The kind of people in EMS

[JCampbell]

Back to the OP. Yeah, I do question why certain people became EMTs... Every day. The fact is that no matter what your profession, you will find that lots of folks "don't belong". That's life, and all you can do is focus on YOURSELF. As long as you're observing what they're doing wrong and using that to better yourself, you're learning and advancing yourself. Life is a classroom and "they" are just part of the lesson.

 

[VentMedic]

As for volunteers, they have saved the buisness in many ways. Here in Cincinnati, they are going to lay off almost all paid FD employees at the end of this year if they don't agree to work 3 day weeks. But the volunteers stay. IF it wasn't for them, the city would have to burn down if there was a fire.

No, there are many ways around that without the need for volunteers. The state would bring in its own FFs be it the guard, state FFs or inmates to cover before a city would go totally without FFs. This has happened before when strike talks got ugly. However, if there is free labor around..... Now if there is a prison nearby I am definitely not opposed to using inmates who are trained as FFs. But, even they are paid a small salary while working when in prison.

 

[JB42]

these are not some sticker to hopefully get out of a speeding ticket or impress 16 year old girls at the volly squad.

Certainly why I have a department sticker on my car.

 

[Medic744]

Every one has their own Eeww Gross moments but most of us try to keep it out of earshot of the patient or their families. My only moment is when I am around gross feet, but I don't make a comment I just cover them pull out my Vicks and do my job. There are people who don't belong in this business and yet here they are. From experience if you leave them alone and ignore them they will eventually hang themselves. I have had that partner more than once. As far as changing diapers and other less savory aspects of healthcare it may not have been part of my training but I do it because I would want someone to help if it was my family member or myself as the patient.

 

[VentMedic]

It's not just the "eewww" comments. There are inappropriate anatomy comments also. That was one of the reasons why we no longer allow EMT(P) students anywhere near the hospital's L&D or NICU.

Even teaching 12-Lead EKG placement can be a challenge. Those who have not had any college level A&P sometimes get the giggles or make the comments heard from a 12 y/o rather than someone training to be a medical professional. When one has to explain in a classroom you don't do a 12-Lead EKG on 18 y/o females just for your pleasure, maybe the profession is attracting the wrong type. And when you tell them you may have to do a 12-lead on people of all ages and men as well, you may also hear an "eeewww" out of some.

 

[Shishkabob]

I agree the majority are in it only for themselves

Of course I'm in it for myself. If I had no interest in the job, if it bored me or repelled me, there is no way I'd go through a year and a half of schooling to do it. If you don't like a job, you don't do it. It interest me, so I do it.


Everything else--- helping people, getting paid, etc etc, is a bonus.

 

[Seaglass]

As for gross things... when I'm bothered, I try not to show it. I think it's juvenile and unprofessional to make a big deal out of bodily fluids in EMS. I tend to judge people who do.

I volunteer in an area which seems to mostly avoid the career v. volunteer wars. Volunteers almost all have day jobs, so they take over at night. Career people are on during the day. I think the idea is that 12-hour shifts will mean nobody gets tired enough to screw up badly. There's some competition, but it's pretty friendly. As the area becomes more developed and career people start to outnumber volunteers, I'm worried that this might change.

In another area where I work, the career people are very anti-volunteer and all seem to hate private companies. To make things worse, private companies and volunteers hate each other too. Everyone expects the other groups to be subservient, and arguments break out pretty often. Patient transfers, even as mandated by county protocol, can be pretty messy. A lot of people on all sides seem to think they're the ultimate authority on all things medical.

But as a straight seeming Gay man, I have been in some situations already where I felt very uncomfortable. Not to derail the subject, just an observation. Part of the blame must go to me as I should speak up if I feel this way, but somehow outing myself and seeming overly senstiive seems like a bad idea.

For some reason, people tend to think I share their racist/homophobic tendencies, so I hear a lot of rants or jokes. I don't speak up. I'm very junior, and it's not worth the risk. I just stay silent and usually people will notice I'm not interested. It's awkward and I feel a bit guilty, but I think I need to pick my battles until I have more seniority.

As a woman, it's easier for me to deal with sexism. I hear sexist jokes often. I've stored up lots of jokes about men for those occasions. Once people realize I'll come right back at them, everyone laughs and it's all ok. Usually they're just giving me a hard time because I'm new, anyways.

