While working as a staff RT a number of years ago, a ward clerk referred to me as \u2018support staff\u2019. I think she was joking \u2013 at least I hope she was \u2013 but I was still offended. \u201cI\u2019m not support staff,\u201d I countered. \u201cI\u2019m a health care professional!\u201d We laughed about it at the time, but it also apparently stuck with me.<\/p>\r\n
Most RTs know how hard it is to explain what we do, especially to patients who ask if we\u2019re a \u201cspecial kind of nurse\u201d. Once, after hearing \u201cRT to room\u2026\u201d numerous times on the overhead pager, a patient\u2019s family member asked me, \u201cWho is this Archie fellow they keep calling?\u201d Then, after doing my very best to summarize our profession he commented that: \u201cit sounds like a job that is better suited for a man\u201d. (Sigh).<\/p>\r\n
It\u2019s also often difficult for other health care professionals to wrap their heads around the RT\u2019s role. Most of us have had the experience of being mistaken as the nurse or the physician \u2013 the latter particularly if standing at the head of the bed, which RTs often are. I have been asked several times to do a chest x-ray, assess patients whose problems were decidedly not cardiorespiratory-related (psychosis, groin pain, maggots), and was once called in from home in the middle of night to clean a gastroscope. Some facilities have tried to solve the mistaken identity issue by coding their professions in different coloured scrubs \u2013 which is helpful, but does little to clarify our role or speak to the immense value that RT services contribute to patient care outcomes.<\/p>\r\n
We are \u2013 and likely always will be \u2013 a relatively small and newer profession, in comparison. Things have certainly gotten better over the years, but it seems that we continue to struggle with how others perceive our role. So my question is \u2013 who owns that? Who is responsible for ensuring that all the people that RTs interact with know not only what we do, but also its importance? Undoubtedly, both the CRTO and RT education programs have an important part to play in informing other professions and the general public about the RT role. However, I truly believe that the greatest impression can be made by the individual RT at the bedside (or in their particular practice environment). Ultimately, each RT has the power to raise the profession\u2019s profile and showcase our unique body of knowledge\/skills in their daily practice and interactions.<\/p>\r\n
So, if we are \u2018health care professionals\u2019 (as I firmly declared I was), then it\u2019s up to us to own that. Professionals rely on their knowledge to make decisions and also accept responsibility for those decisions (not just falling back on, \u201cI did it because the doctor ordered it\u201d). Professionals take pride in their work, conduct themselves in a respectful manner and take every opportunity to share what they know with those around them (like patiently answering questions \u2013 even somewhat insulting ones!).<\/p>\r\n
It comes down to the individual RT enlightening one patient, family member, other health care professional, and yes \u2013 one support staff member \u2013 at a time about all that RTs do every day to enhance the lives of their patients and the entire health care system.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
While working as a staff RT a number of years ago, a ward clerk referred to me as \u2018support staff\u2019. I think she was joking \u2013 at least I hope she was \u2013 but I was still offended. \u201cI\u2019m not support staff,\u201d I countered. \u201cI\u2019m a health care professional!\u201d We laughed about it at the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,25,26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3834","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-members-blog","category-practice-blog","category-students-blog"],"yoast_head":"\n