- Joined
- Dec 5, 2008
- Messages
- 15
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I am a respirstory therapist and was wondering what all of you think of our profession out there? One big problem we have is having bachelors and associate degree programs out there. It is too hard to learn all the physiology and still get adequate clinicals in only two years (or even some associate programs are three years, why not go one more and have a bachelors). There is also a problem with the NBRC giving two different credentials. A lot of hospitals do not have a pay grade difference between a CRT and RRT ( or at least a significant pay difference). This is just a plot by the NBRC to make more $ because the tests are expensive and you have to take the CRT then the RRT. If respiratory therapists want to be reimbursed by Medicare then we need to be more professional and have higher education. There is no time for research in an associates program, and research is what grows a profession. This is similar to the LPN and RN difference. I think associate program graduates can get the CRT and work in non-critical care areas. Then they could take more classes while working to get their BS and their RRT. I dont doubt there are plenty of great clinicians who only have an associates degree out there, but if we want to addvance our profession we have to make some changes. Also I think it is absurd to make BS graduates take the CRT exam before taking the RRT exam. That would be like making a RN get credentialed as an LPN first. I am not trying to make any RTs mad but we seriously need to make changes in our profession to get to the same level as nurses, PT, OT.