Source
r/respiratorytherapy•
snapdangle

Question from a Paramedic

I am a Canadian Paramedic and the respiratory system has always held special interest for me, I find airway management and ventilation to be deeply satisfying and I love irritating RT's with questions whenever they find themselves trapped in the back of my ambulance for a critical transfer escort. I have a lot of respect for the science and practice.

So, my question. Any former/current Paramedics who made the switch to RT, and how did you find it? Canada preferred but we are all colleagues so I'm happy to hear from anyone.

Thank you all for your time

Posted Aug 14, 2018, 3:24 PM UTC

110
Jase_515•

People asking questions and being genuinely interested never irritated me!

2
Sensimya•

I personally have not made the switch but my classmate has and she says it's the bbest decision shes ever made. Our program is 2 years (just about to start our second year) and allows you to work while studying so she is still a paramedic. After graduation the normal work week is 3 on 4 off not including overtime so most positions allow you to stay as a paramedic as well. She said she woul have had a hard time transitioning of she didn't get to be a paramedic still because she loves being a 1st responder. But she absolutely loves RT and the skills it has provided her but also the opportunities it has opened. She is going to go far, she is very driven and passionate. I actually look up to her. As an almost RRT I reccomend checking out the schooling opportunities near you and maybe start looking into it. More education is never a bad thing! We're in the States btw. Good luck!

1
RASion4191RRT / OUT OF SERVICE•

Not quite the same, but I was a Basic here in California before I went to RT school. Airway adjuncts & O2 devices outside of the Venturi & BiPAP/Mechanical Ventilation were a breeze. Interpreting ABGs & Critical Care in general were the portions that really interested me & motivated me to learn.

I now work as an RT with majority of my shifts in the ER at a pretty busy trauma center. Perfectly fits my hunger for both respiratory & emergency/EMS stuff.

1
Blondfinn•

What school did you go to ? I went to California paramedical & technical College. ( now closed ). My best job was flying on a medical flight team .

1
RASion4191RRT / OUT OF SERVICE•

Crazy. My dad went there for RT school.

2
Blondfinn•

Wow. In la Sierra ? I probably know him.

1
RASion4191RRT / OUT OF SERVICE•

Long Beach. Back in 2002 or so.

1
ln2b8RRT-ACCS•

Just wanted to add that questions are never irritating! To most of us at least.

Over here in baby land, we get direct admits by EMS from time to time. Its always interesting. I used to do a lot of ER, and the confidence difference between the medic rolling into the ED and the medic arriving on the L&D floor is quite noticable.

I love it though. You can tell when they don't work with babies often, and I take the opportunity to teach as much as I can. Most of them love the advice, although its typically followed up with a "I hope I never have to use it" lol

1
CommonMisspellingBot•

Hey, ln2b8, just a quick heads-up:
noticable is actually spelled noticeable. You can remember it by remember the middle e.
Have a nice day!

^^^^The ^^^^parent ^^^^commenter ^^^^can ^^^^reply ^^^^with ^^^^'delete' ^^^^to ^^^^delete ^^^^this ^^^^comment.

1
Blondfinn•

I was 2 yrs ahead of him. Good luck in your career. I ended up flying all over the world with my job. It was pretty amazing.

1