Any Respiratory Therapists or others in Healhcare

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Any Respiratory Therapists or others in Healhcare

Sterling Williams
Professional · TX · Member since 2012 · 35 posts · 4 votes

I am interested to hear from those who are currently working in the healthcare or those who once did.

As of now, I am in the last year of Respiratory Therapy school. Barring any unforeseen setbacks, I should be a working therapist after certifying. As many of you know, the weekly schedule is comprised of mostly 3 day work weeks, with 12 hour shifts. This leaves a lot of time to accomplish other goals and interests. My main goal is to establish a diversified real estate portfolio (mainly residential) as of now and possibly changing once I become more educated in the business. After I get some experience under my belt, I would love to work in the business at an unknown capacity at this time.

I would really like to hear from those who currently work in healthcare, or from those who once did. I'm interested to hear how you have managed your time successfully between the two or how you made your transitions into real estate full-time. Any response will be appreciated. Thank You!

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Brant Richardson
Investor · Santa Barbara, CA · Member since 2013 · 658 posts · 315 votes
12y

Actually I kicked myself for not going to nursing school for a long time. My wife and I graduated at the same time. She went to nursing school at the city college which cost a few thousand dollars. I went to PA school and ended up with $80k in student loans. We started working at the same time and she has consistently made more than I do and currently makes a LOT more than I do. Nursing is changing, there is less demand than when she first started but they have a strong union. I definitely enjoy what my job entails a lot more than I would as a nurse though. It's a good profession. I would stick with RT for a while. If you find that medicine is truly your calling then go to PA school.
If your wife is doing real well though, you might put the two of you farther ahead by learning to invest.

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  • Brant Richardson
    Investor · Santa Barbara, CA · Member since 2013 · 658 posts · 315 votes
    12y

    There are a lot of people in medicine who invest in real estate. I'm a physician assistant in the urgent care where I have 3 days off per week, wish it was 4. I got started by saving my pennies for a down payment on a house. 20% down on a cheap house in Santa Barbara is a huge chunk of money which took me many years to accumulate. When I finally had enough I realized that I could only afford a house that I didn't really want to live in. I figured I could do much better renting and buying rental properties somewhere else. I've read quite a few books over the years on real estate but I really increased my reading and started throwing questions at the BP forums which has really helped... you can ask anything and get an answer. Having a couple of weekdays off has been really helpful for taking care of business transactions.

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  • Sterling Williams
    OP
    Professional · TX · Member since 2012 · 35 posts · 4 votes
    12y

    That's awesome Brant, my ultimate goal is to become a PA. It's nice to hear that you have a good life/work balance in your practice. Any interest in opening up your own urgent care or family practice in the future?

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  • Brant Richardson
    Investor · Santa Barbara, CA · Member since 2013 · 658 posts · 315 votes
    12y

    No way! That would be the end of any balanced good life. Passive income from buy and hold is going to get me where I want to be.

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  • Sterling Williams
    OP
    Professional · TX · Member since 2012 · 35 posts · 4 votes
    12y

    lol... I hear ya.

    How do you like being a PA? I always hear mixed reviews, mostly from those who feel they should have been a doctor. I myself believe that the flexibility of the profession makes it one of the best fields within healthcare. I just hope there's a name change coming down the pike (Physician Associate).

    MY biggest dilemma is that I'm not sure whether I should settle for Respiratory Therapy and start pursuing real estate on the side, or pursue PA school after I finish and put my dreams of investing on the back burner. I'm fortunate that my wife is very successful in her career however, being a guy, we always feel as though we should be the breadwinner. Maybe I should swallow my pride and pursue real estate on the side of RT.

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  • Brant Richardson
    Investor · Santa Barbara, CA · Member since 2013 · 658 posts · 315 votes
    12y

    Actually I kicked myself for not going to nursing school for a long time. My wife and I graduated at the same time. She went to nursing school at the city college which cost a few thousand dollars. I went to PA school and ended up with $80k in student loans. We started working at the same time and she has consistently made more than I do and currently makes a LOT more than I do. Nursing is changing, there is less demand than when she first started but they have a strong union. I definitely enjoy what my job entails a lot more than I would as a nurse though. It's a good profession. I would stick with RT for a while. If you find that medicine is truly your calling then go to PA school.
    If your wife is doing real well though, you might put the two of you farther ahead by learning to invest.

