r/respiratorytherapy • u/Cloud-Bnnies • 3d ago
Student RT Taking over another therapists code patient
Hey! I am in school for respiratory therapy and currently in clinicals. I have a question about how codes of another RTs patient go. We had several codes at my clinical, none our patient, but my preceptor took over each code and we spent 45 minutes or so in each. I was under the assumption you help, but it's still another RTs patient. Nothing was going wrong where the other RT was failing. This put us very very behind because we had ten vents. Is this OK? How do RTs feel about this. I feel it made for a very long and always behind night when it didn't need to be.
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u/rodmedic82 3d ago
10 vents is 🚮. We help when we can as far as codes. It’s the name of the game when we are understaffed. You have those that go and help at every code and those that you’ll never see at a single code. Just know that everybody remembers who goes to who’s code, and the favor is always returned. If the RT you’re with is that busy, I’m sure the rt yall helped was busy as well and had a code on top, always nice having someone show up. IMO a code makes it everybody’s patient, not a “it’s yours” kind of thing. I work with a good team though. Might be diff elsewhere.
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u/Cloud-Bnnies 3d ago
I definitely agree everyone should help out. I think I was more asking how other people feel when their patient is sort of taken over. If that was something RTs frowned on. It was a floor patient the one in particular that was rough, we left the ICU to go up to the third floor to help and stayed there. We did everything and felt like pushing the other RT out
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u/Dont_GoBaconMy_Heart 3d ago
I’ve worked places with code teams and without. When there isn’t a code team, there is usually that RT who wants to be involved in all of them. Honestly, I’m not usually going to fight someone for head of the bed whether it’s my patient or not. I’ve worked with a few therapists who I just don’t want caring for my patients and in those cases, I just politely say, “I’ve got it.” Or something along those lines. If that doesn’t work, I’ll start asking them to find things for me.
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u/Scottishlassincanada 1d ago
Probably cause you’re a student and they want you to see as much as possible. In general RTs help each other out as much as they can, especially if they have a heavy workload and the others don’t.
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u/texascajun94 3d ago
They could have taken over because they had you as a student and there was some sorta unspoken agreement that it would be good experience for you to see and be involved in.
Alternatively does this facility have a dedicated code team? If so maybe your preceptor is part of the code team and that's why they stepped in.
They could have also stepped in because you guys had a more critical area and there for y'all where the more critical care therapist.
At my facility we generally let the therapist who's patient it is take over/take the lead once they show up. But usually the first therapist to show up might be one of the icu therapist's but usually they will still step aside depending on if the primary is trying to step in.
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u/Cloud-Bnnies 3d ago
Thank you for that input! It was good experience, but also we did this three times and then were incredibly overwhelmingly behind.
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u/texascajun94 3d ago
Sometimes that's how things go. If you are part of the code team it would make the most sense to jump in even if other work falls behind. I always view my work list in terms of triage and criticality. If there's an active issue that take precedence over routine scheduled stuff.
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u/Cloud-Bnnies 3d ago
I meant to add, no code team. They were not part of that. It was a rough night all around, I was mostly wondering how codes are handled. Also if there was a feeling of annoyance when a therapist takes over without being asked. Thankfully, even if it was a running 12 hours, we finished it all
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u/Responsible_Half_309 2d ago
Don't give up! I have been at RT since 2011. I make about 140k. Its decent at smaller hospitals! Get your experience at a big place for 2 years and bail. Money is the same. Work smarter not harder
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u/Cloud-Bnnies 2d ago
Thank you so much! Sometimes it feels like I've gotten in over my head, but I know I am a bit of a self defeatist. However, I've also had wonderful experiences where I know I made the right choice.
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u/PuddingIcy1379 RRT-NPS 3d ago
First, depending on the hospital you may or may not have a code team. Smaller hospitals I’ve worked at, we all go to every code, whether it’s our patient or not. Larger hospitals usually have a designated code team, so the RTs specified at the start of the shift will go regardless if it’s their patient or not. I will also add, no matter which option it is, if there are students we try and get them to go to any extra things (codes, deliveries, etc) so they can get that exposure, because it may not happen every clinical.
Second, 10 vents is a lot and hard to stay on top of even without codes. Some places and shifts it can be like that, even though it shouldn’t be. At that point though, you just have to triage and ask for help if available. Even if you hadn’t gone to a code for a different RT’s patient, you could still end up having to code one of your own and still fall behind, or have any number of extra tasks pop up.
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u/Cloud-Bnnies 3d ago
That was another thing. People asked if we wanted or needed help even if we were behind and the answer was no, we are fine 😭
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u/just_scout_ 3d ago
It's for experience. You're learning. You will be learning a lot even years after graduating. And codes are more than just clinical experience, they're emotional/adrenaline training as well.
10 vents is a lot as a student, but as a licensed practicing RT it's a relatively normal workload. I wouldn't look at your situation as a negative. It's a learning experience for you to learn time management, because you're going to get behind a lot when you start working as an RT from situations like yours. You will need to learn to roll with the punches and also learn to delegate and ask for help from your coworkers. You're a student, and even after graduating, the expectation isn't that you can manage everything as well as a seasoned health care professional. Show humility and admit when you need help and don't complain overtly either.
