The RT medical abbreviation most often means respiratory therapist on a hospital unit and radiation therapy in cancer care. The setting of the note is the tiebreaker: a nursing note about breathing treatments points to the therapist, while an oncology plan points to radiotherapy.
RT also turns up as a short form of right, as room temperature on lab and pharmacy instructions, and inside the lab test name RT-PCR. Because the same two letters cover such different ideas, this page lays out each meaning, the clues that separate them, and the related abbreviations you may see nearby.
At a glance
Stands for
Respiratory therapist or respiratory therapyOther meanings
Radiation therapy; right; room temperature; reverse transcriptaseCredentials
RRT and CRT for respiratory therapistsUsed in
ICUs, EDs, pulmonary clinics, oncology, labsRelated terms
Safer to write
Right or respiratory therapy in full when clarity matters
RT as respiratory therapist in hospital notes
Respiratory therapists are lung and breathing specialists, licensed in most states. On a hospital unit, RT handles inhaled breathing treatments, oxygen setup, airway suctioning, and the settings on ventilators and other breathing machines. RTs often draw an arterial blood gas, or ABG, and help during emergencies by managing the airway.
Nursing notes use RT both for the person and the service, as in RT notified or RT following. Many respiratory therapists hold the RRT credential, registered respiratory therapist, or the entry level CRT, certified respiratory therapist.
RT as radiation therapy or radiotherapy
In cancer care, RT means radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy. It uses focused high energy beams or sources to damage cancer cells in a target area. Treatment plans often list the total dose and the number of sessions, called fractions.
Notes may also use XRT for external beam radiation or SBRT for a highly focused form given in fewer sessions. A radiation therapist, sometimes also shortened to RT, is the trained staff member who delivers each treatment.
Oncology plan: "s/p lumpectomy, plan adjuvant RT to left breast." After surgery, the team plans radiation treatment to the breast, so RT here has nothing to do with breathing care.
Six senses of R T, sorted by setting
| Meaning | Typical setting | Clue in the sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Respiratory therapist | Hospital wards, ICU, ED | Nebulizer, vent, oxygen, ABG |
| Radiation therapy | Oncology | Gray, fractions, tumor, field |
| Right | Exams and orders | Body part, such as rt knee |
| Room temperature | Lab and pharmacy | Store at RT, sample handling |
| Reverse transcriptase | Lab tests | RT-PCR |
| Radiologic technologist | Imaging | Credential written as R.T. |
When one note could fit two meanings, the writer or the unit can confirm which they intended.
Why rt for right can cause trouble
Lower case rt for right, and lt for left, are common in quick exam notes. They are short and usually clear, but side mistakes in medicine can be serious, so many hospitals ask staff to spell out right and left in surgical consents, imaging orders and procedure sites. A smudged rt in handwriting can also be misread.
If you see rt next to a body part in your own paperwork, it almost certainly means right. If anything about the side seems wrong, say so before a test or procedure.
How nurses and students use the RT medical abbreviation
Nursing students learn RT early because respiratory therapists are close partners on most inpatient units. A typical handoff might say the patient is on two liters of oxygen, RT gave a breathing treatment at noon, and a repeat ABG is due. Students also learn that RT in a medication order for storage means room temperature, not a person.
Charting tip: if you write RT in a note, the surrounding words should make the meaning plain. For other roles that appear in notes, see the care team and credential abbreviations.
This is general information about an abbreviation. Questions about your own breathing care or radiation plan belong with the team treating you.
Frequently asked questions
What does RT mean in a hospital?
On most hospital units RT means respiratory therapist or respiratory therapy, the team that manages oxygen, breathing treatments and ventilators. In a cancer center it more often means radiation therapy.
Is RT the same as radiotherapy?
In oncology, yes. RT, radiation therapy and radiotherapy all describe treatment that uses radiation to target cancer cells. XRT is another common shorthand.
What does RT mean on a lab or storage instruction?
On lab and pharmacy instructions RT usually means room temperature. The instruction is about how to keep a sample or product, not about a person.
What is the difference between RT and RRT?
RT is the general term for a respiratory therapist. RRT, registered respiratory therapist, is an advanced credential earned by passing national exams.
Does rt mean right in medical notes?
Often it does, especially in lower case next to a body part, such as rt shoulder. Many hospitals prefer the full word right on consents and orders to prevent side errors.