RN and RT are both amazing careers! But I want to hear your honest opinion... Which career do you think is better? Leave a comment and let me know. You can read our full guide on this topic here ➜ ➜ ➜ bit.ly/3eQJg9m

They both are equally important! I'm an RRT at COVID hospital and both RN and RRT work together as a team to make sure these patients live another day. Not one is superior to the other.

New RT here, it’s very obvious with this pandemic that the RT dept should be more invested in and RTs should be more recognized! :) Proud to be part of the RT dept and glad I chose this path.

I’ve heard from several RN’s that they think respiratory school would be harder. I chose to go to school for respiratory because I can handle all the goo, but not poop! I start my clinicals in the fall!

I have friends in both fields and there's constantly debate about it. Its really dependent on what an individual feels passion for. I'm currently an RT student with two semesters left. I was drawn to respiratory because of my own asthma difficulties and seeing how my grandfather was so kindly taken care of in his final years of ALS by RT's. Respiratory is an amazing field and I can't wait to get out into the world as an RT!!

At my hospitals we have young new rns who think they’re on top of the world. They treat RTs like crap but I’ll always love RT over any other profession. ❤️

I am a current RT student, and so far I love it! I like to think of a nurse being a jack of all trades while RTs are specialkzed in cardiopulmonary health and rehabilitation 🥰🥰🥰 both are essential in caring for the patient though

BSRT, RRT for 7 years and I'm loving it! I make $65 per hour so I'm pretty sure I'm making good money as well.

The first whiff of that colostomy bag will have RRT's saying thank the LAWD I'm not the RN. Chest up baby! LOL

I guess it’s personal choice and both jobs are important but every nurse I talk to hates their job. Pretty much every respiratory therapist I have talk to you or come in contact with say they pretty much enjoy their job.

There shouldn’t even be a Vs. between these two! We are both part of a Team to treat and care for our patients. We work together to serve up the best options and bounce ideas off of each other to help think outside of the box to help each patient with their individualized needs. Pros and cons are everywhere, it is personal preference, can you handle blood more than sputum? Are you more interested in working in a specialized field, or can you work in multiple anatomy systems? ((I started this comment before the ads were done)) Thank you for your disclaimer!

Definitely getting my masters 100% physicians assistant sounds great for me. I ended up choosing RT because it was way more appealing to me 😍

I have been a registered respiratory therapist for 28 years and a registered nurse for 16 years my wife, daughter, and son are Registered Respiratory Therapist both of them saw me in the capacity of Respiratory Therapist and Registered Nurse and still chose to be Respiratory Therapist I worked for a private hospital for 17 years first as a Registered Respiratory Therapist then a Registered Nurse. I worked for both state and county hospitals as a Nurse Educator and I currently work in the federal health care system as a Clinical Nurse Educator. Both fields have been rewarding, both programs we’re equally as tough. As a Registered Respiratory Therapist and Registered Nurse I worked at a 500 bed hospital, there was only one respiratory department, as a Registered Nurse in that same hospital there are 15 nursing departments so for me being a Registered Nurse has given me more opportunity to expand my known base, skill set, and education. I did obtain my MSN and currently work as a Clinical Nurse Educator. I love being a respiratory therapist, as a matter fact I work 10 hour shifts as a Clinical Nurse Educator which allows me to work one day a week as a Respiratory Therapist in an on call capacity. So for me it has been better working as a registered nurse over these last 16 years with all the educational opportunities, the expansion of my knowledge base, skill set, and being able to work in different departments. Not working in the same department with other Respiratory Therapist who hold the same Credentials. During morning and night shift report I would hear the therapist who had those credentials arguing back-and-forth about who’s turn it was to be in the PFT lab that day or who should be in the sleep study clinic that night, As a Registered Nurse working on the unit we never had those discussions we had nurses who were hired as charge nurses and house supervisors so there was no question of who was going to be charge nurse or house supervisor. I Would like to thank all healthcare professionals for what you do on the front lines

My perspective about Rt and RN. Respiratory Therapy is a specialty. We specialize in pulmonary where as, nurses must know everything about the human body. Therefore, nurses are the primary care givers with total responsibility. With malpractice suits, nurses licenses are usually referred to State and are also in federal court. RT is rarely referred due to lesser responsibilities. Being a nurse is a very big responsibility. However, RTs are under the radar. We have very minimal overhead. Nursing overhead is ridiculous. They have nurse managers, CNO, nursing supervisors, team leaders, and the Doctors. etc. The money for both disciplines are great. Nurses make more but RT does great as well. As RT, my 15 year salar range was $60,000 to 106,000 with great retirement and benefits. Both careers are great. It's just all about what you're looking for as a healthcare professional.

