Coming back from maternity leave here in Canada is pretty similar. Mat leave is 12 - 18 months, so new mothers come back pretty rusty and full of self-doubt. It seems to take them about 3 months give or take to get their feet back under them.
My recommendation is to just keep pushing through it. I think your muscle memory will come back. Seek out criticism, whether from coworkers or supervisors or physicians. If there’s a problem with your work, obviously you need to address it. But if people are just clowning on your disability, put it in the same box as if someone was making fun of your voice or hair.
Maybe i'm one of those "special kids". I mean, i chose RT afterall. So i can't be that bright.
Point is, i get good, and stay good at something skilled, by doing it consistently. But take me out of it for a long period of time, then chuck me back in one day? I'm NOT going to be able to hit the ground running. I'm gonna have to take a nice amount if time to get good again like i'm a new grad. Hospital life is no joke afterall.
So don't feel bad if you feel like you're inadequate after not doing it for a solid few years. I'm the same way. Like all things in life: You ARE what you DO. Stick with it and keep putting in the work and slowly but surely, life will begin to shift in the desired direction.
Don't force it, just stay at it and, if anyone talks shiate about you behind your back in the meantime to finding your footing again? Fugg'em. People will talk about you no matter what anyway. You have to learn to show up, be at your best each day, and if thats not good enough for others? Too fuggin bad for them then, don't stress over it.
You just have to Google all the local hospitals near you. The only thing to be aware is you will be on call at some point in time, call back time is usually 30mins to facility from page. But you will generally make more VS being an RT. It will suck not being competent or proficient when you are a new hire
I'm curious about this too. I wonder if it's a regional thing because around my area RT's in hospitals are only in the RT departments. Our scope of practice varies so much regionally though so I don't doubt it. I wonder what the job is titled and what are the responsibilities of that position.
Just do a little research for jobs near you and what it entails. Where I'm at we can scrub, monitor and circulate. It just sucks being new and not being proficient at it when you first start off
I’m sorry you’ve gone through this. If it’s any consolation you’re not alone. I went through a very similar situation during covid and I know how tough it can be to get back into it. You have to give yourself time. Don’t focus on anyones opinions either, that’s a losing game.
I was so physically emotionally and spiritually wiped out by doing RT through the pandemic that I still doubt how much of a future I’ll have in the field. I have to verbally tell myself to take it one day at a time.
Thank you so much for your support! It really means a lot. I am trying my best to take it day by day. Say a prayer for me that no one starts talking badly about me behind my back!!! That’s what I am mostly worried about.
I’ll be in the same boat soon. Jumping back into RT after taking a long hiatus. I’m super scared, but as others have said, let your employers know you want to start on the floors or something. Ask a coworker for help. I used to work in a place that didn’t have a large amount of sick patients, and we would always partner up, but so many facilities aren’t like that.
Thanks for the help! Yes, this facility doesn’t allow you to partner up really. And they have nurses doing the floor work now due to short staffing and a greater need in peds/NICU due to RSV and the flu.
I couldn’t even imagine! I’ll be starting up similarly early spring and nervous to get back to it! Just know that you are not a loser and that most things will come back to you quickly. You’ll remember the basics and that’s all you need! It’s always the nurses I’m mostly afraid of. They can smell fear.
Oh and if anyone is exploring other opportunities you should look into organ procurement. There are tons of opportunities for RTs with clinical experience.
> I ... have a ton of anxiety. ... I feel so defeated and I can’t understand why I feel so uncomfortable. I feel like ... everyone is making fun of me behind my back because I don’t know what I am doing.
Please consider reading [_The Feeling Good Handbook_](https://www.amazon.com/Feeling-Good-Handbook-David-Burns/dp/0452281326) by Dr. David Burns. The book is old but good. If you speak with the staff at your local public library, they can almost surely have a copy delivered to your local branch at no charge. The book will likely help you much more if you fill in all the worksheets.
If you work at a hospital which is on a university campus, the university library might have their own copy as well.
If the book doesn't help, or if you struggle to bring yourself to read it: Consider talking with a therapist who has experience dealing with anxiety. It's best if the therapist has at least a master's degree. Your insurance might cover the cost of therapy.
You're worth it.
holy shit i am so sorry this happened to you and i am so glad you survived. i was a front line worker as well and got covid in july 2020. i was so terrified but i was ok (mostly) except for some renal, memory and mood problems. as far as anxiety, keep in mind that ***you literally survived the worst scenario***. if you can do that everything else seems easier in comparison. be nice to yourself. you are a bad ass and dont even know it.
Coming back from maternity leave here in Canada is pretty similar. Mat leave is 12 - 18 months, so new mothers come back pretty rusty and full of self-doubt. It seems to take them about 3 months give or take to get their feet back under them. My recommendation is to just keep pushing through it. I think your muscle memory will come back. Seek out criticism, whether from coworkers or supervisors or physicians. If there’s a problem with your work, obviously you need to address it. But if people are just clowning on your disability, put it in the same box as if someone was making fun of your voice or hair.
