RESPIRATORY humor

"WHAT PEOPLE THINK I DO" : Rt EDITION

• What my mom thinks I do: Give people oxygen and occasionally CPR

• What doctors think I do: Show up with oxygen when they call

• What nurses think I do: Nebulizer treatments and disappear

• What patients think I do: Torture them with breathing exercises (IS anyone)

• What I think I do: Save lives with my respiratory expertise

• What I actually do: Explain 50 times a day that the nasal cannula goes in your nose, not your mouth

THE EVOLUTION OF A RESPIRATORY THERAPIST

• Year 1: Checks ventilator settings three times before making any change

• Year 5: Adjusts settings while answering three other calls

• Year 10: Can tell the ventilator is alarming in another room and knows exactly why

• Year 15: Can diagnose respiratory issues by the sound of a cough from the hallway

THE STAGES OF a rt PATIENT’s CPAP ACCEPTANCE

• Denial: "I don't snore that badly; the sleep study must be wrong."

• Anger: "This mask makes me look like a fighter pilot with a weight problem!"

• Bargaining: "What if I just use it every other night?"

• Depression: "I'm going to be alone forever because no one will want to sleep next to Darth Vader."

• Acceptance: "I've named my CPAP machine 'Breath Bae' and we're very happy together."

*Disclaimer: This post is meant to bring joy and connection through shared experiences. While we believe humor can be healing, we also acknowledge the serious nature of respiratory conditions. None of these jokes are meant to minimize the challenges faced by those with breathing difficulties. <3