ER RN here, so much respect for my fellow RTs, yall are slammed during these times. However, RNz have many more opportunities for career advancement and Salary. I've spoken to many RTs in ICU and ED and most of them are going back to school for nursing or other areas. In many states, RNs are doing RT taks and responsibilities. You cannot say the same for RT, but we need RTs all day!!

Just started my second year in respiratory. This is great information for someone who is undecided or looking for more information.

I would like to start by saying that I honestly think that both careers are amazing and SO IMPORTANT! But personally I prefer the RRT career. When applying for university I thought about applying for both Nursing and Respiratory Therapy, but after reading more about each career, I got a lot more interested in Respiratory Therapy , and that’s what I chose. I especially loved the fact that Respiratory Therapy profession focuses on one area of expertise! At this point I didn’t really know the differences in the salaries and more facts such as what was mentioned in the video. This video actually helped me understand more about the differences and similarities between the two careers, and also helped me learn many new things that I did not know before about this topic. Was very interesting :)

We are both essential to the health care system. We are both saving lives and giving patients compassionate care in a time when RTs and RNs are probably one of the most important professions in the world. To all my fellow RTs and RNs stay strong and healthy and be humble.

Also, it is important to mention that nurses can also specialize a specific body system, including pulmonology.

I went to LVN school for nine months and got dropped because I got C. Never went back to retake the term again because I knew I deserved better. I left the nursing path and decided to RT because I always passionate about intubation and Advance life support, as well as trauma. So RT was the best fit for me. I’m on my third term in RT school and honestly I am loving everything I am learning and I’m glad I changed career paths. I just don’t like when nurses think they know everything respiratory wise when they don’t, just let us do our job and you do yours that way we work as a team.

My friend was a RRT and was in nursing school with me. His starting pay was high due to his experience

I’ve been a RT for almost 20 years, I still love it. My department is very respected in my hospital. I enjoy educating families, students and other coworkers. Nursing does not get the same education on the cardiopulmonary system as we RTs do. At my facility the nursing staff leans on us a lot for help and support. The pay range is a difference where nursing does have a higher pay scale then RT. I do not fault any nurse for that. They have a wider range of responsibilities compared to RT. My significant other is a nurse and my mother is a nurse. I respect nursing but I know nursing is not for me. But honestly to each their own on this topic. I’m a proud RT!!

I am a Registered Nurse who also happens to be a professor in a nursing program. I thought this video was fantastic. I have many friends who are RRTs that I have worked with through the years. This video gave me a whole new understanding and appreciation for them as clinicians. I hope it is OK to share this video with my students when I teach them about the interdisciplinary healthcare team.

I feel like RRTs are overlooked, under valued and never given the credit that they truly deserve. I am in my senior year in my program of Respiratory Care, I am truly excited to graduate and I am so glad I chose this field. I do believe both fields are great , but Not a lot of ppl know about Registered Respiratory Therapist.

I'm currently an RRT student, and in the midst of a global pandemic I'm pretty sure we can all see and agree on the importance of RRT's (so glad they're finally getting recognition, somemany people don't even know we exist). I was in nursing school as well and both my parents are nurses; they're obviously just as important and can be argued as "more" important because of how broad there scope of practice is. In short, I can't choose between the two 😭

Respiratory Therapy! Thank you for the video. It reinforces the question I have had our college advisors ask students contemplating RT vs RN...”code blue or code brown?” :)

I always knew I wanted to be in the medical field just didn't know what field I would pick, but I fell deeply in love with the heart & lung an how they function the Respiratory Therapy field is so interesting they honestly amaze me. An, I can't wait to start my program this fall, I absolutely have major respect for Nurses I know they put in a lot of hard work in school just as RT's do, but RT get to go to different floors, see different patients, and are always on the go verse Nurse's get assigned to a floor in the hospital and to only a couple of patients on that floor. Especially right now RT's are key in what is going on with COVID-19 and so are Nurses, but for some reason Nurses get recognized more then RT's. #RTSTRONG

I’m in the same boat. I’m trying to figure which is for me. I like that nurses have more opportunities and options to work in a variety of work settings. On the other hand I’ve been really looks into respiratory care. I like that rrts are specially trained in one area of medicine that deals with the lungs. But also the heart tbh. Also rrts are less of a job scope compared to nursing. Now I’m not a fan of cleaning poop but rrts aren’t out the woods when it comes to gross stuff. The mucus is gross also.It all comes down to what I have passion for.Both are great careers. Do I want to start Ivs, hang drips, poke ppl in places all over lol. Or just deal with vents, abgs, and breathing treatments? Both are hard working and can be very busy. I may go the respiratory care route. Maybe it’s because the education. Nursing is obviously more competitive. But both require science and math. So if you are like me and having to debate. Shadow a rn or rrt. Or you can get a job at a hospital as transporter like me. You get to see everything int he hospital. Best of luck God bless!!

