When this Covid started in January, 2020 or so, the entire procedure was altered. The Anesthesiologists would arrive and they were by order compelled to Gown Up in a fashion that I had never seen before. It was all very orderly. Gloves put on a certain way, the double masks, the gowns, second pair of gloves, the visors. It was all very Military seeming to me. Decloaking was equally formalized. Meanwhile the Patient needing to be intubated was desaturating with tachycardia, hypertensive or hypotensive, and not yet truly sedated. It was scary stuff I am certain if they were at all alert.
I had to do it as well. After a while we got used to it because we were doing it a couple dozen times every shift at least.
In short order, the Doctors were no longer going into the rooms of positive or suspected Covid Patients. They were Rounding ‘OUTSIDE OF THE ROOMS.’ The few times that Physicians went into the isolated rooms it was for intubation, Codes, or bedside procedures.
Additionally, they were tweaking ventilator settings like crazy. Minute changes Rates, volumes, pressures, medications, whatever. The Doctors rarely went into the rooms with these ‘victims.’
So then who was going into the rooms? Well most ICU Nurses have a single Patient. So they were in there quite frequently. Most Respiratory Therapists had at least a dozen Patients, each had to be checked up close at least twice a shift. Ordinarily it was 3 times per shift. So then each ventilator change ordered was done by the RT, and they were guessing all day long, usually guessing wrong I felt. So the situation becomes that the RTs are working their asses off, non stop, all day.
I personally burned out, and left. I literally was unable to do the work. Since I left, 9 others have left (that I know about.) Now they are desperate. The mandatory vaccines did not help the situation. They have given good raises, bonuses, but nobody is applying for those jobs. The staffing is completely bare bones.
I have a friend who quit, then took another job not too far away. I do not know the conditions there but I have friends who work there. This friend of mine is earning more than $265,000. That is good money for a non travel position. I do not know the details, regarding any contract, but because of the mandates, I would not consider it at all.
People do not appreciate just what RTs do, but any Patient who travels to say CT Scan, MRI, Cardiac Cath Lab must have an RT with them. RTs are constantly in the Trauma Rooms. It is very demanding work, and they see a lot of things, particularly the competence of Nurses and Physicians. They go everywhere in the hospital where Patients are found.
So then each ventilator change ordered was done by the RT, and they were guessing all day long, usually guessing wrong I felt. So the situation becomes that the RTs are working their asses off, non stop, all day. . .
. . . .People do not appreciate just what RTs do,
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I think I can see why.