Abstract
Background:
We hypothesized that experienced respiratory therapists (RTs) may be a contributing factor that influence career decisions of RT graduates. Healthcare institutions attempt to recruit/retain RT graduates for positions without success, and a gap exists in research indicating what factors may contribute to career decision or revealing causation for unsuccessful attempts
Methods:
A quantitative research study was performed, with YSU IRB approval, by administration of an online survey, recruiting RTs, with AARC distribution approval. The data was disseminated into pie chart distribution based on survey responses
Results:
Participant demographics (n = 202) Table 1. Over 50% of participants were female as compared to male. 84% of the participants were Caucasian or African American, including age 18 years or older. 75% of participants responded that a hospital was their place of employment. 71% of respondents obtaining either a bachelor or master’s degree. 37% of participants were new graduates having two or less years’ experience, whereas 63% of respondents are considered experienced therapists with three or more years of experience. 75% of respondents felt new RT graduates look up to experienced RTs. Over half the respondents expressed more negative remarks made than positive ones in regard to work at their current location. Graph 1 reveals the results of 46% of the respondents who agreed remarks/attitudes of others creating a negative viewpoint on the profession. 48% of respondents reported they felt they have been bullied by other employees. 68% were interested in continuing their education within respiratory care, but 45% of participants expressed that they have been encouraged not to seek higher education. More than half of the participants (63%) expressed that their department has been understaffed, revealing that 60% of the RTs that participated in this study have considered finding a new career path since starting.
Conclusions:
The results infer that remarks, attitudes, lack of encouragement for higher education, may aid in a negative viewpoint within new RT graduates. The data collected concerning burnout revealed this was mostly a neutral feeling therapists had with 63% of the participants having expressed their department was understaffed, further revealing causation for employees being overworked, feeling drained, and the reason for negative remarks/attitudes. Although this was a pilot study further research needs to be performed to ascertain if there may be other causal relationships
Table 1
Participant Characteristics
n=202
Percentage
Gender
Male
74
37.00%
Female
127
63.00%
Ethnicity
Hispanic
12
6.00%
African American
30
14.90%
Caucasian
139
69.20%
Other
15
7.50%
Prefer not to say
5
2.40%
Age
18-28
37
18.00%
29-40
56
28.00%
41-50
53
26.00%
51 or older
56
28.00%
Years Experience
0-2
74
36.60%
3-10
18
8.90%
11-15
14
6.90%
16-20
28
13.90%
More than 21
68
33.70%
Highest Degree Completed
Associate
49
24.30%
Bachelor
88
43.70%
Master
56
27.70%
Other
9
4.30%
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