Comments on: Should I keep my RCP license ? http://breathinstephen.com/should-i-keep-my-rcp-licence/ Diary of a severely asthmatic wannabe endurance athlete Fri, 30 Jul 2010 23:45:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: clare b http://breathinstephen.com/should-i-keep-my-rcp-licence/comment-page-1/#comment-1803 clare b Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:32:52 +0000 http://breathinstephen.com/?p=7866#comment-1803 Hi Stephen, I am facing exactly the same decision, albeit for slightly different reasons and goals. I now wish I had kept my license, but I do think your choice is not like mine. The one idea above was would you consider teaching? I was an RRT for 22 years. I developed carpal tunnel syndrome and burnout, pretty much simultaneously. I was already training for a different kind of work, so I decided to stop being an RT. When it came around to paying the fees and getting the CEUs (in both fields for that matter), I decided to give up the RCP license; that was 5 years ago. It was probably a bit arrogant to do so. In light of my current situation, unwise at least. I am finding it hard to stay employed and thinking it would be good to do respiratory again, even if it is in homecare . . . but I wonder what all is involved. You mentioned entry exams and I am not sure what you mean. If money had not been an issue, I would have kept up the license. Now money is an issue again and I am wondering if working again is even possible. I wish you well with your decision, and if you are leaning towards keeping it, I would say, do just that. Cheers, Clare B. Hi Stephen, I am facing exactly the same decision, albeit for slightly different reasons and goals. I now wish I had kept my license, but I do think your choice is not like mine. The one idea above was would you consider teaching? I was an RRT for 22 years. I developed carpal tunnel syndrome and burnout, pretty much simultaneously. I was already training for a different kind of work, so I decided to stop being an RT. When it came around to paying the fees and getting the CEUs (in both fields for that matter), I decided to give up the RCP license; that was 5 years ago. It was probably a bit arrogant to do so. In light of my current situation, unwise at least. I am finding it hard to stay employed and thinking it would be good to do respiratory again, even if it is in homecare . . . but I wonder what all is involved. You mentioned entry exams and I am not sure what you mean. If money had not been an issue, I would have kept up the license. Now money is an issue again and I am wondering if working again is even possible. I wish you well with your decision, and if you are leaning towards keeping it, I would say, do just that. Cheers, Clare B.

]]> By: breathinstephen http://breathinstephen.com/should-i-keep-my-rcp-licence/comment-page-1/#comment-1534 breathinstephen Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:04:01 +0000 http://breathinstephen.com/?p=7866#comment-1534 Hi Amy, Thanks for the comment. Im leaning toward keeping my license, mainly because it will force me to stay in the RT loop. Haven't made up my mind yet on the transplant option. Im not sure I wanna go through all that. Even with my crappy lungs, Im still way too healthy at the present time to even be considered a candidate. If offered new lungs right now, Id probably say no. That could all change a year from now, who knows. Hi Amy, Thanks for the comment. Im leaning toward keeping my license, mainly because it will force me to stay in the RT loop.

Haven't made up my mind yet on the transplant option. Im not sure I wanna go through all that. Even with my crappy lungs, Im still way too healthy at the present time to even be considered a candidate. If offered new lungs right now, Id probably say no. That could all change a year from now, who knows.

]]> By: Amy http://breathinstephen.com/should-i-keep-my-rcp-licence/comment-page-1/#comment-1533 Amy Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:36:13 +0000 http://breathinstephen.com/?p=7866#comment-1533 I dunno, I think I might renew b/c of Heidi's comment--if there were anything part-time you could do in the future, like teaching, it would be better to have the license, right? And what's this about a transplant? Any more news to share on that? I dunno, I think I might renew b/c of Heidi's comment–if there were anything part-time you could do in the future, like teaching, it would be better to have the license, right?

And what's this about a transplant? Any more news to share on that?

