Respiratory therapists, sometimes called respiratory care practitioners, are regulated and licensed Allied Health professionals. They work under the direction of doctors and treat a wide range of patients, from premature infants whose lungs are not fully developed to adults with asthma and other breathing difficulties to the elderly with lung disease. They give patients oxygen, manage ventilators, and administer lung medication. In other words, they prove necessary and sometimes life-saving care.
Respiratory therapists spend their days working in hospitals, cardiopulmonary diagnostic labs, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, and home health agencies. However, about three-quarters of all respiratory therapists work at hospitals. An integral part of their training is through internships, where they get hands-on experience under the guidance of licensed respiratory therapists.
Obtaining the necessary educational requirements, getting the necessary hands-on training through internship programs, taking the exam for licensure, and taking continuing education units to remain up-to-date in the practices relevant to the field takes a tremendous investment in time and money. You must be prepared in the event you face allegations of misconduct. Such allegations can result in an investigation by the board overseeing the profession in your state or your employer. Disciplinary measures could greatly compromise the progress you have made in your career and potentially derail your plans forever.
This guide to Respiratory Therapist Internship Issues will discuss potential disciplinary hurdles you may encounter on your journey to becoming a licensed respiratory therapist and what actions you should take if someone accuses you of wrongdoing to protect yourself and your future. If you have any questions during or after reading this guide, contact the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm. Our team has years of experience helping students across the country defend themselves against allegations of wrongdoing. We can help you to resolve these allegations and achieve the best possible outcome.
Respiratory Therapist Residency Requirements
Each state has different educational requirements for respiratory therapy licensure, but many require completing a respiratory therapist program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation or Respiratory Care (CoARC). Respiratory therapist candidates must have a minimum educational requirement of an associate's degree. However, most choose to complete a bachelor's degree to remain competitive in the field and give themselves additional career opportunities. A degree in respiratory therapy prepares students to administer therapeutic medicinal gases, provide appropriate medical assistance to support respiration, administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and administer drugs given through.
Once successfully completing a respiratory therapist degree program, students must take and pass the certified respiratory therapist (CRT) exam, which is administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). Forty-nine states recognize this exam for licensed respiratory therapists. (Incidentally, Alaska is currently the only state that does not require respiratory therapist license candidates to complete an accredited degree program in respiratory care by the CoARC.) In order to sit for the exam, you must provide the NBRC with a certificate of completion from your college or university showing you have completed all the requirements. The AMC Testing Centers administer the exam throughout the country. Once students have passed the exam, they may apply for licensure. Continuing education hours are required biennially or annually, and therapists must pay a fee to maintain the practitioner license.
One of the respiratory therapist's most valuable pieces of training on their path to becoming a licensed professional is to go through an internship program. Colleges or universities usually facilitate these programs at many of the same places where licensed and certified respiratory therapists eventually obtain jobs, such as hospitals, diagnostic labs, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, and home health agencies. Because respiratory therapists work in various healthcare settings and with a range of medical professionals and patients, they can find themselves subject to discipline in multiple ways.
What Kind of Discipline Can Respiratory Therapists Encounter?
Respiratory therapy candidates can be subjected to accusations of misconduct during their internship:
- Employer Discipline: Respiratory therapists often are given internships at hospitals or clinics, where their employers pay them a salary or stipend. Some employers may offer sign-on bonuses. As such, interns are often treated like employees, which means they also face the same disciplinary action should someone accuse them of wrongdoing. When you sign on with a hospital or healthcare company for an internship, the company will likely provide you with an employee or intern handbook that lists expected behaviors and any discipline the company may take if someone accuses you of violating any of the actions. If someone accuses you of wrongdoing at your place of work and you retain an experienced attorney from the Lento Law Firm, one of the first things we will do is review the handbook your employer gave you.
- State Licensing Discipline: Practice acts and respiratory therapy licensure laws vary from state to state. It's important to know what each state's laws and regulations allow. Most licensure boards have the authority to make changes to the practice act or through rules, regulations, and advisory opinions, and many frequently take advantage of this opportunity. Most state licensing boards have a set of procedures they follow for handling complaints from patients or other employees. If the board notifies you of a complaint, you must act quickly to take action to defend yourself and your future. The best course of action is to retain an attorney experienced in representing Allied Health studies in such actions. The Lento Law Firm has years of experience in student defense. We can help you build a strong case in your defense and improve your chances of a favorable outcome.
- Certification Organization Discipline: The American Association for Respiratory Care provides a position statement of Ethics and Professional Conduct that outlines the ethical and professional conduct of all respiratory therapists. All members, including interns, must follow these guidelines, which include demonstrating behavior that reflects integrity, supports objectivity, and fosters truth in the profession and its professionals. If the certification committee finds that you have violated any of these regulations, your certification may be in jeopardy. You need the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm to help you build a strong defense so your career path remains unscathed.
What Kind of Misconduct Can Result in Discipline?
There's a variety of misconduct that can result in a supervisory or regulatory body disciplining a respiratory therapist:
- Substance abuse misconduct: Respiratory therapists must work closely with medical professionals to provide necessary and sometimes life-saving treatment to patients. Being under the influence of drugs or alcohol can severely impair your judgment, which can have serious consequences for patients. Showing up to work under the influence is a serious offense that can result in serious disciplinary actions.
- Practice-related misconduct. As an intern, respiratory therapist candidates work under the supervision of a licensed respiratory therapist. They must also follow the directions of medical professionals when treating patients and follow standard procedures you're your supervisors' directions. Failing to provide a minimum standard of care to your patients can result in disciplinary action and a quick end to your internship.
- Sexual misconduct. Sexual misconduct is a serious offense. Be mindful of the rules for relationships among co-workers and never engage in romantic or sexual relationships while at the workplace or with patients. Allegations of sexual misconduct can result in disciplinary action and threaten your internship.
- Fraud. Fraud can take many forms in the healthcare setting. Defined as knowingly misrepresenting or misstating the type, scope, or nature of medical treatment or service provided in a way that could result in unauthorized payments. Some examples of fraud include falsifying certificates of medical necessity and billing for services not medically needed, or soliciting kickbacks for various services or goods. Any act of fraud can result in you losing your internship and hindering your career.
How Are Misconduct Allegations Resolved?
Allegations of misconduct can come from various sources — patients, co-workers, or supervisors — and result in disciplinary action that can seriously jeopardize your plans of becoming a licensed respiratory therapist. While governing bodies may have their own procedures for handling these complaints, most follow a similar process.
First, the governing body will review the complaint to determine if it qualifies as a violation of its standards. An employer or board will launch an investigation if it deems that it is necessary. Not every complaint results in disciplinary action. In some cases, the organization may propose a resolution. The intern may be required to accept the consequences handed down to them, whether as mild as probation or requiring additional training, or a more serious penalty such as suspension or termination of their internship. You can either accept the agency's offer or request a hearing in front of the body. Either way, it's best not to decide without first discussing it with a knowledgeable attorney.
If it is in your best interest to move forward with a hearing, your lawyer will guide you through the process, first by helping build a strong defense in your case. This can greatly improve the outcome of a hearing. But even if the hearing doesn't bode well for you, you may have the option to appeal. In such cases, the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm can stand with you and provide sound legal advice to help you obtain the best possible outcome.
The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team Can Help
You spent years on your education and training to become a respiratory therapist. Don't let an allegation of wrongdoing interfere with your career path. Call the Lento Law Firm today at 888.535.3686 or contact us online to set up a confidential consultation with our Student Defense Team and let us explain how we can help you.
