Respiratory Therapist
Specialties:
Cardiopulmonary Technologists, Respiratory Therapy
Technicians and Aides.
What does a Respiratory Therapist do?
- Respiratory Therapists provide medical care and treatment to patients
who have lung problems.
- They set up, adjust, and operate equipment such as oxygen tents,
incubators, iron lungs, resuscitators, mechanical ventilators, aerosol
inhalants, and oxygen tanks, with their accompanying hoses and gauges.
- They also keep patient medical records of treatment and costs, do
routine maintenance and minor repairs of equipment, help patients with
breathing exercises, and teach patients and their families how to use
equipment at home.
- They also make several visits a month to inspect or clean the equipment
and ensure its proper use.
- They work side by side with Physicians, Nurses, and others on the health
care team.
- Therapists usually have additional supervising and teaching
responsibilities.
- Tasks include: Respiratory care usually involves one or more of the four
major kinds of treatment: administering oxygen and oxygen mixtures; using
humidity and aerosol mists to keep the respiratory tract moist or to deliver
medication; administering chest physical therapy, which includes exercises
to reduce the effort of breathing, as well as tapping and coughing
procedures to help clear the lungs; and operating mechanical ventilators
that replace or assist natural breathing.
Salary and Employment Outlook:
EDD Labor
Market Information
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Career Info Net
Typical Employers:
Most Respiratory Therapists work at hospitals. Others work at nursing homes,
ambulance companies, or oxygen rental equipment companies, some teach at
colleges and universities, and others work in the military.
Preparation:
You must complete a training program approved by the Council on Medical
Education of the American Medical Association (AMA). A high school diploma or an
equivalent level of achievement is required for entrance to one of these
programs. Training programs vary in length from 18 months to four years. Most
community college programs last from 21 to 24 months. A bachelor's degree is
awarded at the end of the four-year programs and is recommended for those
wishing to advance to supervisory positions. All programs include academic and
theory courses, courses on procedures and equipment, and supervised clinical
experience in a medical facility. Course work includes anatomy and physiology,
chemistry, physics, microbiology, psychology, and mathematics. You can also get
training and experience in the Military.
Educational Program(s):
Respiratory Therapy
Related Programs: Health Technologies, Medical Laboratory Technologists,
Nursing, Radiological Technology, Rehabilitation Services