So you are an RT student. You have a question. Perhaps it's a question you need to know for a test. Perhaps it's information you need for your RT or CRT test. Then you need to know the answer for that.
Yet sometimes I witness RT students asking us RTs questions. Well, actually it happens a lot. And most of the time we have answers. And the reason we have answers is that it's the information we find useful and that we use, at least from time to time.
But if you ask an RT of 20 plus years a question, and they don't know the answer, it's probably because it doesn't matter. The answer might be useful to help you pass a test or impress someone. But it's not a bit of wisdom needed in the real world.
Example:
Student: "What type of a ventilator is this?"
RT of 20 years: "It's a Servi i."
Student: "No. I mean, is it flow cycled or pressure limited."
RT of 20 years. "I have no idea. I remember studying those in school. But it's information I forgot as soon as the test was over."
This information is not important to the typical therapist. It may prove helpful to engineers who are developing such equipment. But it's not helpful in the field of RT work.
Example #2.
Student. "When peak pressure and static pressure both increase, what does that mean?"
RT of 20 years: "It means that your compliance has decreased. It means your lungs are stiffer. Severe COVID-19 is a perfect example of this. Their lungs are stiff, and therefore there pressures are higher. This is why we use low tidal volumes and high respiratory rates and are happy with some degree of respiratory acidosis."
Student. "Wow! I am impressed with your knowledge.
This information is very helpful in the line of RT work. I guarantee there will be one or maybe more questions about peak and static pressures. There may be a question about what it means if they both go up. There may be questions about what happens when the gap between them increases. So, know this wisdom. You will definitely benefit from this wisdom when you are a real RT.
If you ask this question to an RT who has worked at a certain hospital for 20 years or longer. And that therapist doesn't know the answer. Then it probably doesn't matter.
Think about it. That RT has worked