 

[MrBrown]

Most of the people I've met along the way in EMS have some form of psychological problem, weird fettish, odd hobby, strange background, morbid sense of humour or they just make you look at them and go "hmmmmm".

That aside they are (for the most part) excellent AOs who I trust; I've only met one or two I wouldn't want near me with a bandaid.

For the whacker siren freaks and trauma junkies I've only met one; and he wasn't really bad; he was an excellent medical provider who just happened to like playing with the siren once in a while; hell I won't hold that against him!

As for the odd-ball ego freaks or people who get thier rocks off with bumper stickers, wearing uniform jackets off duty or have lights and decals all over thier persy vehicles we don't have that here thank God. Back in the day when we had the old patches you could get it as a sticker for your windshield but I think that was just to stop your car being towed out of the staff parking lot.

 

[Seaglass]

Most of the people I've met along the way in EMS have some form of psychological problem, weird fettish, odd hobby, strange background, morbid sense of humour or they just make you look at them and go "hmmmmm".

I'd have to say that describes most of the ones I know too.

Morbid humor is a survival trait, though. And what's wrong with odd hobbies? h34r:

 

[SeeNoMore]

I think if you encourage a paramilitary approach to EMS you will end up with a fair number of people who feel drawn to the patches, the bumper stickers and emblems etc

Personally I don't see this as a problem. At the end of the day it is about patient care, and having a degree of humility is good. But if you feel very proud to be EMS, all the better. If you just get your jollies from the neat looking jacket and don't have much real interest in being a highly (and increasingly) educated medcial providor, than there is an issue.


Seaglass, it's good to hear other perspectives. I just generally keep my head down regarding any social, political, or personal issues.

 

[JB42]

I think if you encourage a paramilitary approach to EMS you will end up with a fair number of people who feel drawn to the patches, the bumper stickers and emblems etc..

Personally I don't see this as a problem. At the end of the day it is about patient care, and having a degree of humility is good. But if you feel very proud to be EMS, all the better. If you just get your jollies from the neat looking jacket and don't have much real interest in being a highly (and increasingly) educated medical provider, than there is an issue.

+1

10 chars

 

[Seaglass]

Seaglass, it's good to hear other perspectives. I just generally keep my head down regarding any social, political, or personal issues.

Luckily, I'm working in an area where religion, sex, and politics aren't polite conversation. The hardcore bigots don't usually care, and it's mostly fair game if the conversation isn't serious, but I get to avoid any of that being a constant subject of conversation.

One job is way worse than others, though. A lot of employees are pre-med college students, and they think their undergrad courses put them in a position to judge anyone and everything. I've got some chronic health issues, and certain people jump all over me for wearing a medicalert thing. (Since I do my job well, I must be wearing it for attention, right? Because you totally can't have problems with organs that heal themselves... another long and separate rant.) I'm most likely to hear the bigoted rants from that crowd, too.

But they aren't in EMS because they care about it. They're in it because it might look pretty on their medschool app.

Short disclaimer: I'm a likely future medschool applicant too. But damned if I'm ever behaving like that.

 

[SeeNoMore]

All I know is the way I feel when I have interacted with Paramedics and EMTs who truly do an excellent job, many people on this site have a similar effect through obvious knowledge and commitment.

They exude a confidence that is not overbearing and irritating, and while some have had a charmingly cranky exterior, all were deeply compassionate towards all types of people.

The loudmouths, the arrogant, unkindly cynical etc may get more attention in the shorterm, but I know they will not have the same lasting effect on new members of our community and the public.

 

[medichopeful]

I am appalled by the way some of these so called "professionals" acted. They clearly have no place in EMS.

It's clear that a lot of people didn't enter EMS for the right reasons. Entering a profession where lives are on the line just for the sirens or the thrills, or just for the power is unacceptable. I don't see why anyone would enter into the field without knowing what it entails.

I also don't see why people are arguing against education (not necessarily in this thread, but rather in the EMS community). Why would somebody think that it is okay to just do the bare minimum, and then enter into a field where trust is extremely important? Would these people want to see a doctor who just did pre-med and then stopped? Not a great example, but I think it works.

I am entering into the EMS field because public service is a calling. I just feel myself drawn to it. Yes, I do find myself drawn to it a little bit for the wrong reasons: the uniforms, the respect, and the excitement. I'm not perfect, and I admit that. But these are not the only reasons I am entering into EMS. I don't see why anybody would enter into the field just for these reasons, without knowing what else the job entails. I know that for me, I am also entering into the field because of the fact that I like to help people, be professional, and I am fascinated by the field of medicine, especially emergency medicine. Seeing as I don't want to work inside (like in a hospital, etc.), EMS seems to be the perfect job for me.

