializes in the lungs and heart -- with nurses, their knowledge are more generalized, broad and they create short-cuts, because with nursing -- there is just too much to learn. versus in RT's -- they study the intricate details that goes on in the cardiopulmonary system so when it comes to medications in this area -- they tend to know more. i studied RT and i am currently studying RN -- i don't think RT's are better than RN's, and i don't think RN's are better than RT's -- it's just that their specialties differ. there are jobs that the RT can do while the RN cannot do, and there are jobs that the RN can do, while the RT cannot do.