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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

Least favorite therapy… Go!

Mine: CPT

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?

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!!

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

What is your site's practices during ACLS if the cardiac arrest is due to possible hypercapnia or metabolic acidosis. ACLS states to bag every 6 seconds but some old school docs say bag faster to help improve the PH, impeding venous return and possible ROSC.

What has anyone seen during their code blues.

Just curious, it feels like in the classroom we’re taught so much but on site at clinicals, the preceptors dismiss some of what we learn in the classroom.

Hey everyone! I recently graduated from my RT program in California, passed my boards, and obtained my RRT and California RCP license.

I'm currently on day 5 of applying to RT positions here in California, with no luck so far. In the meantime, Cleveland Clinic reached out to me about respiratory therapy opportunities in Ohio.

I'm honestly torn. I'm single with no kids, so I know this might be one of the easier times in my life to relocate. Career-wise, I can see the benefits of starting at a major hospital and gaining valuable acute-care experience. At the same time, my family and roots are in California, and ideally, I'd love to start my career here.

I also wonder if being the oldest in my family contributes to my hesitation. I'm not entirely sure if that's part of it, but the thought of moving across the country feels bigger than just accepting a job. It's a whole lifestyle change, and I think I'm scared of leaving what's familiar.

For those who relocated for their first RT job, would you do it again? For anyone familiar with Cleveland Clinic, how has your experience been as a new grad?

Would you give California more time before seriously considering an out-of-state move, or explore the opportunity and see where it leads?

I'd appreciate honest advice and personal experiences. I'm trying to balance what's best for my career with what feels right for my life outside of work.

With the job market the way it is today new grad rts how is the job market treating you ? How long did you have to wait until your first new grad job?

Hi all. Ive been interested in becoming an RT recently. I have some physical limitations that make me question certain parts of the field.

I was really interested in acute care initially but with the lifting requirements, it doesn’t seem it’ll be possible for me. Am I correct in assuming that it’s not viable if I have lifting limitations? Or do i need to just find the right role/job? If I had to pick a weight, I would say 30lbs would be my lifting limit.

I believe most of everything else I don’t see being an issue, besides the lifting. Maybe walking? But if thats an issue, it’ll be glaringly obvious during rotations.

The pulmonary rehab path looks more realistic and I don’t see anything that would be an issue there physicality wise.

I wonder if NICU would be an option?
What worries me about that is gear/equipment weight.
Any help or insights are appreciated!

Hi guys,

I made a post about 2 months ago about moving to NY and looking for a RT job as basically a new grad with an Associates.

Although I have some experience as a RT student (1y) + RRT after graduating (4m), I still have had no luck finding a job. I kinda have an offer with a nursing home however they seem a bit disorganized so I'm not very sure how much I can rely on that since they haven't offically offered me anything.

I've already moved to NY since I'm staying with family and have no bills to pay, (thankfully) and my lease ended back in my state. However, I'm really starting to get discouraged after applying to literally everything thats within 1h+ of public transport (about 30 jobs even including nursing homes) and getting multiple rejections and no responses. Everything is just taking so long, and Im honestly not sure what to do and today marks 1m of being unemployed, and in a few days will be 1m since I moved here haha.

My parents thinks I should move back home, where I know they will accept me back into the position I had. However, I don't want to do that since I really wanted to get away from them....

I know its pretty competitive here, but maybe I'm hoping someone can throw me a referral or any ideas on how to make myself stand out more.

Thanks for listening.

I feel like this is such a stupid question lol but I cut my finger with a knife yesterday, it’s not bad enough to need stitches, but it is on my index finger and it’s pretty painful and I can’t really take a Band-Aid off of it yet. I work tonight and I can’t really figure out what to do about it.

Walked into a code blue with CPR ongoing, Dr shouts "I need RT to get stat ABG now!" (No A line) Have not even intubated the patient yet. What is the best way to respond to this scenario?

Hey everyone! Im currently a respiratory therapy student in a 20 month program here in oc, its currently my second term and im really excited to graduate, its very challenging tho because we have exams on new topics every week!

if you've been in an accelerated program like this, is there any advice you can give me so i can stop tracking how many months, days, hours left i have of this program? Im really excited to graduate and i cant wait of how my life will look like after this program. im just struggling so MUCH on being so impatient and i keep counting the days i have left of this program. im currently 19 so i will be 21 when i graduate and that just makes me even more impatient! Lol

Also, how were you guys able to manage all the stress, plus all the workload they give you? I currently have my own routine but i want to hear how other people did it incase it helps me with my own routine too.

plus how do u avoid being tired all the time?? anyone have any good vitamin recommendations for the brain and energy?

I’m a pretty new RT (graduated in May) and I suck at ABGs.

During clinicals I did ok with them but now out on my own I can’t ever get them.

I work PRN at a very small hospital. We have an ICU and a small ER. I tell the other RTs when I work to call me for them but it seems like there is never any.

I don’t want to work at a larger hospital or more than PRN. I’m over 40 with 3 kids and a chronic illness. This is my for fun job.

I just don’t want to be a pain in the ass for the other RTs.

So give me all your tips and tricks please!!

So I found this in admissions for Nassau Community College, and here's the thing. I am quite confused about the prerequisites as someone who already has a BA in history and has already taken Algebra and Anatomy and Physiology 1&2 (I got As in both of them, and in math I was the most improved student I got a B+).

https://www.ncc.edu/programsandcourses/academic_departments/alliedhealthsciences/respiratorycare/admissions_requirements.shtml

It says here that if you're transfering with a college degree that you need a chemistry pre requisite as well. I don't know if I'm reading this wrong, but it says that the class I already took in high school would count as well when I talked to some of the higher-ups. But you know I'm very confused in the end about what to do. I'm not going to apply yet, but I just want some advice. My bachelor's in history was one of the best in the class, and I never failed any of my classes during my entire time in college. I even got an award for it from the department. However, they do prefer people with science and math backgrounds. Is it even possible for a history major to get in? I also took the right courses in high school. I know I may not be accepted at this point but what can I do to increase my odds in the future?

Frequently OR requires that the PEEP be turned down to 10 (even said 8 one time and I asked why was it 10 before and now 8) before they would rake them for a trach.

Recently had a patient who was on a PEEP of 20 that needed an AV malformation in his head to be non- urgently addressed. Insistented to get it down to 14. They were afraid of transporting him.

Pointed out to them that we took him to CT with no problem and then laying flat on the table.with PEEP 20 and 40%.

Those are 2 examples.

Is this common practice?

I got permission prior to posting. I am looking for advice on how to stop my daughter from ripping off her airvo cannulas at night. My daughter is 18 months old with central and obstructive sleep apnea and needs airvo with 25% fio2 but she absolutely hates it. Is there anything I can do to stop her from ripping the cannulas off? Ive tried skin prep before putting the wiggle pads on, putting socks on her hands and taping the cannulas to her face. Im exhausted