Before you "bash" me, let me say this. Even though some of the reasons I am entering EMS may not be the "correct" reasons, the others are (at least, I believe). And I have done my research, too. I realize that EMS isn't the best job in the world. I realize that it doesn't pay all that well, and that it is stressful and strenuous. I realize that it can be messy, smelly, and disturbing. I realize that it is mostly boring, with a few moments of excitement added in. I realize that, as a profession, it is currently screwed up. I realize that it can be rewarding, but I also realize that sometimes it is not. I have read books about the field, read online forums, and done my research. But with all the negatives, I still want to do it. It is a calling.

And I guarantee, I will do the best job I can. In fact, I believe I am doing that already by getting a college education (pre-health biology, with microbiology, A&P 1+2, human biology, etc.). Though I didn't really want to do it, my parents convinced me to go to college, and I chose something that will help in my future career. I may not be a perfect paramedic, and I will screw up. But I know that I won't be as bad as some of those I have heard about. In fact, nowhere close to as bad. I have an interest in the field, and in medicine, and I believe in hard work.

Sorry for the rant.

Thoughts?

 

[SeeNoMore]

There is no need to feel guity for finding EMS exciting. I doubt there are many EMTs/Medics who have never felt a thrill going to a scene or sense of excitement after a particualry harrowing call.

That is just being human. But it is a professional job, thats where all the other things you talk about come in, education, conduct, compassion etc.

 

[usafmedic45]

That is not exactly true today. Now that the degree is required, few are viewing RT as just an easy job to get when nothing else is available.

I wasn't trying to imply that it's the easiest field in the world to get into, just that it's not like landing a residency in dermatology coming out of a Caribbean medical school (read as: something that is almost impossible) and that it isn't exactly the most difficult job out there if you don't want it to be.

We even have RTs who are managers over various nursing units. As well, we now have more opportunity to specialize.

Yes, but RTs managing nurses is still a really uncommon practice- I've only heard of it on a few occasions and in two of those the RT was also an RN. What I was trying to get across is that while we can transition laterally within the field into a number of specialties (sleep, PICU, NICU, transport, home health, etc), our options are and will likely remained far more limited than nursing for the foreseeable future especially in terms of transitioning out of clinical practice and into administration, research, etc. Most of the time that would require you to either have exceptional skills that really have nothing to do with your RT credentials and/or you would have but also a secondary degree in something else. It's not that I don't think RTs should be able to, but this is a common perception among many rank and file RTs that our options in the "real world" and not the magical land the AARC and some of the state societies project for the future (it's coming down the pike, but it means nothing until it is actually able to be done) are pretty limited compared to other fields we could have gone into. The refrain I often hear- and have heard several places from small critical access hospitals to major academic medical centers- is "The only way to get promoted above shift supervisor is to wait for the director (of RT) to retire or die..." occasionally followed by a joking comment about why the director never leaves his coffee cup unattended. It is just the nature of the beast of being trained as a specialist rather than a generalist.

Like I have said before, I have no interest in speeding down the freeway in my shiny red truck, I just wanna help people when they need it most. Being a paramedic is a dream of mine, being an EMT who gets sent out to fight fires is not.

Then you should be able to see that doing nursing home transfers, IFTs etc is a form of helping people even though a lot of the Ricky Rescues in our profession look down upon it. If you want to be a paramedic, you have to take a holistic view of what it means to be one and not limit yourself because something isn't interesting especially in tough economic times. It is the same as if I said "I refuse to pass out albuterol as a respiratory therapist because it is beneath me" since this is what I spend a lot of my time as an RT doing (I know a lot of RTs trying to advance themselves in the national association and state societies who like to downplay how much time an average RT spends on neb treatments) . It's not glamorous, it's not terribly exciting (it's mind-numbing actually) but it is helping people and that is reason enough for me to keep doing it although I'm not going to lie, making good money doing it is also a factor.

It is simply the nature of the beast, just like if you want to avoid doing fire/EMS you are most likely going to wind up doing the less glamorous things that come along with working for a private company and in a lot of cases you will have to give up running traditional emergencies (ones not occurring in a nursing home or other ECF) to fulfill your dream. It's a choice you likely to have to make, preferably before you pursue EMS training.

