What does being a RRT mean to me?
Where to I start is a good question. I have worked in both the hospital and homecare settings. Even though each setting has there respective therapys and protocols, in both there is one thing they have in common. A RRT can make the difference!!!!
I am now a homecare therapist and have been for over 13 years. To see the results of my efforts on patients with therapies have to be the most rewarding. From Ventilators to nebulizers to COPD patients to OSA patients and so on. The rewards of seeing someone breath better because of proper education - that often only a RRT can provide - is rewarding enough. It is regretable that we are not seen by Medicare and other insurnaces as a re-imbersable home care provider for the services we provide to our patients. Hopefully this will change sometime in the future, but until then, i will continue to get the self satisfaction of doing what I can for every patient that comes into my clinic. Overall outcomes and an increase in a patients quality of life is my goal. And with the support of area doctors I strive to do this with every patient. So you asked the question, "What does being a RRT mean to me?".....the answer is simple, strive to set myself apart from other specialties, to do the best I can with the tools at hand and show compassion and understanding to every patient that walks through my door.....as my mother said when I graduated Respiratory School, "treat them like family!"