Chapter 2 – Respiratory Care Profession (Easy Notes)

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering scope, activities, roles, credentials/education, organizations, licensure, and expanded roles in the respiratory care profession.

Respiratory Care Scope

RTs assess patients, manage lung/heart diseases, run diagnostics, educate, and care for cardiopulmonary problems.

RT Work Settings

Hospitals, clinics, homes, nursing facilities, rehab centers, sleep labs, and transport.

RT Diagnostics

Collect/analyze samples, interpret data, and perform lung/heart/sleep tests.

RT Therapeutics

Oxygen therapy, ventilators, artificial airways, suction, medications, rehab, cardiac support, and sleep care.

Respiratory Therapist (RT) Role

Frontline bedside clinician; may work 12-hour shifts and may specialize.

Educational Coordinator (RT)

Trains RTs and updates skills with new technology.

Medical Director

Physician (often pulmonologist) who ensures quality and develops protocols.

CoARC

Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care; accredits RT education programs.

NBRC

National Board for Respiratory Care; credentialing agency that administers exams.

CRT

Certified Respiratory Therapist; entry-level credential earned by a lower TMC score.

RRT

Registered Respiratory Therapist; credential earned after meeting criteria and completing the CSE.

TMC Exam

Therapist Multiple-Choice exam used to determine CRT status and eligibility for RRT via CSE.

CSE Exam

Clinical Simulation Examination; required for RRT eligibility after the TMC.

CPFT

Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist.

RPFT

Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist.

APRT

Advanced Practice Respiratory Therapist; Master’s-level role addressing lung-focused care.

ICRC

International Council for Respiratory Care (25 member countries).

ARCF

AARC Research and Education Foundation; supports research, awards, and education.

AARC

American Association for Respiratory Care; main professional organization.

Accreditation Levels (CoARC)

Programs accredited at Associate, Bachelor, and Master levels.

Licensure

State license required to practice; protects the public.

Licensure Trend

Most states require CRT minimum; trend toward RRT-only in many states.

Ohio Licensure Milestone

First state to require RRT in 2015; other states followed.

Sleep Care & Sleep Labs

RTs participate in sleep care; sleep labs perform polysomnography and related tests.

How does the TMC exam differentiate between CRT and RRT eligibility?

A lower score on the TMC exam grants the CRT credential, while a higher score is required to be eligible to take the CSE for RRT credentialing.

What are some specific diagnostic tests performed by RTs?

RTs perform Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) analysis, electrocardiograms (ECGs), and various pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in addition to sleep studies.

What are common types of artificial airways managed by RTs?

Common artificial airways include endotracheal tubes (ET \, tubes), tracheostomy tubes, and nasopharyngeal airways.

What is polysomnography?

Polysomnography is a comprehensive recording of biophysiological changes that occur during sleep, typically performed in sleep labs to diagnose sleep disorders.