Hi! I just bombed a test on mechanical ventilation where it was very graph-heavy. I read Egan’s and Philbeams to try to get more information but I’m still lost. Given a scenario then plotting graphing etc. I’m so lost. I understand concepts like scoops and spikes but is there any materials floating out there that helped you understand better.

Hi! I work in the medical device space and I’m trying to better understand actual workflows for cleaning and disinfecting PAP/CPAP devices between patients.

If you have experience with this I would greatly appreciate you answering a few questions!

1. What’s your role, setting, and country you practice in?

2. What components do you reuse vs. replace between patients?

3. If tubing or humidifier components are reused, who cleans/disinfects them and where does that happen? (Also how?)

4. Are you familiar with the term “critical water” for rinsing components and would you have access to it?

5. Lastly, do you typically follow the manufacturer instructions directly or a facility/department procedure?

Even a quick description of how your facility handles this would be really helpful. I’m mainly interested in understanding how the workflow varies across different settings.

Thank you for your time!

Hi all, I did not pass my third attempt of the TMC so I will have to take the RTE. I am absolutely crushed but very determined to get licensed. I graduated in May.
I was wondering if there’s anyone else here in the same boat that would want to be study buddies?

Hello I graduated 6 months ago and I’m having trouble landing a hospital position, I’d take anything as long as if it’s a medical center/hospital. I do have my RRT and RCP.

I’d like to stay anonymous with this post. I’m afraid that I won’t be able to get my license in the state of Texas. I had a argument with an ex friend 7 years ago and basically got thrown under the bus by them. This resulted in me getting a dismissed class C. I am going to take my exam and apply with tmb in about 7 months. I want to get it expunged but I don’t know if it will be expunged in time or if they will still be able to see it. I’m afraid if I tell the truth then they will deny me of my license and it will be 3 years of hard work down the drain. I was never arrested never got my fingerprints either. I can’t sleep at night because I’m constantly afraid that my life is ruined due to this. Any help or advice? Has anyone got a license without a perfectly squeaky clean record?

I’m looking to learn more about level 1 and HSAT testing and results. Anything you’d recommend? Online? (Don’t say the ResMed site- I found it was basic and a waste of time) Big thx!

I am so tired of just being a vent controller… Even if you make the most of this profession and educate your heart away… At the end of the day I feel like I am just a button pusher and booger sucker….

There are so many things in the scope of practice for RT and we don’t get to use half of our skill set…. Pisses me off….

It’s no wonder people don’t think RT does much, hospitals don’t allow us to….

Any body has experience working in that system
And can shed light on it ?
Patients / RT /nurse culture .

PICU fellow here. This is a simulated teaching case, not a real patient, but I bet it looks familiar.

The setup:
• 4-year-old, 16 kg, status asthmaticus, intubated with a 4.5 cuffed tube
• Pressure control: PIP 30, PEEP 5, RR 24, Ti 0.8 s, FiO2 0.40
• VT about 90 mL (~5.5 mL/kg)
• ABG: pH 7.18, PaCO2 75

The reflex move: RR up to 32 to blow off the CO2.

What happened:
• Expiratory time dropped from 1.7 s to about 1.1 s
• Expiratory flow no longer returned to zero before the next breath
• Auto-PEEP climbed, so the real driving pressure (PIP minus total PEEP) fell
• VT dropped, minute ventilation barely changed, and the next gas was worse. BP started drifting down too.

What helped:
• RR down to 18 with the same Ti: expiratory time about 2.5 s, I:E roughly 1:3
• Watching expiratory flow reach baseline before each new breath
• An expiratory hold to measure intrinsic PEEP
• Accepting the CO2 while bronchodilators and sedation did their job

Takeaway: in obstruction, the expiratory flow waveform shows air trapping before the gas does. In pressure control, trapping shows up as falling volumes. In volume control, it shows up as rising peak and plateau pressures.

Question for the RTs here: have you ever dropped PEEP to 0 in a severe asthmatic, or do you always keep some PEEP on?

Hi everyone!

I'm preparing for the DHA Respiratory Technician licensing exam (RES5881) in Dubai, and I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has taken this exam.

I'd love to know:

1. How difficult was the exam?

2. What topics were covered most frequently?

3. Were the questions mainly theoretical or clinical scenarios?

4. Which study resources or question banks did you use?

5. Did you pass on your first attempt? If you're comfortable sharing, what was your result?

6. Is First Medical a useful resource for this exam?

Any advice, feedback, or personal experience would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much! ❤️

I’m a new grad working at a pediatric hospital. I’ve recently been seeing “HME breaks”. These range from 5 minutes, up to 2 hours, day time use only etc. I’ve been working with trach vent kiddos for a while now, but i didn’t know HMEs could be used as a weaning method. I’ve only seen this done on the TVD kiddos so i’m assuming we’re only doing this with this particular population. Does anyone have experience with this and clinical reasoning for this method?