Just a word of advice to all those coming to decide between the two. Yes, RN’s do have a higher pay by just a short amount. But if you’re someone who’s worked in the hospital for all 4 years of school to be an RT. Vs. A RN who has no experience in the hospital or in a clinic. You’re more than likely starting higher. Hospitals pay more for experience. If you’re already a Well Oiled Machine coming into your Job as an RT vs an RN who’s got a lot to learn working on a team in the hospital You’re going to be favored. Sooooo the takeaway is… if you’re going into EITHER of these two. GET EXPERIENCE!

Both are stable careers and are essential to one another in order to function as a whole critical patient care but just for me personally, I prefer to be an RRT. I grew up in the family that deeply involved in cardiopulmonary and neuro issues with the need of patient care under RRTs. I met friends that are going into the field and not to mention meeting my fiancé who was once a NICU baby that survived. I couldn’t forget the time I saw my grandpa on a ventilator at the age of 8. So, I always felt like I was surrounded by the pathway of an RRT. It just seems like something was telling me that it was meant for me to become. 🤓 P.S: I can’t deal with code brown either 😭😂💩

I was an RT 1978 to 1983; then practicing critical care Rn till 2019. Both fields are incredibly rewarding and I recommend both. In some respects, RT was more fun while nursing was harder work, but no regrets. But being an RT first and then Nurse? That put me way ahead of so many of my peers. All the places I worked as RN, we found partnering with RT's of the utmost importance. Conflicts usually arose from person to person drama, as always.

Still a student( one semester left). From what I’ve seen in clinic, both. RT’s should be recognized more and people should know about them instead of nurses taking credit for everything. IG: Alexandracruz33

Starting respiratory school in a few weeks!! So excited!

I'll be real with you, you also need to know renal and labs as an RRT. The amount of time I'd have to point out to a resident/NP that the lung opacities are due to fluid overload and not pneumonia is staggering.

I definitely would choose to become a respiratory therapist thank you

Hi everyone! I really like this video. As a respiratory therapy student who is almost done with school i have a biased opinion towards RT! both are amazing careers and they deserve recognition! (i’m also here for the giveaway hehe)

Best KZfaq Channel! Lots of great info. Will definitely be binge watching all videos! Future RT ✋

Great video! About to enter my first semester of RT school. I would rather deal with the waist up 😂

From what I have seen during my Nursing career, the fact that Respiratory Therapy exist is a constant reminder of the failure of our Nursing organizations and/or incompetent leaders. I honestly believe you would be a full to pursue Nursing at this point over Respiratory Therapy. There job basically consist of doing less, but with more patients of the things we actually enjoy as a nurse without the grueling pounding that nurses have to put on their bodies. They don't have to constantly lift extremely overweight patients after the 8th time they have gone on themselves from the tube feedings, nor do they have to get pulled on by the overweight patients trying to stand up to walk after you have asked them 20 times not to do that. They are usually the last two be blamed for anything also. The amount of money they are making now traveling is ridiculous. Let's not add that almost everything they do is within a nurses scope of practice except maybe intubation which I have never seen one perform properly. Not saying their isn't some out there that can, I have just never seen it myself and I have been around a lot of different RTs. If you want to be a nurses you should definitely think about avoiding the profession all together and doing RT. As an RT you will not have to worry about the patient families, your staff, your bosses, the doctor, and the patients believing that you're HEMAN and that you should be able to constantly move and lift 300 plus pound people, because the RT that just came before you ignored the fact the patient was down in the bed and gave the breathing treatment and moved on is making more money than you are, doing something that you could have easily done leaving you the task that is going to put you on SSI disability eventually with a life of pain.

Thank you! Just got accepted and started this month. I know this is just the beginning for me and seeing my options after I finish this current program was very helpful! Was already leaning towards a PA program after this. Pretty sure that's what I'm going to end up doing. Thank you for taking the time to put this together, appreciate it!

