Smoking Respiratory Therapist
(a funny advertisement I found, this does not make any sense in medical)
I did clinicals today (day 3) and it was just a normal day. Not much but a few IS and SVNs (small volume nebulizers). Btw it is also called HHD( handheld neb) in this hospital. So I was with this therapist and he was really good with patients. Well obviously I havn’t seen how RTs really work but he was great. He told us to go on a break so we went. I picked up a cookie and some chips because I was feeling hungry. Next thing you know he goes outside and lights up a cigarette? So in my head I’m thinking.. alright you are working in a hospital where you should NOT smell like anything, the liquid oxygen tank is like around the corner (50 ft away), and last but not least you are a Respiratory Therapist.
“A what?” YES he is a RESPIRATORY THERAPIST.
You know the person who should be giving a good example to patients not to start smoking?. Anyways not putting him on the spot because I would be a hypocrite. NO i don’t smoke thought but is Hookah is considered the same thing then yea but I don’t do it all the time. When this happened, I just remembered what a COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) patient told me a few hours before. He said “you know what young man…this is the best example why you should not smoke”. I agreed and for a moment there I saw myself alone. I see smokers around me and what if this exact same thing happens to a friend of mine? Or worst, I smoke hookah once in a while if I ever get the time (not much of a smoker just do it for fun) what if that happens to me (knock on wood). It scares me you know? Sometimes patients can be a mentor to you too. Since it happened to them, most likley they will warn you of what not to do.
We tell patients to do this and that but we never realize… what if I end up being the Patient? It is just something to think about. I’m sure everyone in health care probably thought about this once in their career but to me this is all new. Its all about respecting each other being Patient or playing GOD.
November 15th, 2007 at 1:52 am
I see what you’re saying. I know a couple RTs that smoke. Not only that, but a ton of people who work in hospitals are way overweight. You wouldn’t think it would be, but it is.
November 15th, 2007 at 2:02 am
yea thats what I’m thinking. I did notice a bunch of overweight people working health care. Kind of weird to see that well educated people ( knowning all the risks) can also be just as unhealthy as the guy who is living a not so healthy world.
March 2nd, 2008 at 2:43 am
in my experience most older RTs are mad smokers. i dont tell them anything, think about it… its job security for us young RTs lol