Lets change the world.

I think that I think too much.  I have always had a problem trying to make everything I am involved in better or more efficient or more fair or cleaner or whatever.  I always try to improve things.  I can't help but do it, I dont know why. 

So it has been a very interesting time in this profession.  Respiratory Care and all that.  I think we have a problem with trying to copy other structure without really even looking at our own.

This is targeted toward Respiratory Therapists, so I am assuming you already understand our structure.

I think our new structure should be

Respiratory Therapist.

end of structure.

It is silly to have a hierarchy.   I think that the RRT examination should be entry-level from here on out.  All CRTs and RRTs should be consolidated into RT and CRT/CRTTs should be grandfathered into the program.  We will require the RRT to become called an RT at all but those currently in practice should just be lumped in with the RRTs. 

Doing this will help clarify our roles, since they aren't much different.  It will help streamline legislation and policy.


We could change our entire title to Respiratory Practitioner, insinuating a clinical emphasis and direct practice.

We could still have alphabet soup if we wanted to, but it might be cleaner.  John Smith, RP, SDS or Jan Smith, RP, NPS

Also, with this I would suggest the requirement of a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care as the additional minimum entry-level.  Obviously all of the Associate Degrees would be grandfathered in as well.

This helps ensure quality of practice and as a beneficial side effect it stops the over-saturation of our profession and stops it being viewed as a temporary job that's easy to get certified for.

Proud to be a Respiratory Therapist

a quick story

I was giving a baby a breathing treatment with a dragon-nebulizer mask last night and she made a raptor roar and I said "aww you're a little dinosaur baby, rawrrrr!" and her dad said "No, she's not."

I let out an awkward giggle and then finished up, when I did my followup assessments I was happy her dad was asleep.  How awkward.

Maybe he didn't realize why I said that and he thought I was being really weird and rude.

Pulmonological Terminology

I have a nasty habit of giving things names that are unconventional.  I think I either developed it because I work in pediatrics, or I had it already and it made me better suited for pediatrics.  I thought I'd share with you some of my official terminology.

• Wiggs - Chest Wiggle Factor, High Frequenty Oscillator Ventilation wiggle
  "We've got good wiggs"
• O's - Oxygen FiO2
  "Slammin' him with O's!"
• Boogz - Secretions
  "I got out some nasty yellow thick boogz" or "Do you think he might need suctioned more?" "nah, I havent gotten a single boog out all night"
• Cards - Cardiology
• Surf - Surfactant
• Poop-face - The angry face a baby makes as it brady's itself down having a poop
• Brewing-a-poop - tummy grumbles prior to a poop.
• Tummy-grumps - Tummy grumbles!
• Grumps - Grumpy kid!
• Pterodactyl - a certain angry sound neonates make
• Raptor roar - another type of angry sound neonates make