]]> By: Susannah Hunt http://breathinstephen.com/should-i-keep-my-rcp-licence/comment-page-1/#comment-1531 Susannah Hunt Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:56:55 +0000 http://breathinstephen.com/?p=7866#comment-1531 I had to let my very hard earned Public Examining qualification lapse in July 2007, I couldn't cope with the overnighters to strange locations, hotels, dusty, cold church halls. I am still listed as an Associated Board Examiner and am entitled to go to all their functions, dinners conferences etc, and still have my Examiner's number (A132), but I am not listed as a current Examiner. If I want to redo my training and become active again, all I have to do is pick up the phone and tell them, they will give me full professional and disability support. But I'd need some lung miracle like you, first! I know this doesn't help you in your RT situation. But when I was selected from thousands to even do the training for the practical musical exams, a worldwide system, I was so honoured.....and then I got picked to become a real examiner.....big achievement...... It did break my heart to realise my health was taking this away from me. As you know, I do still struggle to teach, albeit p/t, but 3 long days! And I am fighting the gremlins again as to just how long I can keep this game up for..... Good Luck, head not heart in this one was my only way..... Sus xx I had to let my very hard earned Public Examining qualification lapse in July 2007, I couldn't cope with the overnighters to strange locations, hotels, dusty, cold church halls. I am still listed as an Associated Board Examiner and am entitled to go to all their functions, dinners conferences etc, and still have my Examiner's number (A132), but I am not listed as a current Examiner. If I want to redo my training and become active again, all I have to do is pick up the phone and tell them, they will give me full professional and disability support. But I'd need some lung miracle like you, first!

I know this doesn't help you in your RT situation. But when I was selected from thousands to even do the training for the practical musical exams, a worldwide system, I was so honoured…..and then I got picked to become a real examiner…..big achievement…… It did break my heart to realise my health was taking this away from me.

As you know, I do still struggle to teach, albeit p/t, but 3 long days! And I am fighting the gremlins again as to just how long I can keep this game up for…..

Good Luck, head not heart in this one was my only way…..

Sus xx

]]> By: heidi http://breathinstephen.com/should-i-keep-my-rcp-licence/comment-page-1/#comment-1530 heidi Mon, 07 Dec 2009 03:51:53 +0000 http://breathinstephen.com/?p=7866#comment-1530 Even if you couldn't do hospital work there might be a teaching job you could do later??? Right? So I would think you'd need to be licensed to do something that wouldn't require as much "energy" through out the day. Even if you couldn't do hospital work there might be a teaching job you could do later??? Right? So I would think you'd need to be licensed to do something that wouldn't require as much "energy" through out the day.

]]> By: Danielle http://breathinstephen.com/should-i-keep-my-rcp-licence/comment-page-1/#comment-1529 Danielle Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:03:38 +0000 http://breathinstephen.com/?p=7866#comment-1529 Hmmmm, well from the young thing who has earned exactly zero professional certificates, I'd imagine it would be very hard to let go. And now that you've got this hope of being able to work again (no matter how small) I can see why it would be even harder. Being an RT is a part of you, I think, and it's ok to want to hold onto it. Ultimately it's up to you of course and I know you'll make the right decision. But it's a tough call. Do you get any other benefits from keeping your license, such as access to journals and publications or professional development opportunities? Hmmmm, well from the young thing who has earned exactly zero professional certificates, I'd imagine it would be very hard to let go. And now that you've got this hope of being able to work again (no matter how small) I can see why it would be even harder. Being an RT is a part of you, I think, and it's ok to want to hold onto it.
Ultimately it's up to you of course and I know you'll make the right decision. But it's a tough call. Do you get any other benefits from keeping your license, such as access to journals and publications or professional development opportunities?

]]> By: breathinstephen http://breathinstephen.com/should-i-keep-my-rcp-licence/comment-page-1/#comment-1528 breathinstephen Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:25:34 +0000 http://breathinstephen.com/?p=7866#comment-1528 WOW, you have tons of certifications to worry about, I'm guess I'm lucky that I only have one. I don't know why I stress over this, because the reality is, even if I had a current license, I wouldn't get a lot of job offers because I haven't worked in 4 years. Id pretty much have to start out from scratch anyway. Then again, it's not what you know, it's who you know. WOW, you have tons of certifications to worry about, I'm guess I'm lucky that I only have one.

I don't know why I stress over this, because the reality is, even if I had a current license, I wouldn't get a lot of job offers because I haven't worked in 4 years. Id pretty much have to start out from scratch anyway. Then again, it's not what you know, it's who you know.

]]> By: breathinstephen http://breathinstephen.com/should-i-keep-my-rcp-licence/comment-page-1/#comment-1527 breathinstephen Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:20:07 +0000 http://breathinstephen.com/?p=7866#comment-1527 Hi DeAnna, Thanks for the reply. It's just tough to let go after being licensed for so long. Hi DeAnna, Thanks for the reply. It's just tough to let go after being licensed for so long.