    1Reply
  • Bill Gulley
    Investor, Entrepreneur, Educator · Springfield, MO · Member since 2009 · 21k+ posts · 12k+ votes
    12y

    I use to be in respiratory therapy when I was younger and slightly better looking. I'd have sessions with the girls and taught them how to breathe through their nose while keeping a slight vacuum pressure in their mouth exchanging carbon dioxide, sometimes called making out or necking. Never did it professionally though nor did I wear a white coat. From that I moved on to cardio therapy. Does that count? :)

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  • Sterling Williams
    OP
    Professional · TX · Member since 2012 · 35 posts · 4 votes
    12y
    Originally posted by @Bill Gulley:
    I use to be in respiratory therapy when I was younger and slightly better looking. I'd have sessions with the girls and taught them how to breathe through their nose while keeping a slight vacuum pressure in their mouth exchanging carbon dioxide, sometimes called making out or necking. Never did it professionally though nor did I wear a white coat. From that I moved on to cardio therapy. Does that count? :)

    lol... Unfortunately most of my patience are between 60 and 80, most of which have a hard time breathing through their mouth let alone through their nose. "Cardio therapy", that's a no go.

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  • Bill Gulley
    Investor, Entrepreneur, Educator · Springfield, MO · Member since 2009 · 21k+ posts · 12k+ votes
    12y

    Really....? No joggers huh? Got any lookers with their numbers? I prefer 40s but the right one at 60 is fine with me! It's all intellectual you understand LOL :))

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  • Sterling Williams
    OP
    Professional · TX · Member since 2012 · 35 posts · 4 votes
    12y
    Originally posted by @Brant Richardson:
    Actually I kicked myself for not going to nursing school for a long time. My wife and I graduated at the same time. She went to nursing school at the city college which cost a few thousand dollars. I went to PA school and ended up with $80k in student loans. We started working at the same time and she has consistently made more than I do and currently makes a LOT more than I do. Nursing is changing, there is less demand than when she first started but they have a strong union. I definitely enjoy what my job entails a lot more than I would as a nurse though. It's a good profession. I would stick with RT for a while. If you find that medicine is truly your calling then go to PA school. If your wife is doing real well though, you might put the two of you farther ahead by learning to invest.

    I am really surprised by this. I've heard that the nursing unions are very strong in California, I just didn't realize the earning potential of nurses was so high unless they specialized (i.e. CRNA or a clinical nurse specialist). Either way that's awesome that you both accomplished your goals. I appreciate your insight Brant. Good luck on your future endeavors.

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  • Sterling Williams
    OP
    Professional · TX · Member since 2012 · 35 posts · 4 votes
    12y
    Originally posted by @Bill Gulley:
    Really....? No joggers huh? Got any lookers with their numbers? I prefer 40s but the right one at 60 is fine with me! It's all intellectual you understand LOL :))

    I hear ya on the intellectual part. Sorry to say, it's slim pickens out here in San Antonio. However, I'll keep an eye out for you lol...

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  • Bill Gulley
    Investor, Entrepreneur, Educator · Springfield, MO · Member since 2009 · 21k+ posts · 12k+ votes
    12y

    Go to school and become a profusionist! A specialized nurse, salary is 500K!!! :)

    Geez, San Antonio, love the river walk, the` zoo, the Alamo plaza, and mostly, the Magic Time Machine! Just find one breathing, that's good enough LOL

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  • Sterling Williams
    OP
    Professional · TX · Member since 2012 · 35 posts · 4 votes
    12y

    To tell you the truth, I've looked at becoming a profusionist. Unfortunately due to my wifes career, I am stuck in San Antonio. The closest program is in Houston.

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  • Bill Gulley
    Investor, Entrepreneur, Educator · Springfield, MO · Member since 2009 · 21k+ posts · 12k+ votes
    12y

    Back when, the only school was in Canada in the western world! A nephew went, we all thought, oh crap, he's going to be a nurse, not a doctor, he had the last laugh, makes more than some doctors, never on call and always on a schedule! :)

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  • Sterling Williams
    OP
    Professional · TX · Member since 2012 · 35 posts · 4 votes
    12y

    yeah, it takes some big stones when the s#$% hits the fan. Those cardiopulmonary bypass machines look damn complicated.

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  • Sterling Williams
    OP
    Professional · TX · Member since 2012 · 35 posts · 4 votes
    12y

    Good talking with you Bill. I look forward to reading your other posts. Have a good night.

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  • OSADe Omoruyi
    Desoto, TX · Member since 2014 · 6 posts · 0 votes
    12y

    I am a nurse. I work at a level 5 trauma center. They use to pay us well and this job is my first job.  After they took away our Critical pay, I learned about real estate investing. Now I want to go into real estate investing and I wish we still had our Critical pay. So my plan is to get a second job as PRN  and hopefully make more money to save for down payment I would like to get into buy-and-hold properties so I'm going to try save 20% of average price for multifamily properties.

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