I had to ask myself the same thing when I came out of the military as an RT- was I willing to work in some major hospital to get to do all the high speed stuff that RTs do (some of the stuff VentMedic talks about as part of her duties) or was I more interested in being just a staff RT at a small hospital where I hand out albuterol, occasionally see challenging cases but still go home feeling like I've made a difference? In my case, being able to run iNO systems, daily use of HFOV, etc while feeling like I was just a robot filling a slot at some academic medical center with all the technology imaginable (which is exactly how I've felt at the two such facilities I've worked at) was less appealing to me than being able to work in an environment where I felt like I was valued and taken care of while I took care of my patients. It's an assessment we all should make in our professional careers whether in-hospital or out.

If there was no one saying hey I'll do it free you can bet the city would find the money to keep the paid people on 24/7.

That works fine in a large city, but at the same time you can't provide timely and effective care when dealing with large rural areas that might see one call per day. THAT is where volunteers play a vital role- in sparsely populated areas with a very minimal tax base. Having somebody wait 30-40 minutes for an ambulance to come from the nearest town or city with a sizable population because volunteers are "hurting the profession" is a very counterproductive idea and the realities of rural EMS seem to elude a lot of people who make such suggestions as "Let's just do away with all the volunteers....the city can just find a way to pay for it since they have to have EMS!" It works in Cincinnati where you have a few hundred thousand people to divide the costs against. Would you want to have to pay a thousand dollars out of your salary- on top of your current taxes- to provide EMS for your hometown of 1,000? I think you would see a revolt on your hands if you suggested that. The problem is not the volunteers- it is the lax entry standards in the field. Volunteers are just a convenient scapegoat.

 

[VentMedic]

I wasn't trying to imply that it's the easiest field in the world to get into, just that it's not like landing a residency in dermatology coming out of a Caribbean medical school (read as: something that is almost impossible) and that it isn't exactly the most difficult job out there if you don't want it to be.



Yes, but RTs managing nurses is still a really uncommon practice- I've only heard of it on a few occasions and in two of those the RT was also an RN. What I was trying to get across is that while we can transition laterally within the field into a number of specialties (sleep, PICU, NICU, transport, home health, etc), our options are and will likely remained far more limited than nursing for the foreseeable future especially in terms of transitioning out of clinical practice and into administration, research, etc. Most of the time that would require you to either have exceptional skills that really have nothing to do with your RT credentials and/or you would have but also a secondary degree in something else. It's not that I don't think RTs should be able to, but this is a common perception among many rank and file RTs that our options in the "real world" and not the magical land the AARC and some of the state societies project for the future (it's coming down the pike, but it means nothing until it is actually able to be done) are pretty limited compared to other fields we could have gone into. The refrain I often hear- and have heard several places from small critical access hospitals to major academic medical centers- is "The only way to get promoted above shift supervisor is to wait for the director (of RT) to retire or die..." occasionally followed by a joking comment about why the director never leaves his coffee cup unattended. It is just the nature of the beast of being trained as a specialist rather than a generalist.



Then you should be able to see that doing nursing home transfers, IFTs etc is a form of helping people even though a lot of the Ricky Rescues in our profession look down upon it. If you want to be a paramedic, you have to take a holistic view of what it means to be one and not limit yourself because something isn't interesting especially in tough economic times. It is the same as if I said "I refuse to pass out albuterol as a respiratory therapist because it is beneath me" since this is what I spend a lot of my time as an RT doing (I know a lot of RTs trying to advance themselves in the national association and state societies who like to downplay how much time an average RT spends on neb treatments) . It's not glamorous, it's not terribly exciting (it's mind-numbing actually) but it is helping people and that is reason enough for me to keep doing it although I'm not going to lie, making good money doing it is also a factor.

Enough of the RT bashing. Your little hospital may not offer you many opportunities or the employees and management don't care to look for opportunities to improve the department. In other words, they may have become stagnant or complacent. Minimalist is another word that also comes to mind. Just because you have not taken a close look at the RT field does not mean they don't exist. There are numerous opportunites in exercise testing, Pulmonary/Cardiac rehab, Pharmaceuticals, HBO, Cath Lab, ultrasound of various specialties, flight, research of all types, doctors' offices, OR, diagnostic labs, clinics, education and equipment sales.

