I think I am going to have to go along with Ray on this one. I also came off the street in 1972 and worked hard until I was registered. At St Francis in Topeka we have a 4 grade pay difference between CRT and RRT. We did add a second level of CRT for those therapists who can work independently in ICU and ED but that is only a 2 pay grade jump. If you do not have a difference in pay you remove a level of motivation, even though that should not be the motivational force behind the advancement. To pay the CRTs the same as the RRTs is an insult to those who took the initiative to advance as far as they can. Its probably too late to make an all out change but Ray may have the right idea by giving RRTs the lion's share of raises over the next several years to make the separation. It also gives the administration of the department an idea of who is really interested in furthering themselves, the department and the profession. Sorry, I guess I jumped on the vacated soap box.
Mark Brady
Supervisor
St Francis Health Center
Topeka, KS