I found the following response on this site.I am licensed as a Registered Nurse in an Emergency Room, but we do our own ABGs, nebulizer treatments, Peak flows, intubations, etc... because the hospital is getting cheap and trying to do away with the RTs. Big mistake in my opinion. We love our RTs!
Yeah Right. Respiratory Therapists are licensed in all 48 states. RNs are mad that the profession of respiratory care is now regulated. Sure they help with intubations, but they will never be allowed to place a patient on a ventilator. If a nurse does do anything within my scope of practice it's Basic respiratory care activities, which are done under thier nursing licsense.Every state has a Respiratory Care Board
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I'm a RCP, and I've encountered the same problem. I think that they just want people to think they do more than they do. I don't think RN's would ever be able to grasp the respirator side of things. Most of the ones I know don't even know how the ABG can be changed by different settings on a ventilator.
Why are R.N.'s mad that RT's are regulated. Thats less work for us nurses. Most nurses are capable of doing basic respiratory care as am I. At most facilities the nurse is responsible for calling the M.D. with information and problems. Sometimes it is easier to do it yourself, as a nurse, than it is to call or page a RT to do the job. Most nurses do not want the responsibility of RT's added to the already heavy work load.
Rn's can also be licensed/trained to do many of the things Respiratory Therapists do. As or RN's being mad that therapists are regulated? get real, Thats just one more thing for administrators (mostly RN's) and Unit managers (also RN's) to track and manage. RN's do love their RT's, they also love their LPNs, anything that takes a little of the duties off of them and lets them do what they were trained for (patient care) is good in their opinion.
training for emergency care for those with breathing difficulties is taught in a basic first aid class. an EMT is trained to treat with a nebulizer per protocols. if your are truly concerned, direct your concerns to your RN Manager and state nursing board.
As a Nurse from the UK I find your question interesting, but a little confusing! Im an Rn of six years, with three years intensive care experience.On our unit we assist the Anaest. Doctor with intubations, administering the drugs or applying cricoid pressure. We are given set limits to aim for in terms of acid base balance and are free to alter the ventilation settings in order to achieve this.What is an RT? Do you need to be a licenced RT to give 'respiratory cares?'As an RN I would be happy to alter the fio2, frequency of breaths, level of pressure support or mode of ventilation. We are also free to suction, give nebulisers and decide upon postural changes to aid ventilation.I have heard that the way nurses are expected to work in the US is totally different from here in England. The intensity of the exams taken by British migrant nurses must reflect the level of skill you have. However it seems that in a society where litigation is very common, you are bound by more rules and regulations than we are.Maybe I will aim for Australia instead!
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