RTs are spending less time on nebulizer treatment as RNs can be trained to do those. RTs are then just utilized for the initial treatment and the education consults. The profession has had to follow the reimbursement and there is little money in nebs even though they are necessary.

Stay current if you are still working in RT. If EMS is your love, you need to move on from a profession you may have no interest in. Specialty professions are not for everyone. That goes for either RT or EMS.

 

[usafmedic45]

Enough of the RT bashing.

Good God, you're being so tempremental. I know you have a problem with me personally, but that's not any reason to assume that anything I say is counter to your beliefs is bashing of our field. The fact that anytime I point out what a normal RT- based on talking to the several hundred if not thousand RTs I've dealt with over the yars- does at hospitals ranging from the 25 bed critical access hospital in the middle of nowhere I spent three months at to the roughly 120 bed facility I work at now all the way up to the 500+ bed university hospital I spent quite a long time working at do, you take it as RT bashing. Do you have some sort of insecurity about the field? That we're not going to be viewed in a glowing infallible light if we all aren't doing only the absolute latest technology and leaving everything else to the field. As the Shakespeare quote goes, "I thou doth protest too much".

Your little hospital may not offer you many opportunities or the employees and management don't care to look for opportunities to improve the department.

Actually our "little hospital" (which is an average sized hospital compared to national statistics by the way) has a great department and are always looking for ways to improve- our director is willing to listen and go to the ends of the earth for us- to the point that one of the docs was asked to not renew his contract with the hospital for disrespecting the RTs. He is one of the few people on this planet- short of my fiancee and my daughter- I would take a bullet for without hesitation.

We have fairly aggressive protocols, a lot of sway over infection control in our hospital (our manager is the co-chair of the committee and one of the other RTs is on the committee as well), an RT sits on the quality assurance committee and one attends rounds with the case managers to assure things are fixed before they become issues that lead to prolonged stays or readmissions. These are just the things going on in the department that come to mind immediately. I would say for a non-academic hospital we are pretty progressive.

Just because you have not taken a close look at the RT field does not mean they don't exist.

Funny, I think spending ten years in the field and regularly dealing with several people who have really high standing in the field of RT (including a past president of the AARC with whom I've had lunch on more than a couple of occasions and who has introduced me to colleagues of his as a "bright young man and a really sharp RT") means I have pretty good idea of what is going on out there. Perhaps your dislike of me is getting in the way of seeing what I am actually saying/what I actually know.

There are numerous opportunites in exercise testing, Pulmonary/Cardiac rehab, Pharmaceuticals, HBO, Cath Lab, ultrasound of various specialties, flight, research of all types, doctors' offices, OR, diagnostic labs, clinics, education and equipment sales.

You missed my point of saying lateral mobility within the field? I didn't feel like typing out the whole list of options so that's why there is the "etc" at the end. The difference between mobility in nursing and RTs is the fact that almost anything we do, we have to do a lot of extra training to cross into. With nurses, the options where they just step into being a case manager, wound care specialist, etc is minimal other than the brief orientation period. That is what I am trying to get at. Most of the fields RTs move into are governed just like another specialty and thus we are beholden to the entry requirements which often include going back to college.

Let's see:
-Pharmaceutical/equipment rep: usually requires a degree beyond what you have to have to practice as an RT (since you really can't get in the door without a bachelor's)
-OR: Never heard of an RT working in the OR except as an anesthesia tech without extra training (perfusionist, etc)
-Flight: I listed that as an option, but as will become clear in a moment, most RTs who work on civilian flight teams are also paramedics or RNs in addition to being therapists so it really takes a little wind out of the sails of the assertion that one can just waltz into one of these jobs as they please with only some experience as an RT.
-Cath lab: Being a cath lab tech requires specialty training outside of the field of RT so it's not a "Hey, I'm bored, can I work in your cath lab?" sort of deal....prior experience helps but it's like saying that an NP and nurse are the same thing.
-Ultrasound of various specialties: once again, specialty training and this option is closing off as licensure acts are being enacted around the country for U/S techs.
-Pulmonary/Cardiac rehab: It's a subspecialty of respiratory therapy so it's not exactly a change.
-HBO: Requires specialty training beyond the scope of standard respiratory care.
-Research of all types: Depends upon what you classify as "research" and what you're wanting to do. Leading research in clinical sciences is going to generally require an advanced degree unless you're doing research simply based upon observation of patient care (because of the hesitancy of many funding programs to give money to someone without a masters or doctorate, not because we can't manage it as RTs so don't accuse me of trying to imply that) .....now being a research tech, that you can do with or without an RT degree although for the most part it's more a matter of being persistent and knowing the right people. As one of the sleep researchers (the vice president of a major medical center and one of the most widely published researchers in sleep disorder breathing, BTW) I used to work with said, "I can train anyone to be a lab tech. The nice thing about you (me) being an RT is that the learning curve isn't steep at all."
-Education: Unless you just want to be a clinical instructor (which isn't a profession most places), then you are looking at having a master's degree in education or something similar. A LOT of the RT program educators I know hold doctorates.