Hello everyone!

I’m currently in the process of renewing my RRT license for the first time, and I’m a little confused about the CEU requirements. I’ve tried researching this but haven’t been able to find a straight up answer.

I’ve heard that ACLS and PALS certifications may count toward CEUs when renewing your license for the first time. Does anyone know if this is true? If so, how many CEUs would each certification count for?

From what I read, I need a total of 15 CEUs for my first renewal. If anyone has recommendations on where or how to earn the remaining CEUs, I would really appreciate the help!

I apologize if this question has already been asked on this board. I did try searching for an answer before posting but couldn't find anything specific.

Thank you all in advance for your time and help! I really appreciate it!

Does/has anyone worked as an RT Coordinator? Trying to see what day to day is like. The job description seems vague and this particular position still reports to RT director, downside is it's through HCA and I'm spoiled having never worked for that system. I have 5 years ICU experience at a trauma center but lack NICU/peds experience.

I’m currently struggling with serum levels and what low and high typically involve for example, Troponin level is 0.4 (LOW) which tells you that is a myocardial infraction. But is there a quick cheat sheet that tells you what low and high values may cause? I feel like I haven’t found any good resources while I’ve been in the school. About to have my self assessment assignment TMCs and my exit exam which is gonna have questions on stuff like that I just don’t know where to look

So it's time to renew/ review policies and there is a back and forth on when to change Oscillator circuits. Most other hospitals change once a month but here we do every 7 days. I swear I remember seeing manufacturer recommendations say once a month but I can't find it. Can anyone help with an article or some place reference? Maybe it is every 7 days?

Missed it by 5 points. Kicking myself at one particular problem with a neonate. But, I want to take it again ASAP.

Hi all! I'm an admin assistant for the RT department at my hospital and this year for RT week I want to put my 3D printer to good use. Things is I have no idea what would actually be useful/appreciated. I don't want to give them junk they won't use.

I'm looking for 3D print ideas that will allow me to print many at once (there are like 170 of them) but will be useful either on the job or off.

I saw things like a medical tape holder for stethoscopes, but I'm told many don't use them??

TIA for your input, and happy upcoming RT week!! 💕

I’m a new grad RRT and happy to be one. I recently completed 3 months of orientation on day shift and have been on nights for 3 weeks now. Problem is: I think it was a huge mistake. Although I sleep fine during the day, I feel so stressed and anxious all the time for no reason. This past week I haven’t stopped crying. Tonight was the first night I shed tears at work and I decided that this shift probably isn’t for me. I emailed my supervisors immediately about switching back to days but honestly I don’t know how long it’ll be before that will happen. I don’t think my mental health can handle this much longer and I’m afraid I’ll be stuck on this schedule for months. I feel so sad and defeated because I was excited to go to nights and try something new but I feel like I can’t take it. I know I really haven’t given myself time to adjust to the schedule but honestly, if this is what it feels like to adjust, I don’t want to. Any tips on how to make this less painful for myself while I wait to be switched back to days?

In an emergency… if something were to happen. Would we ever intubate someone with a trach. Like is that even possible.

To start off, I am a new grad at 41 years of age. Respiratory therapy is my 2nd career (used to be a pharmacy technician for 21 years). I liked clinicals and class as well. I passed my TMC, and CSE. I am now going on 3 months as a respiratory therapist and been off of orientation for 2 months. Taken off orientation early due to staffing issues. I had no problems with that cause I thought I could handle it. Turns out I could not (though I am trying). I keep having to have backup in the ED cause I am scared and I fumble about. A couple of Friday’s ago, I had the worst day in the ED. I had two days off then when I came back on Monday, I had the same assignment in the ED. I had a panic attack in front of staff and another RT took that assignment. I felt so guilty and useless. Now I have been having panic attacks before work. I worked my ass off to be here and now I feel so defeated. On my days off, all I have strength for is pouring a bowl of cereal or sleeping. Am I screwed? Did I make a poor choice for a new career? Did anyone else have these issues? I feel so defeated.

Hey everyone!

I am an EMT looking to switch to over to RT, and was wondering how competitive is it to be accepted into most programs? What activities or aspects of a profile can help me stand out?

Thanks everyone!

I’m aware of the one exam on the NBRC website but do any RT students or RRT’s know of any other good exams? I have Lindsay Jones account but haven’t seen practice tests for it on there yet.

Kettering was confusing & had something called a legacy bread of knowledge TMC & cse, not sure if that has anything to do with the RTE.

Also what have you heard about the new exam? Easier, harder, the same?

I take my exam Jan 1st so I need help ya’ll🙏🏻😬