Career respect in this day & age & Grampa's take on R-E-S-P-E-C-T

I have a friend who recently became an RN. She is also an RRT, RCP(Registered Respiratory Therapist & Respiratory Care Practioner) as am I. She went to work in an outpatient surgical unit. The one thing she said that struck me the most was the instant respect she received. Hmm. As RRT we have to earn our respect. And, since we are so few in the nation, any one of us that is perceived as lazy, stupid, or non-caring, reflects on the rest. The old saying of "One bad apple spoils the whole barrel." This makes most of the rest put out even more. Working harder and establishing and maintaining relationships with other healthcare professionals from doctors to housekeepers. Yes, housekeepers are very important in hospitals because they make the place presentable to visitors and help keep the infection rate down. God bless them.

Anyway, back to the instant respect. Why is that? Is an RN more valued than other clinicians by other clinicians? I know this...the first words out of a doctor or nurses mouth during a crisis is "Call Respiratory." Why is THAT? Because if you can't breathe, you can't do anything. And. most of the therapist I have had the privilege of working with over the last 37 years are exceptional clinicians who truly love what they do. The plus for us is that we are not stuck in one area like nurses. We get to go all over the hospital and work with all kinds of patients. From preemies to centurions. We have to keep our skills sharp or get gone. Of course, there is always the exception who can talk a good game. Often fooling some of the people all of the time, or, at least for a couple of years. Those people don't last long. Lucky for those of us who have to use the hospitals. No?

As a child I was taught to respect everyone until they proved themselves unworthy of my respect. We were taught to be cautious in judging too. So even though we treated everyone with respect, we were not foolish. I think if more kids would have, or take, the time to sit and talk to someone older and wiser than themselves this world would be so much better. Those people like my grandfather are few and far between anymore. Sad to say. I sit and sadly shake my head when people older than myself are still trying to be and act like "29 and holding." Grow-up! Please! Be young at heart and accept what our good Lord has given you. Years of accumulated knowledge that is supposed to be shared.

Cracks me up when I see people holding on to information like it will give them some kind of power. Knowledge shared helps all and makes ties that bind. I think the science world calls those groups of knowledge sharing people "Think Tanks." Great ideas come forth from sharing and discussing things.

Enough said. I am getting better every day. Woohoo! Graduated to doing more every day without too much pain. Praise God!