Respiratory Therapist in Massachusetts

Hello everyone!

My name is Sean, I am 18 years old. I am planning on going into my local college to become a RT. I understand that this is a Nurses thread but I can't find one for RT. I am in the part of my application where I need to take my TEAS V exam. I am terrified of taking it, I am hoping that you guys can tell me any tips or tricks for studying? I plan to get to ATI book. Are there any other materials that would be really helpful? Thank you for taking your time to read this and I hope I can find help here! I am nervous for the exam!
Hi Sean - welcome to allnurses! You may find some helpful tips and advice by checking out the "TEAS Exam Help" forum. I can be found under the "Students" tab. Good luck with your exam!

Hi, and welcome to AN! I will give you one bit of advice: make very VERY certain that what you are looking for is an employable field in your area. Respiratory therapists, which made a big splash at the time there really WAS a nursing shortage, have found themselves increasingly unemployed as facilities realized they could have nurses do the very same thing RTs did without hiring RTs. It is within the RN's scope of practice to do RT work, and with budget cuts and reimbursement rates plummeting from insurance companies, you should be warned that this is not a lucrative field any longer.If it's what you want to do, so be it. But go in with both eyes open!

Make VERY certain you want to be a RT. A RN can do EVERYTHING a RT can but a RT cannot do MOST of what a RN can. Also, in most states there is a very significant pay difference, RTs usually make 20-30% less than a RN for the same length of schooling plus RTs have very few employment options compared to a RN...

Quote from Asystole RNAlso, in most states there is a very significant pay difference, RTs usually make 20-30% less than a RN for the same length of schooling plus RTs have very few employment options compared to a RN...

I am a ~43 yr. RN, in 2003 I went back to school just for the fun of it, and in two years obtained my RRT........ The test you are fearing was not particularly difficult.more of an applitude exam.... but of course my decades of nursing probably made it appear easier......There is an even less of a shortage of Resp Therapist than there is of nursing.......look at occupation assistant or physical therapist assistant avenues ....best wishes

you will also find additional information at the national credentialing web site : NBRC.org

I don't know about anyone else, but in the last five years, I have seen an increase in the number of patients who have developed sleep apnea, if this is happening in other parts of North America, there may be an increased demand for RTs in the near future.

Quote from dishesI don't know about anyone else, but in the last five years, I have seen an increase in the number of patients who have developed sleep apnea, if this is happening in other parts of North America, there may be an increased demand for RTs in the near future.

Performing sleep studies is apart of Respiratory Therapy..i should know,I use to do them.Im not so sure about a lack of jobs for Respiratory Therapist either.We have plenty of jobs all around.There are still alot of travelers in Respiratory as well.Ive been Therapist for over 20years now and have never found it hard to get jobs.Also there is a difference between RRT vs CRT.Its like comparing LPN to an RN.Theres not much paring.Its also hard for anyone coming out of school fresh to get jobs.Its just as hard for Nurses as it is for Respiratory Therapist.If you need places to find Respiratory info I can give you what you need.There are plenty of website where RT'S discuss topics if the day.Like one person on here said.The need for Respiratory Therapist is only going to from with baby bombers and more COPD,sleep apnea patients grow.Also a nurse can't do EVERYTHING a Respiratory Therapist can do.Respiratory Therapist specializes in critical care so while we cover alot of the same material the approach is much different.Some places will have you crossing over.Like where I've worked we operated Ballon pumps,placed picc lines,pushed narcotics while doing bronchoscopies and being in on every baby delivered.Its a wonderful field and I think you'll love it.Your getting in at the right time to because it's only going to grow.Just remember to never argue with your constituents because one day you might need them..Good luck to you.If you have any questions let me know.I can answer any question you may have and if I can't I will find the answer.Good luck man..

Also if your talking about CRT'S they probably can't find jobs cause no one will hire CRT'S anymore cause they're doing away with that license.RRT is now the entry level so in that since she was correct but you don't want to stop there.The things you learn at the RRT level are far more diverse than the CRT..Not to knock them but it wasn't even a full year of education.In the RRT portion you really dive into hemodynamics and critical care.I don't remember doing that when I was in school for the first half of school.Remember don't stop there either.Further your education and continue to the P.A.

Quote from tmw73Performing sleep studies is apart of Respiratory Therapy..i should know,I use to do them.Im not so sure about a lack of jobs for Respiratory Therapist either.We have plenty of jobs all around.There are still alot of travelers in Respiratory as well.Ive been Therapist for over 20years now and have never found it hard to get jobs.Also there is a difference between RRT vs CRT.Its like comparing LPN to an RN.Theres not much paring.Its also hard for anyone coming out of school fresh to get jobs.Its just as hard for Nurses as it is for Respiratory Therapist.If you need places to find Respiratory info I can give you what you need.There are plenty of website where RT'S discuss topics if the day.Like one person on here said.The need for Respiratory Therapist is only going to from with baby bombers and more COPD,sleep apnea patients grow.Also a nurse can't do EVERYTHING a Respiratory Therapist can do.Respiratory Therapist specializes in critical care so while we cover alot of the same material the approach is much different.Some places will have you crossing over.Like where I've worked we operated Ballon pumps,placed picc lines,pushed narcotics while doing bronchoscopies and being in on every baby delivered.Its a wonderful field and I think you'll love it.Your getting in at the right time to because it's only going to grow.Just remember to never argue with your constituents because one day you might need them..Good luck to you.If you have any questions let me know.I can answer any question you may have and if I can't I will find the answer.Good luck man..