I went to school and got my bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in psychology (started off as a bio major before switching). Prior to going to college, I worked as an optometric technician at an eye care practice. Fast forward, I am now 27 and after many trial and error experiences in different careers using my bachelor's degree, I am back to being an optometric tech. I absolutely love working in the healthcare field and love working with patients, helping patients, and seeing their overall care improve. As an optometric tech, I feel like there is not much room to grow, so lately I have been looking into going back to school and becoming an RT. This video was extremely helpful as I was considering both options (RN or RT), but think I would enjoy RT more as I tend to thrive on a career that has more of a specific focus, versus an overall scope. What do you guys think?

After 7 years of banking I made a career change wanted to become a Nurse so im a CNA now on my way to nursing school however I'm just now learning about RT job and still trying to decide between the 2. For new RTs how would we get experience are hospitals accomidative to new RTs?

They are like comparing a police officer to a fireman. I have been a Respiratory Care Practitioner for 27 years. There are two different mentalities involved. Nurses are task oriented. Respiratory has tasks but in a hospital they are involved with every critical patient that can't breath. Oh yeah the phlegm secretion thing stops even tough nurses that will put their hands in anything. Financially there is more money and career opportunities in nursing. Respiratory services are not reimbursed by insurance. Admin can't get rid of Respiratory but they run it as tight as possible. With covid it is a very dangerous job.

I've been an RT for nearly 25 years, best thing I've ever done. I chose RT over nursing because I wanted to be where the action is as RTs go all over the hospital. I've really love being an RT but if I had to do it all over again, I would have gone into nursing. Nursing just has so many branches other than patient care and they are just so much more in demand because of nursing to patient ratios, as to where RTs have no ratio restrictions. The biggest reason however is the NBRC, the NBRC does absolutely nothing for RTs compared to what other allied health care boards do for their constituents but they charge more money than any of them. This is just MY opinion however.

Very well orchestrated educational video. Well said.

Rt definitely we have lot of autonomy

I like RT because I am studying that and I love it ❤️

This for me is better than UFC matches lol 😂

great video!🙂 from a future RT

Thank you so much. Fantastic information

currently a RRT student at a 4 year university and I am not going to lie I came into this thinking it would be way easier than it actually is....

Brilliant video, I’m an emt and im leaning towards RT, my mom is an RN and I respect what she does but I refuse to clean poop haha

RRT, no wound care beyond trachs for me

I was thinking about doing RT. How is the job outlook going to be in the next five or so years? Is it hard to find a job?

Both

This is like comparing Apple to oranges...both delicious on their own and amazing together in salads. I know this whole worshiping of nurses during this times had created some hurt feelings; however, I don’t think it serves anyone to try to create a division among the two professions. As a nurse I appreciate all my RTs, however it needs to be recognized that nursing IS holistic. Meaning, that besides the physical/clinical aspects of patient care we also have to deal with the psychological/psychosocial; which many times can be a whole can worms in itself.

I'm licensed as both a RN and RRT. Is this really the question you are asking, "Which is better?" What's really underneath the question? I find it's a little different for each person when I'm asked this. There are pros and cons to both. Each is a different side to the same coin. What do you really want to know?

I’m a new grad RRT (graduated in may) and I just applied to nursing school last week! Once I reached my 2nd semester of respiratory therapy school, I knew respiratory wasn’t going to be for me! I hate it so much!

Both careers are great!

Great vid and presentation 🙏🏼

Thé best informative video ever! Thank you so much

Just know RTs get zero respect. ZERO! Before a nurse comes here ans says..I love rt.. I'm talking about overall. From admin on down. Many rt departments fall under nursing mgt therefore you will be considered working under them. Dynamics is important as many nursing programs do not teach nursing that rt/rn are a team. Been in the field 17 yrs. With that being said..I love rt I just loathe the negative Dynamics. Don't expect to be appreciated and compensated for your hard work.

b.sc respiratory therapist can run own clinic

❤great job breaking that down

It honestly depends on the person! Nurses and Respiratory Therapists are two completely different types of people. (Especially dealing with things that we can or cannot handle “sputum or poop”). Together, RNs and RTs make the most valuable team in healthcare. We strive together to provide the best care for our patients. That being said, there is not a “better” career because without each other, we would not survive. RRT here and I believe that nurses are amazing people!

❤very helpful!!! Thanks so much😊

Very very helpful and good video!

Thanks for the information. I’m still undecided, so it might just come down to what program that I get accepted into.

appreciate this video, very informative

Hello I’m a RRT ADN you talked about becoming a PA with a master degree please explain the pathway to it thank you

Are you able to re-take the tests should you not pass the first time ?

