Reinvigorating Respiratory

By Merle Auspitz posted 03-26-2012 16:38

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My name is Merle.
I am a licensed, Registered Respiratory practitioner. I have obtained my BS degree, along with years of varied respiratory and healthcare job experience. Currently in Illinois I notice a decline in the opportunities for RT's. We have been down this road as a profession before.
What are you finding in your area? Is it difficult to find a fulltime job that does not encompass night shift? Are hospitals hiring? Where are you finding your career openings? Share your experiences, obsticles, and triumphs in this skittish economy and time of health care reimbursement uncertainty.

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George Garcia

04-29-2012 23:37

Dear Merle,
I'm actually interested in this discussion. May I inquire what part of Illinois are you having a decline in opportunities for RTs.
Cordially,
George

Tina Harris

04-11-2012 08:50

Hi Merle! To answer one of your questions, Yes! It is difficult to find a fulltime job that doesn't encompass night shift. I began my career working midnights and gradually worked my way up , over the years, to my day shift, Director of Respiratory position. Even if you have experience, I will not hire anyone to come in over my dedicated therapists who have stuck with me through thick and thin and who have earned their spot on the day shift. I recently got our facility covered 24/7/365 and you would not believe how many people actually told me, "I would love to help you out but I will not work nights". Evidently people around here don't have to work to eat and pay bills! LOL! I did find a couple of people willing to work the night shift and they love it! Several of the bigger hospitals around us are more into hiring techs as PRN at a higher pay, but no benefits. I appreciate my staff and will stand by them and they do the same for me. One of the best things about night shift is that there is not so much "hustle and bustle" of all the physician's making rounds, trying to get to the patient while visitors are there, and getting called to do out-patient's in pre-op, etc. We teasingly say that whoever is working the night shift is the night shift supervisor for that night and they can make their own rules! LOL! Of course this is just the opinion of one old RRT who thinks that Respiratory Rocks! :) I think alot of the reason for the decline for the profession is that the ones who get their feet in the door of a facility will usually hang on to it and that makes for less turnover. And, it is awaful to say, but alot of the "newbies" fresh out of school want to walk into a position making 20+ year RRT pay and are insulted when you tell them that it "ain't happening"! :)

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