BTW, you also missed starting your own business providing home health services, traveling internationally to practice, working designing new ventilators, etc. The latter normally requires a degree in engineering, but then again you don't seem to exclude careers that require additional education so why should that not be on the list. Technically with all the additional specialty training fields you list as being open to RTs you should just go ahead and add physician and PA to the list since I know a lot of RTs who have moved to those fields. Why did you not put those on the list?

Stay current if you are still working in RT

I'm current enough to regularly be invited to speak as an educator at state conferences so perhaps you need to consider that maybe your personal feelings for me are just that your feelings and not an accurate assessment of my level of knowledge, currency or experience.

 

[usafmedic45]

If EMS is your love, you need to move on from a profession you may have no interest in.

This discussion is a two way street and not an edict from upon high: The same could be said for yourself and RT. If that's your love then you need to leave EMS (even though a senior member of this forum told me you said that you actually work in the field off your paramedic credential rather than your RT license but haven't set foot in an ambulance as a "regular" EMT-P since before I left EMS) to those who actually care about it and stop harping on us about how great you are and how superior your skills are because you're an RT. People get tired of hearing it, just as you said you're sick of hearing me "bash" OUR profession. You're smart, you're talented and you know your crap as well as any RT I've ever dealt with (I've actually considered PMing you to discuss things that I've not done in a while that have come up in posts you've made but you tend to go dragon lady mode on me whenever we've exchanged PMs so I chose not to) .

But at the same time, you also come across as being a really holier than thou whenever someone mentions the "down side" of RT. If I'm bashing, you're painting the profession with rose colored hue and it's not far to those who have no clue what we do to give them either perspective without hearing the other. The truth is basically in the middle in most situations and every profession has upsides and down. RT is no different.

You don't like me, I don't care for your personality but respect the fact that you're a heck of a lot better educated than most people on this forum (no offense to everyone else). That doesn't make you a better person than me or anyone else here anymore than my doing my research and knowing more about aviation safety makes me a better person or superior in any way other than the fact I know more about one little field than a bunch of people who are not in it. The main difference between us is that you seem to have an issue seperating what you think of me personally from what I am saying (I'm wrong simply because you don't like me) but I may think you are not someone I would want to have lunch with (although the offer is open if you're interested...maybe we can settle this in person better than on here) but still a fine therapist and a hell of a resource to have around. Other than that we are actually cut from much the same cloth: we're both loud, outspoken, intelligent driven individuals and I wish we could find a way to settle this so that we can move on.

Your knowledge, experience and education certainly gives you no right to attack anything I say as being "bashing" of a field I do have a certain degree of pride in. If I didn't have pride, I certainly would not waste my money on my AARC and ISRC (both Illinois and Indiana actually) memberships. I may not have an RT "whacker" plate on my car, but pride means more than trying to live, sleep, breathe and eat a job and it certainly doesn't mean we whitewash the less interesting or fun parts of the profession when talking about it. I may not have "I'm a respiratory therapist" tattooed across my forehead but it is something I am proud of and ask anyone who knows me (Ridryder for example) how I react when someone bashes anything I'm proud of. I fight it with all the vehemence that you reserve for attacking the attitude you perceive me as having.

RTs are spending less time on nebulizer treatment as RNs can be trained to do those

Depends on the hospital. In a lot of hospitals (including the one I work in), the RNs don't have time to do the treatments anymore than we have time to change IV bags. However, I do agree, any move away from having to do treatments day in and day out is a great thing. I don't enjoy doing them. If I could find a good way to push them off on the nurses or CNAs, trust me I would much rather spend my time in the ICU working with the vents since I enjoy activities that require some conscious thought.

The profession has had to follow the reimbursement and there is little money in nebs even though they are necessary.

On this you and I have zero disagreement. Like I said, we have more in common than you seem to want to believe.

