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THE "SPECIAL" IN SPECIALTY CREDENTIALS..

By Chris Lyons posted 09-19-2011 02:33

  
Hello fellow therapist, just wanted to share a few concerns with you, hope you can help me. I was wondering how many therapist  working in a hospital with a NICU/PICU department, and if the therapist has to be credentialed as a NPS? the reason i ask is that I was at this particular hospital visiting and a therapist asked was i planning to take the NPS exam, I told her i've already taken it and her reply was "why"?, she said there was no need to, to be able to work with babies. she said out of 37 therapist only 11 was credentialed NPS, at this time the charge therapist was walking pass and joined in the conversation, she to was not credentialed NPS.  at this time I thought maybe it's just this hospital that has it like this, my thoughts was cut short when the charge RT continued to say "I have worked a few other places, and they didn't require you to be NPS, they just said "it's a plus to have it". so what gives..... in the pass i wrote a similar blog about the PFT's, I really didn't get any answers there either. so, is it actually the credential, who you know or what? Secondly, I see the ACCS (adult critical care specialty) is getting ready to come out and i"m wondering......... ok, SPECIALTY? what's going to be the difference from being a RRT, when there's really not a difference from being a RRT and being a CRT, or being a NPS and not being NPS, same with PFT's. now we can bypass all the PR answers now, i know it's good to educate myself with my field, knowledge is power, learn all I can it will make me a better therapist, the more i know it's better for me....now that I took care of that, give it to me straight
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Mark Stronati
09-29-2011 12:40

I see the specialty as an association offering. Very few in our NICU have the NPS. Not required by any level licensure or employer. If managers used it as a tool to qualify Therapists it would be worth much more.

Steven Sittig
09-19-2011 22:12

Interesting comments here about specialty credentials. While one may not have to have NPS to "work" with babies understanding what may be occuring with their medical course could be of benefit. Alot of the lack of recognition does often lay at the supervisor/ department manager level. If they do not highly encourage specilaty credentials, why should staff bother?
Some institutions may even pay the registration for the exam for RT to take the exam but still they do not bother as it is not highly encouraged or required to work in an area.I took the NPS for two reasons: First to hopefully be a better clinician and second at that time my supervisor had a goal that all staff in the PICU/NICU/Transport would have the credential in our group. Unfortunatley over time though it has become less of a group goal.
I guess it is up to the individual RT but if you look at other medical professionals they still are very involved in obtaining advanced credentials. It is hard to press for newer and advanced procedures if your staff is not striving to learn,

Pamela Jenkins
09-19-2011 13:37

Hello my Respiratory colleagues! This blog is very interesting to start with. First off I want to start by saying, I wonder the same the same thing about specialty credentials. I know for a fact that when a Respiratory Therapist obtain specialty credentials or any type of extended education, it is for self preservation, not to obtain any type of appreciation from respiratory bosses or colleagues. BUT, AARC is laying ground rules for the upcoming changes to respiratory. If it wasnt so important to have these specialty credentials, then AARC would not be making it a qualification to have them. AARC is pro continuing your education and obtaining credentials. If a therapist is very knowledgeable in this field or a special field like NPS.or PFT, then why settle for the bare minimum? A therapist should obtain extra credentials in that area to be completely proficient. That is what gives you the respect. Ok, MOST respiratory therapist are very knowledgeable and are surely respected because of it, but RNs do it, they enhance their knowledge all the time, why cant respiratory?? I feel if a respiratory therapist enhances his knowledge by obtaining extra credentials, he should not have to worry about anybody not giving him or her what they are entitled to. I know, at my jobs, I am highly respected because of my knowledge and of my credentials, and I am only going to keep going....something to think about

Pamela Jenkins
09-19-2011 13:37

Hello my Respiratory colleagues! This blog is very interesting to start with. First off I want to start by saying, I wonder the same the same thing about specialty credentials. I know for a fact that when a Respiratory Therapist obtain specialty credentials or any type of extended education, it is for self preservation, not to obtain any type of appreciation from respiratory bosses or colleagues. BUT, AARC is laying ground rules for the upcoming changes to respiratory. If it wasnt so important to have these specialty credentials, then AARC would not be making it a qualification to have them. AARC is pro continuing your education and obtaining credentials. If a therapist is very knowledgeable in this field or a special field like NPS.or PFT, then why settle for the bare minimum? A therapist should obtain extra credentials in that area to be completely proficient. That is what gives you the respect. Ok, MOST respiratory therapist are very knowledgeable and are surely respected because of it, but RNs do it, they enhance their knowledge all the time, why cant respiratory?? I feel if a respiratory therapist enhances his knowledge by obtaining extra credentials, he should not have to worry about anybody not giving him or her what they are entitled to. I know, at my jobs, I am highly respected because of my knowledge and of my credentials, and I am only going to keep going....something to think about

Jerry Crouch
09-19-2011 09:47

Chris,
Let me start by saying as I did in your previous pft posting, I think that your concerns are both valid and warranted. I work in a military hospital where there are therapists that are exempted from even having to pass the CRT to work as a respiratory therapist. I hold the position that by obtaining an advanced/ specialty credential you are demonstrating an ability to perform at an expected level of proficiency. As from personal experience, I have found that I am viewed by other members of the healthcare team in a more positive manner for the advanced credentialing (even if not by my fellow respiratory therapists). My warning would be to be careful in terms of advanced credentialling as well. I do not believe that advanced and specialty credentialling will make you more marketable because directors and supervisors do not have these credentials themselves. Justified or not, I have noticed that the level of respect I receive from the healthcare team is different because of the credentialling that I possess. My suggestion would be that you should get advanced and specialty credentials for yourself as a demonstration of your skillset and proficiency not because you are required. Hopefully this helped you a little further on your road to enlightenment.
jerry