Respiratory therapists provide treatment for patients with cardiorespiratory problems. Their role is important and the responsibilities are great.
These therapists' work includes giving relief to chronic asthma and emphysema sufferers; emergency care in cases of heart failure, stroke, drowning, and shock; and treatment of acute respiratory symptoms in cases of head injuries, poisoning, and drug abuse. They must respond swiftly and start treatment quickly because brain damage may occur if a patient stops breathing for three to five minutes, and lack of oxygen for more than nine minutes almost invariably results in death.
In addition to respiratory therapists, the field includes respiratory technicians and respiratory assistants.
Therapists and technicians perform essentially the same duties, with therapists having greater responsibility for supervision and instruction.
Assistants have little contact with the patients; their duties are usually limited to cleaning, sterilizing, and storing the respiratory equipment used by therapists and technicians.
Respiratory therapists and technicians work as part of a health care team following doctors' instructions. They use special equipment and techniques- respirators, positive-pressure breathing machines, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)-to treat patients. They are also responsible for keeping records of materials costs and charges to patients and maintaining and making minor repairs to equipment. All respiratory therapy workers are trained to observe strict safety precautions in the use and testing of respiratory equipment to minimize the danger of fire.
Most respiratory therapists, technicians, and assistants work in hospitals in respiratory, anesthesiology, or pulmonary medicine departments. Others work for nursing homes, ambulance services, and oxygen equipment rental companies.
Places of Employment and Working Conditions
Respiratory therapy workers are employed in hospitals throughout the country in communities of all sizes. The largest number of job opportunities exists in large metropolitan areas that support several hospitals or large medical centers. Respiratory therapy workers usually work a 40-hour week and may be required to work evenings, nights, or weekends. Respiratory therapists spend much of their working time on their feet and experience a great deal of stress. They must be careful when working with gases, and they run the risk of catching an infectious disease.
Qualifications, Education, and Training
Anyone interested in entering this field should enjoy working with people and have a patient and understanding manner. The ability to follow instructions and work as a member of a team is important. Manual dexterity and some mechanical ability are necessary in the operation and maintenance of the sometimes complicated respiratory therapy equipment.
High school students interested in this field should take courses in health, biology, mathematics, physics, and bookkeeping.
Formal training in respiratory therapy is necessary for entering the field. There are about 255 institutions that offer programs approved by the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation (CAHEA). All these programs require a high school diploma. Courses vary from two to four years and include both classroom and clinical work. Students study anatomy and physiology, chemistry, physics, microbiology, and mathematics. A bachelor's degree is awarded to those completing a four-year program, with an associate degree awarded from some of the shorter programs.
Some respiratory therapists are registered respiratory therapists (RRTs). They obtain this designation by completing an examination of the National Board for Respiratory Care and meeting education and experience requirements.
Respiratory technicians can receive certification as a certified respiratory therapy technician (CRTT) if they have completed a CAHEA-approved technician training program and have one year of experience. They must pass a single written examination. All respiratory technicians are certified as CRTTs.
Potential and Advancement
The field is growing steadily. Growth of health care services in general and the expanding use of respiratory therapy and equipment by hospitals, ambulance services, and nursing homes make this a good job opportunity area, as more and more respiratory specialists are hired to release nurses and other personnel from respiratory therapy duties. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the field will grow by 12 percent between 2014 and 2024.
Advancement in this field depends on experience and additional education. Respiratory assistants can advance to the technician or therapist level by completing the required courses; technicians can advance by achieving certification or completing education and testing requirements for the therapist level.
Respiratory therapists can be promoted to assistant chief or chief therapist. With graduate study they can qualify for teaching positions.
Income
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of all respiratory therapists in 2015 was $57,790.