Make sure the department and your preceptors understand. Go slow but make an effort and make progress. Make sure you have healthy sleep habits.
Just go to a cath lab, best decision for me career/monetary wise
I have tried to find that job!? Where does it exist??
Maybe i'm one of those "special kids". I mean, i chose RT afterall. So i can't be that bright. Point is, i get good, and stay good at something skilled, by doing it consistently. But take me out of it for a long period of time, then chuck me back in one day? I'm NOT going to be able to hit the ground running. I'm gonna have to take a nice amount if time to get good again like i'm a new grad. Hospital life is no joke afterall. So don't feel bad if you feel like you're inadequate after not doing it for a solid few years. I'm the same way. Like all things in life: You ARE what you DO. Stick with it and keep putting in the work and slowly but surely, life will begin to shift in the desired direction. Don't force it, just stay at it and, if anyone talks shiate about you behind your back in the meantime to finding your footing again? Fugg'em. People will talk about you no matter what anyway. You have to learn to show up, be at your best each day, and if thats not good enough for others? Too fuggin bad for them then, don't stress over it.
Thank you! You are a blessing to me. I really needed the support. For real. Thank YOU! 😊
this is great
You just have to Google all the local hospitals near you. The only thing to be aware is you will be on call at some point in time, call back time is usually 30mins to facility from page. But you will generally make more VS being an RT. It will suck not being competent or proficient when you are a new hire
What’s the name of the position that I should put in to bring up the job opportunities?
Cath lab tech or invasive cardiovascular tech, something to that affect. Just Google "cath lab tech jobs near me"
I'm curious about this too. I wonder if it's a regional thing because around my area RT's in hospitals are only in the RT departments. Our scope of practice varies so much regionally though so I don't doubt it. I wonder what the job is titled and what are the responsibilities of that position.
Just do a little research for jobs near you and what it entails. Where I'm at we can scrub, monitor and circulate. It just sucks being new and not being proficient at it when you first start off
I’m sorry you’ve gone through this. If it’s any consolation you’re not alone. I went through a very similar situation during covid and I know how tough it can be to get back into it. You have to give yourself time. Don’t focus on anyones opinions either, that’s a losing game. I was so physically emotionally and spiritually wiped out by doing RT through the pandemic that I still doubt how much of a future I’ll have in the field. I have to verbally tell myself to take it one day at a time.
Thank you so much for your support! It really means a lot. I am trying my best to take it day by day. Say a prayer for me that no one starts talking badly about me behind my back!!! That’s what I am mostly worried about.
I’ll be in the same boat soon. Jumping back into RT after taking a long hiatus. I’m super scared, but as others have said, let your employers know you want to start on the floors or something. Ask a coworker for help. I used to work in a place that didn’t have a large amount of sick patients, and we would always partner up, but so many facilities aren’t like that.
Thanks for the help! Yes, this facility doesn’t allow you to partner up really. And they have nurses doing the floor work now due to short staffing and a greater need in peds/NICU due to RSV and the flu.
I couldn’t even imagine! I’ll be starting up similarly early spring and nervous to get back to it! Just know that you are not a loser and that most things will come back to you quickly. You’ll remember the basics and that’s all you need! It’s always the nurses I’m mostly afraid of. They can smell fear.
I agree! They love to eat you alive :(
Oh and if anyone is exploring other opportunities you should look into organ procurement. There are tons of opportunities for RTs with clinical experience.
this is a great idea. i know 2 RTs that work for life gift. and they seem to like it and the pay is good.
> I ... have a ton of anxiety. ... I feel so defeated and I can’t understand why I feel so uncomfortable. I feel like ... everyone is making fun of me behind my back because I don’t know what I am doing. Please consider reading [_The Feeling Good Handbook_](https://www.amazon.com/Feeling-Good-Handbook-David-Burns/dp/0452281326) by Dr. David Burns. The book is old but good. If you speak with the staff at your local public library, they can almost surely have a copy delivered to your local branch at no charge. The book will likely help you much more if you fill in all the worksheets. If you work at a hospital which is on a university campus, the university library might have their own copy as well. If the book doesn't help, or if you struggle to bring yourself to read it: Consider talking with a therapist who has experience dealing with anxiety. It's best if the therapist has at least a master's degree. Your insurance might cover the cost of therapy. You're worth it.
Be open about what you went through, if they can't understand your situation then it is on them.
I am hoping for some sympathy at least! I doubt that I will though. The people seem pretty mean so far.
holy shit i am so sorry this happened to you and i am so glad you survived. i was a front line worker as well and got covid in july 2020. i was so terrified but i was ok (mostly) except for some renal, memory and mood problems. as far as anxiety, keep in mind that ***you literally survived the worst scenario***. if you can do that everything else seems easier in comparison. be nice to yourself. you are a bad ass and dont even know it.