]]> By: deAnna http://breathinstephen.com/should-i-keep-my-rcp-licence/comment-page-1/#comment-1526 deAnna Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:36:59 +0000 http://breathinstephen.com/?p=7866#comment-1526 That is a pretty hard choice. I am going through the same thing with my teaching license. I no longer live in the state where my license is active. My husband is military and we move every 3 years. You go through the same thing with testing and fingerprints and the such. Plus they are just so expensive. It sounds like you have thought about this quite a bit. If you really wanted to practice again, it sounds like you could go through the pain of getting your credentials back. So all is not truly lost. No one can ever take your education or experience away. deAnna That is a pretty hard choice. I am going through the same thing with my teaching license. I no longer live in the state where my license is active. My husband is military and we move every 3 years. You go through the same thing with testing and fingerprints and the such. Plus they are just so expensive. It sounds like you have thought about this quite a bit. If you really wanted to practice again, it sounds like you could go through the pain of getting your credentials back. So all is not truly lost. No one can ever take your education or experience away.
deAnna

]]> By: GayleMyrna http://breathinstephen.com/should-i-keep-my-rcp-licence/comment-page-1/#comment-1525 GayleMyrna Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:46:38 +0000 http://breathinstephen.com/?p=7866#comment-1525 On a much more minor note, I was briefly a member of the Screen Actors Guild (I did a lot of movie extra work in the 1990s before my lungs got to their current crappy level). So though I was no longer in the field, I kept paying the $100 or so per year for my membership. Finally, due to economic hardship, I stopped paying the fee and took an honorary withdrawal (I think I could pick it up again if I wanted to start paying again or something to that effect). The reality is that my body can no longer handle that type of work which often involves very unpredictable environmental conditions, extreme heat or cold, being able to move quickly or even running on occasions. But it was fun for a period of time! (During this same era I was a sub teacher in early childhood education programs and also did some music acts for children and other audiences.) So I also let lapse my early education certificates (small children are infections on two legs ) . And working with children also plunged me into environmental uncertainty, plus tons of stress. Oh, after stopping teaching, I earned a certificate in alcohol and drug counseling which I only used for two years (it was in Jan. 2003 that I got the nasty infection that set off the last six years of respiratory challenges). So I leave behind a trail of un-renewed certificates, etc. Bottom line, my job these days is to stay healthy. I'm sure whatever decision you make regarding your RCP license will be well-thought out. One thing your RT background gives you is an incredible knowledge base and perspective as both a patient and a health care professional. Anyhow, keep on keeping on! GayleMyrna <a href="http://www.myspace.com/gaylemyrnamuzak" target="_blank">www.myspace.com/gaylemyrnamuzak</a> <a href="http://www.picasaweb.google.com/gaylemyrna" target="_blank">www.picasaweb.google.com/gaylemyrna</a> On a much more minor note, I was briefly a member of the Screen Actors Guild (I did a lot of movie extra work in the 1990s before my lungs got to their current crappy level). So though I was no longer in the field, I kept paying the $100 or so per year for my membership. Finally, due to economic hardship, I stopped paying the fee and took an honorary withdrawal (I think I could pick it up again if I wanted to start paying again or something to that effect). The reality is that my body can no longer handle that type of work which often involves very unpredictable environmental conditions, extreme heat or cold, being able to move quickly or even running on occasions. But it was fun for a period of time! (During this same era I was a sub teacher in early childhood education programs and also did some music acts for children and other audiences.) So I also let lapse my early education certificates (small children are infections on two legs ) . And working with children also plunged me into environmental uncertainty, plus tons of stress. Oh, after stopping teaching, I earned a certificate in alcohol and drug counseling which I only used for two years (it was in Jan. 2003 that I got the nasty infection that set off the last six years of respiratory challenges). So I leave behind a trail of un-renewed certificates, etc. Bottom line, my job these days is to stay healthy. I'm sure whatever decision you make regarding your RCP license will be well-thought out. One thing your RT background gives you is an incredible knowledge base and perspective as both a patient and a health care professional.
Anyhow, keep on keeping on!
GayleMyrna
http://www.myspace.com/gaylemyrnamuzak
http://www.picasaweb.google.com/gaylemyrna

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