 

[VentMedic]

You missed my point of saying lateral mobility within the field? I didn't feel like typing out the whole list of options so that's why there is the "etc" at the end. The difference between mobility in nursing and RTs is the fact that almost anything we do, we have to do a lot of extra training to cross into. With nurses, the options where they just step into being a case manager, wound care specialist, etc is minimal other than the brief orientation period.

Have you looked at the requirements to be a wound nurse or case manager lately. No nurses do not just step into those roles.

Let's see:
-Pharmaceutical/equipment rep: usually requires a degree beyond what you have to have to practice as an RT (since you really can't get in the door without a bachelor's)

You mean you haven't noticed the number of RTs that have Bachelors or Master degrees? Why do you think the AARC is already pushing the legislation?

-OR: Never heard of an RT working in the OR except as an anesthesia tech without extra training (perfusionist, etc)

Perfusionist is good. ECMO Specialist is part of RTs' job description in many places. I guess you haven't worked many places that must run the RT technology inside the OR.

-Flight: I listed that as an option, but as will become clear in a moment, most RTs who work on civilian flight teams are also paramedics or RNs in addition to being therapists so it really takes a little wind out of the sails of the assertion that one can just waltz into one of these jobs as they please with only some experience as an RT.

No you do not have to be a Paramedic. Florida Hospital's team does NOT have any Paramedics. Please update yourself.

I am also very limited by scope of practice working as a Paramedic on Flight, CCT or Specialty. I am not as an RRT. Thus, you will not see me use both credentials on the same name badge.

-Cath lab: Being a cath lab tech requires specialty training outside of the field of RT so it's not a "Hey, I'm bored, can I work in your cath lab?" sort of deal....prior experience helps but it's like saying that an NP and nurse are the same thing.

You really don't know much about the education of RTs now do you?
Cath Lab is part of CardioPulmonary or RT Science degrees which the RT student can take a semester as an electrive. Hemodynamics are us which actually makes RTs better prepared then nurses.

-Ultrasound of various specialties: once again, specialty training and this option is closing off as licensure acts are being enacted around the country for U/S techs. /quote}
Read the license requirements and see where the RT fits. Don't just spout off. Again, RTs have that option.

-HBO: Requires specialty training beyond the scope of standard respiratory care.

No, no, no. Yes everything takes a little extra training but nothing mentioned here is beyond the scope of RT since in most states the scope of practice is open ending. In NO state that I am aware of does it say an RT can NOT do HBO or any other the other things mentioned under their license.

-Research of all types: Depends upon what you classify as "research" and what you're wanting to do. Leading research in clinical sciences is going to generally require an advanced degree unless you're doing research simply based upon observation of patient care (because of the hesitancy of many funding programs to give money to someone without a masters or doctorate, not because we can't manage it as RTs so don't accuse me of trying to imply that) .....now being a research tech, that you can do with or without an RT degree although for the most part it's more a matter of being persistent and knowing the right people. As one of the sleep researchers (the vice president of a major medical center and one of the most widely published researchers in sleep disorder breathing, BTW) I used to work with said, "I can train anyone to be a lab tech. The nice thing about you (me) being an RT is that the learning curve isn't steep at all."
-Education: Unless you just want to be a clinical instructor (which isn't a profession most places), then you are looking at having a master's degree in education or something similar. A LOT of the RT program educators I know hold doctorates.

Research tech? Can you get any more insulting?

Yes RTs can get education and higher degrees and many are motivated to do so. Have you never picked up a copy of the RC Journal?

Technically with all the additional specialty training fields you list as being open to RTs you should just go ahead and add physician and PA to the list since I know a lot of RTs who have moved to those fields. Why did you not put those on the list?

Because if you move on to PA and MD, you are no longer practicing as an RT. I only mentioned those that are very easily obtainable.

I'm current enough to regularly be invited to speak as an educator at state conferences so perhaps you need to consider that maybe your personal feelings for me are just that your feelings and not an accurate assessment of my level of knowledge, currency or experience.

The majority of eduators in the RT field hold the RRT credential and at least a Bachelors with Masters preferred. You believe just about everything is out of the scope of practice for an RT. Clearly you do not understand how the profession has grown and probably would not be the best motivator as an educator for RT.

The fact that you are still CRT and have not obtained your RRT probably skews your opinions and you are probably aware that most of the opportunities do go to the RRT.

Again, if EMS is where your heart is, that is what you should do.