Back to School

Good for you, Faye! For us older folks, it's hard to understand the changes that have occurred in RT over the years. I started as an OJT doing ECGs and oxygen rounds. Since then, I attended school for RT and "do it all." Still, education is the key to success. Some RTs learn by going to traditional schools. Some don't have the time. In the future, I think you'll see the CRT go away or, at best, be destined to return to their roots and do ECGs and oxygen rounds. The RRT will take over patient care because the new healthcare standards will mandate that a specialist in the field work on vents, breathing treatments, patient assessment and PFTs. Some hospitals do this already. Some states are pushing that way now. When I traveled, I refused to go to California. An RRT wanting a license could expect a six month wait, while a CRT could wait up to two years. I don't have to be hit over the head to see where I'm not wanted. The problem is that right now, the knowledge base is with the CRT. Give me a CRT with 30 years experience over an RRT with five any day! RRTs are also caught up in the whole "I need experience but no one will give me experience" thing. I feel for them. As an OJT, we didn't have that issue. If the RRT is going to be the standard, we need new programs to allow the RRT to practice and gain experience so that they become marketable, competent and confident in their abilities. If not, we're shooting ourselves in the foot. CRTs like myself are closing in on the golden years. Someone will need to take over. Getting an advanced degree ensures your place on the roster. I encourage everyone to improve themselves and thereby improve the field and healthcare in general. Thanks so much for your comment. I wish you the best success in your future!

Hi Jim,

I saw your blog about RT's not being represented well due to very minimum attendance at a conference.  You also mentioned that education is important and I have to agree.  I'm starting a Master Entry level program in Respiratory Care this fall and I am very excited.  I have been to two very reputable hospitals for Resp. Care in Illinois and all I have heard from therapists that's have been working as an RT for 10 to 20+ years are, "you don't have to have a BS or MS to be an RT, you will get paid the same" or "why don't you be a doctor since you already have a Bachelors Degree?" What she doesn't know is that being an MD takes about 10 yrs, perfect GPA and MCAT, and $200K in debt.  I think everyone in the health care field have thought about being a doctor, but it just didn't work out.  I was very upset that she said this to a next generation RT.  I thought about it and talked about it with my friends that are also in a Master Program and realized that RT is a growing field, just like how nurses can work with an Associate Degree, Bachelor is Science, or with a Masters Degree, it is the same idea with RT.  I think the lady I spoke with had no idea how the school system works nowadays since I had to give her information about the professions she had recommended to me.  

I see that a lot of profession are studying to gain a specialty in health care  and I am glad that I decided to earn a Master Degree in Respiratory Care to develop my specialty.  I know that RT is a growing profession that started in 1940's as oxygen tank techs, but as next generation RT, I will make sure to encourage others to turn to higher education for quality care.

Online schools are like "traditional" schools. You have to check their accreditations before you make your decision to attend. In this age, online schooling has become much more accepted in the professional world and is the ultimate in convenience for the working professional. Personally, there is no way I could have taken the last four years off from work to get my Bachelors. It would have been much more difficult for me to achieve that milestone in my life while trying to work part time to support myself than it has been studying and spending numerous hours on the computer, even if it has been after working 12 or 16 hour shifts. Overall, my online experience has been great. You just need to realize you are very much in charge of your own fate. You must be extremely disciplined. Just because you get to go to school at home does not mean it is easy. In fact, it may be even more difficult because it is only you and the computer, there are no instant responses from instructors and no other students to talk with and compare notes. Still, for the working professional, there is not a better way in my mind to finish or advance your schooling than doing it online. Nothing wrong with traditional schools if you have the time, but online schools have officially found their place in our society now, too. Thanks for your question and best of luck to you in your future endeavors.

Hi jim , i been a threapist for just over a year and i been wanting to go back to school to get my BS-biology to get into medical school. it can be hard to coordinate school and work together but i finally registered for Fall classes. but my question to you is is online schooling equally credited as the conventional school? thanks