RTs, Med tec, RRTs Nurses etc... come on in for career advice

August 03, 2022, 10:09 AM

quote:
Originally posted by captain127:
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times….

Right now most all health care facilities are so desperate for staff your age should be no problem at all

Also a lot of people younger considering health care after the Covid fiasco said no thanks and most training programs are short on applicants.

Those that are working in healthcare are being pushed beyond limits due to short staffing and demands pushed by non healthcare experienced administrators squeezing every last drop of blood out of the workers with new onerous regulations and policies popping up what seems daily.

I am at the tail end of my career and feel anyone going into healthcare now is in for a rocky road - our chronic on the edge of crisis staffing shortages will only get worse, the charting and non clinical demands ( paperwork, compliance continuing education and more) will continue to burden the workers.

Was a time there was ten nurses on a floor and one administrator, now it seems there is two nurses and 6 administrators each one hounding the nurse with one more petty check the box list or task which adds nothing to the quality of care but makes the organization or administrators “look good”

With all that said getting a healthcare education and carefully navigating the current storm can be financially and personally rewarding, but is getting harder alll the time to comply with the BS

Yes, sad but true.

August 04, 2022, 09:31 AM

golddot

quote:
Originally posted by amhaynie:
I've been an RRT for 12 years, feel free to reach out if you'd like to talk. I'd be happy to help any way I can.

will do sir !

August 04, 2022, 09:36 AM

golddot

I very much appreciate the replies, I am DEF not looking into to nursing, just resp care, really anything that has a 2 year or less free that allows me to work in any clinical/hospital/docs office environment and make 40-50+k a year. I lied respiratory because it was a niche job that seemed to have a lot of openings.

August 09, 2022, 09:58 AM

golddot

quote:
Originally posted by amhaynie:
I've been an RRT for 12 years, feel free to reach out if you'd like to talk. I'd be happy to help any way I can.

E MAIL INBOUND

August 09, 2022, 05:15 PM

LBTRS

Healthcare is tough as you get older and you're no spring chicken as it is. I work in Healthcare Administration and see our clinical staff and they are doing back breaking work at ages up to 75 years old. Nothing I'd want to do at that age.

At 52 years old you need to be making more than $29k/year and I'm sure you could do so delivering pizzas, doordash, instacart, etc. assuming that is an option where you live?

I don't know about Texas, but here in Arizona a Med Tech doesn't make $50k-$60k but more like $35k - $40k.

What do you do now? Any chance you can grow your experience into a supervisor or manager position at another company making closer to the $60k/year you're after? Starting out in healthcare at 52 years old doesn't sound like a good plan to me. Healthcare is tough for young people in today's environment and not a field I'd choose this late in the game.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: LBTRS,

August 10, 2022, 11:36 AM

golddot

LBTR, I am a 24 yrs LEO, my county is very poor as is most of my area, I am ready to shift out of this line of work, I am still in VERY good shape for my age and look ten to 15 years younger than I am. I work out 5 to 6 times a week. I am not worried about the physical side of it. I have a farm and property i own so I am not willing to move for a better job.

August 12, 2022, 06:21 PM

amhaynie

quote:
Originally posted by LBTRS:
Healthcare is tough as you get older and you're no spring chicken as it is. I work in Healthcare Administration and see our clinical staff and they are doing back breaking work at ages up to 75 years old. Nothing I'd want to do at that age.

At 52 years old you need to be making more than $29k/year and I'm sure you could do so delivering pizzas, doordash, instacart, etc. assuming that is an option where you live?

I don't know about Texas, but here in Arizona a Med Tech doesn't make $50k-$60k but more like $35k - $40k.

What do you do now? Any chance you can grow your experience into a supervisor or manager position at another company making closer to the $60k/year you're after? Starting out in healthcare at 52 years old doesn't sound like a good plan to me. Healthcare is tough for young people in today's environment and not a field I'd choose this late in the game.

I may be misunerstanding your thoughts here so please forgive me if I am missing something, but I just wanted to point out that a Respiratory Therapist in AZ (Very similar in TX) will start out at around $70,000 per year in an acute care hospital and there is a lot of room to grow from there. Its definitly not a Med Tec (Not sure what job you are thinking of?). A respiratory therapist requires a college degree in the discipline, a national registry certification and state specific professional licensing, very similar to nursing.

August 12, 2022, 07:38 PM

WaterburyBob

To me, 'Med Tech' means a Registered Medical Technologist (a Laboratory Tech).
It requires a BA/BS degree that includes a year of Clinical training and a national certification; some states also require their own certification.
There are lesser Lab certifications that require less education and training, but they pay less.
An MT-ASCP certified Lab Tech has a median income of $53k.

August 13, 2022, 04:45 AM

r0gue

Surgical Techs are in crazy demand right now. Making big money locally in PA. Not sure how much that translates to your area. I believe there are short programs to get the certification. These are the people that arrange and hand off instruments to the surgeon.

August 15, 2022, 09:34 AM

golddot

Well, after a ton of research , I am leaning more toward the Rad Tech, as it has less cajoling of the PTs, I don't have to fight a PT to get his Xray, usually, less exposure to funk and it is the only tract of study that is offered by my local community college

August 15, 2022, 10:02 AM

1flynDO

Gold dot glad to hear. If you need anything don’t be a stranger!!! Good luck Godspeed. Grind it out!!!

August 15, 2022, 02:01 PM

golddot

quote:
Originally posted by 1flynDO:
Gold dot glad to hear. If you need anything don’t be a stranger!!! Good luck Godspeed. Grind it out!!!

thanks buddy, I was disappointed because i was enthusiastic about Resp but, most signs point to not doing it, I have now also looked at Surgery assistant as well as a physical therapist assistant.