Better is subjective. RN has potential to make more money and I think it is deservedly so. I was an RT and while I thought the pay was good for what was required of me, eventually I became bored and went to medical school and am now a physician. Many RNs told me they could never work with sputum and I told them I couldn't handle vomit/stool on a regular basis. I'm glad we live in a world with diversity of taste. Remember, better is your subjective experience. With that said, I'm happy I became an internal med physician.

Hello, could you please help me, I have a question. Do you know if a foreign respiratory therapist can validate her title to work in the United States?

28:08 I prefer Respiratory Therapy and this video really helped my decision.❤

Thanks.

Good info!

Great video! Future RT 😁

Can anyone recommend any schools for RT in Southern California

well said

Very helpful.. Thank you!

i think im not built for this

Get RN because of job availability and flexibility, wherever you go you have a place to apply. RTs have limited places to apply. Hell get PT/OT before considering RT.

both but RN is the ❤️

RT doesn't have to wear that funky little hat! but in all actuality I can't handle mucus so I became an RN

Respiratory Therapist

But everyone makes more than nurses, literally everyone such as Radiology techs and definitely RTs. Such a good job, definitely way better than nurses. In my areas at least, RT and techs make more than nurses. Nurses have the worst job ever.

Wrong info on Nurses since there a hierarchy RN - manager, admits, plans, discharge LVN- supervisor, follows plan of care and gives medications CNA- nurse assistant, bathes, feeds, cleans

Really? Debate? There is no Debate!!! As an RRT for 5yrs, I always tell people dont get into respiratory. It's not worth it at all. If you wanna work like a dog, get underpaid, under appreciated(unless a code happens), Not do pt care, get low census, work way under staff and many many more thing then RTs the way to go lol. RT is an awesome career in theory but in real life it sucks. We don't use all our scope of practice, instead you get loaded with SVN tx and stack stack stack. You lie about everything you chart(BECAUSE YOU HAVE TOO, TOO MANY TX NOT ENOUGH TIME). I can go on and on but if your going to RT school DON'T!!! Change career if you can. Quick story, We have RT who worked 30 plus years and are top off at 33 to 35 an hr!!! New Grads RNs Start at 35 to 40 an hour!!! YES NEW GRADS MAKE MORE THE VET RTS STARTING. Don't mean to be negative and trust me I love the field of RT but the CONS are just to great for me to recommend it. RN is a way better choice

PEEP > POOP

Informative video! I’m for RT, but RNs seem happy and fulfilled too! I love the RTZ videos, but this one especially could use more diversity in the animated bitmoji people- they’re pretty much ALL white.

def a biased opinion

So much was good information but there was so much information that was false. LVN an LPN have the exact same scope of practice and sit for the exact same licensure examination. I hardly know of any four-year respiratory therapy program, 90% are found in community colleges and or 2 year programs. There is nothing that an RRT is licensed to perform that is outside of an RN’s scope of practice. In critical care we don’t even have respiratory therapist because RN’s manage the vent settings, we draw our own arterial blood gases, and are the ones at the patient’s bedside for 12 hours. We are allowed to wean off a patient from the ventilator and extubate them as well. It is nice when there is an RT on staff to help take some of the duties off of the RN, but basically there is not one task or procedure that an RT can perform that an RN is not allowed to perform because it is outside our scope of practice. The state boards allow RNs to perform total patient care. And did I did not get a generalized education in the patient systems, one whole year was human pathophysiology that was extremely detailed and every system.

As an RT who has dated plenty of RN's.... the difference in pay is ridiculous. RN's make bank!

I laugh when RTs who are by that time are almost always doing a different job, talk about how they were “in medicine too, they were a trained RT”.

Choose R.N., NOT respiratory therapist. Physicians refer to respiratory as 'ancillary', lumped in with C.N.A.s. Despite taking the same general education, prerequisites and sciences respiratory earns about 20% to 30% LESS THAN R.N.s. R.N.s and M.D.s ate lunch, conversed idly, and even dated/married; yet, NEARLY never, can the same be said of the LOWLY respiratory therapist. My usual contribution to the 'team' was, " SaO2 is something %" followed by, "ok, ya sure", by the Pulmonologist. 37 years of such 'team work' was not pleasant, or worth it. Further, the nature of the discipline greatly diminishes the areas needed, thus opportunities are diminished. Choose R.N., NOT respiratory therapist.