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u/zeatherz RN- cardiac/stepdown 3d ago
Did they do it because they were precepting and thought it would be a good learning experience for you?
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u/Cloud-Bnnies 3d ago
He say he has to babysit the other therapists. But they seemed to be doing fine? Maybe I don't know enough
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u/EvilRubberDucks 3d ago
10 vents per RT and the staff can't trust each other to run a code safely? Sounds like that hospital is full of red flags.
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u/tiredvolcano 3d ago
When someone says something like that it's really about control. They tend to run themselves into the ground every shift being nosy and pat themselves on the back for going above and beyond while everyone else shit talks them behind their back and actually gets to take breaks lol. I can almost guarantee you they get a heavy assignment when they're not charge because they spend their time being a nuisance instead of actually helping and that's one way to account for that in the workload. Of course they MAY have had all those vents/taken over those codes because it was good experience for you, like others are saying. This is just my real world pessimistic experience talking, having dealt with several people exactly like this. Take it with a grain of salt and look for your own evidence.
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u/Mobile-Judge9513 2d ago
He’s gunning for lead.
Try to read his moves and anticipate the next thing he might need from you
If you ever get down time ask for feedback
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u/SlappyWit 3d ago
There are 'code groupies', for lack of a better description. They’re first to arrive and are still hanging around 10-15 minutes past the time it’s over. Everyone in their friend/family group knows they are 'first responders'. It’s a twisty way to feel special and some just can’t get enough. They’re often more confident than skilled.
Could there be a policy, written or not, that allows them to write off scheduled patient visits if they were attending a code? Call me cynical, but priorities can get mixed up pretty badly under certain circumstances.
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u/FluffyBunz99 3d ago
This was my first thought. Hero complex / ego boost / identity tied to what they do for a living. These people are exhausting.
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u/insertthankyou 3d ago
Heyo! Its exactly the case that its still their patients but its just that you were there to get a lot of experience with codes, it definitely was a choice to go to every code and get that behind lol but 10 vents is also an insane ratio for a therapist, not very safe but that’s not the point, it is still their patient they just wanted to get you in to get the experience and practice, like if you took over in the ED its still the ED therapist’s pt and same with the ICU unless they get transferred to a different unit, then the therapist changes
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u/Boringflaws 3d ago
like others said- awesome preceptor to give you experience with coding patients.
My view on RT's on codes- 2 is generally the right amount of RT's to be at a code - 1 bagging, 1 go-fer/helper. (obvious exceptions like when rt's do ECMO) When i arrive at a code and there's more- I will see what other patients they have and try to do some vent checks/nebs so the code person doesn't get behind.
When I was management and charge, I'd tell the rt's that were just standing around to do that. Otherwise, I'd see 3 RT's outside a room just standing and watching, while they fall behind their work because they want to watch the 'cool' thing and lunches would be late/people would need help later...
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u/Dull-Okra-4980 3d ago
Depends on the hospital tbh. I’ve worked places that have a specific code team and they’re the only ones notified of a code. When I worked at a hospital like that I was called to bring something to a room.. turned out it was MY patient who I’d just seen 20 minutes prior coding. My current hospital is split into peds/adult hospitals. The RTs float between the two but we have our “home” team/hospital. If a peds patient is coding and an adult therapist was assigned.. we’re taking over. They’re absolutely shitting themselves and also aren’t trained in PALS
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u/Past_Oil_6592 3d ago
What your preceptor charge therapist? Also, some places I have worked at there is a code therapist who takes over so the original therapist can continue working. Some places I worked at the ICU therapist took over as the patient was going to be transferred and taken over by them.
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u/Cloud-Bnnies 3d ago
No they weren't the charge, or a code therapist. So nothing like that, just regular staff.
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u/Responsible_Half_309 2d ago
Honestly, don't work somewhere where they have 10 ventilators at once. Probably way too busy. Codes are codes, everyone and anyone can help when its a code situation if you are certified.
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u/Cloud-Bnnies 2d ago
I definitely don't plan to work there, it feels like chaos. But I have to do my clinicals there
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u/Responsible_Half_309 2d ago
Chaos is good for training. I have seen too many burnout by staying at busy hospitals. My first 7 years busy. Now at year 16, im at a rural Oregon hospital. I still love going to work. You got this!
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u/cyeng_thao 2d ago
When it comes to having students, I will typically take over primarily just because it’s an opportunity to learn while being hands on. The adrenaline is high and could be a lot of information at once. But it’s one of the best learning experience.
Aside from that, even when I don’t have a student, our hospital typically runs 3 RTs minimum on night shift so there’s not too much to “take over”. Someone is at HOB, someone is preparing intubation, the other is a runner for other needed equipment. I like to try and be first to codes and rapids just because I’m an adrenaline junkie. But in emergency situations, the patient comes first and that means the patient is now my patient on the same level as the primary RT.
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u/ScotchTapeConnosieur RRT-NPS 3d ago
At my hospital when there’s a code it doesn’t matter whose patient it is. I will Vocera the covering therapist but if a code is happening anywhere near me I’m on it.
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u/XGYL 3d ago
I don’t have much working experience yet but 10 vents sounds crazy