CHAPTER 29: RESPIRATORY CARE PRACTITIONERS
Respiratory Therapists
“evaluate, educate, treat, care”
Respiratory therapists handle patients with cardiopulmonary disorders. They practice under physician supervision. They consult with healthcare staff like physicians to provide treatment. They can provide complex care in units like the ICU. They treat people of all ages with all kinds of respiratory issues. They give relief for chronic asthma or emphysema. They can help with things like heart attacks, strokes, drowning, trauma, shock, etc. Cystic fibrosis requires respiratory therapy. A respiratory therapist can interview patients, perform a small variety of physical examinations, perform diagnostic tests, etc. They can evaluate lung capacity and blood pH. They measure lung capacity by having patients breathe into a spirometer. To check blood pH and analyze oxygen or carbon dioxide levels, they use arterial blood samples. Patients can be treated with oxygen or oxygen mixtures, chest physiotherapy, aerosol, etc. Aerosol is a medication that you consume through inhalation. Chest physiotherapy is prescribed after surgery to help a patient’s lungs return to their normal state. Chest physiotherapy helps remove the mucus from the lungs to make sure they’re all good. Oxygen mixtures are treatments of gases to help patients with breathing disorders. Ventilators are used to deliver pressurized air into the lungs to make breathing easier. Respiratory therapists in home healthcare can visit homes to make sure that patients have the needed knowledge on their disorder and medication, to check on equipment, and to make sure that the patient’s home is in a state that isn’t harmful to their treatment. Polysomnography, testing of sleep parameters, is used to diagnose sleep disorders like sleep apnea.
Respiratory therapists work 35 to 40 hours weekly on average. 81% work in hospitals. They need stamina, strength, and ability to follow instructions well.
Avg. salary → $62,810 Low 10% salary → $45,940 High 10% salary → $89,170 Overall Jobs → 135,800 Hospitals → 82% Other Places of Work: home healthcare, respiratory care departments, offices of healthcare professionals, nursing care facilities Licensure → required in all states but Alaska Certification → NBRC (National Board of Respiratory Care) Degree → associate’s or higher Credentials → CRT (Certified Respiratory Therapist) → RRT (Registered Respiratory Therapist) Programs that allow for respiratory therapists to be certified are accredited by CoARC (Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care). Specialties → adult critical care, neonatal care, sleep disorders, pulmonary function technology Specialization can improve job opportunities and salaries. 79% growth is projected for Respiratory Therapists. | Great job prospects are expected for respiratory therapists because of the aging population. Respiratory therapists should be sensitive to physical and psychological needs of patients. They need communication skills, attention to detail, ability to follow instruction, and teamwork skills. They also need digital and computer proficiency because of the tools they use in their job. The CRT credential requires program graduation and a passing grade on the exam for it. The RRT Credential requires graduation from an advanced program and passing of two extra exams. Respiratory therapists can advance by going from general care to critical care for patients with problems in specific organ systems, this usually being done with a bachelor’s or master’s. They can also advance into managerial or supervisory positions. Respiratory therapists in home healthcare can become branch managers for equipment firms. They can apply their knowledge to work in other fields, such as development, marketing, pharmaceutical sales, etc. |
Respiratory Therapy Technicians
“follow procedures under direction”
Respiratory therapy technicians are supervised by respiratory therapists and physicians. They help with patient evaluation, treatment, and care. They administer oxygen and breathing treatments. They prepare & test equipment, analyze samples, and maintain patient records.
Respiratory therapy technicians work 35 to 40 hours weekly. Some work weekends and evenings, based on facility requirements.
Degree → One-year program certification Credential → CTT (Certified Therapy Technician) to CRT (Certified Respiratory Therapist) Avg. salary → $51,210 | Bad job prospects are expected for respiratory therapy technicians because of the change made to credentials. |
Respiratory Therapists
“evaluate, educate, treat, care”
Respiratory therapists handle patients with cardiopulmonary disorders. They practice under physician supervision. They consult with healthcare staff like physicians to provide treatment. They can provide complex care in units like the ICU. They treat people of all ages with all kinds of respiratory issues. They give relief for chronic asthma or emphysema. They can help with things like heart attacks, strokes, drowning, trauma, shock, etc. Cystic fibrosis requires respiratory therapy. A respiratory therapist can interview patients, perform a small variety of physical examinations, perform diagnostic tests, etc. They can evaluate lung capacity and blood pH. They measure lung capacity by having patients breathe into a spirometer. To check blood pH and analyze oxygen or carbon dioxide levels, they use arterial blood samples. Patients can be treated with oxygen or oxygen mixtures, chest physiotherapy, aerosol, etc. Aerosol is a medication that you consume through inhalation. Chest physiotherapy is prescribed after surgery to help a patient’s lungs return to their normal state. Chest physiotherapy helps remove the mucus from the lungs to make sure they’re all good. Oxygen mixtures are treatments of gases to help patients with breathing disorders. Ventilators are used to deliver pressurized air into the lungs to make breathing easier. Respiratory therapists in home healthcare can visit homes to make sure that patients have the needed knowledge on their disorder and medication, to check on equipment, and to make sure that the patient’s home is in a state that isn’t harmful to their treatment. Polysomnography, testing of sleep parameters, is used to diagnose sleep disorders like sleep apnea.
Respiratory therapists work 35 to 40 hours weekly on average. 81% work in hospitals. They need stamina, strength, and ability to follow instructions well.
Avg. salary → $62,810 Low 10% salary → $45,940 High 10% salary → $89,170 Overall Jobs → 135,800 Hospitals → 82% Other Places of Work: home healthcare, respiratory care departments, offices of healthcare professionals, nursing care facilities Licensure → required in all states but Alaska Certification → NBRC (National Board of Respiratory Care) Degree → associate’s or higher Credentials → CRT (Certified Respiratory Therapist) → RRT (Registered Respiratory Therapist) Programs that allow for respiratory therapists to be certified are accredited by CoARC (Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care). Specialties → adult critical care, neonatal care, sleep disorders, pulmonary function technology Specialization can improve job opportunities and salaries. 79% growth is projected for Respiratory Therapists. | Great job prospects are expected for respiratory therapists because of the aging population. Respiratory therapists should be sensitive to physical and psychological needs of patients. They need communication skills, attention to detail, ability to follow instruction, and teamwork skills. They also need digital and computer proficiency because of the tools they use in their job. The CRT credential requires program graduation and a passing grade on the exam for it. The RRT Credential requires graduation from an advanced program and passing of two extra exams. Respiratory therapists can advance by going from general care to critical care for patients with problems in specific organ systems, this usually being done with a bachelor’s or master’s. They can also advance into managerial or supervisory positions. Respiratory therapists in home healthcare can become branch managers for equipment firms. They can apply their knowledge to work in other fields, such as development, marketing, pharmaceutical sales, etc. |
Respiratory Therapy Technicians
“follow procedures under direction”
Respiratory therapy technicians are supervised by respiratory therapists and physicians. They help with patient evaluation, treatment, and care. They administer oxygen and breathing treatments. They prepare & test equipment, analyze samples, and maintain patient records.
Respiratory therapy technicians work 35 to 40 hours weekly. Some work weekends and evenings, based on facility requirements.
Degree → One-year program certification Credential → CTT (Certified Therapy Technician) to CRT (Certified Respiratory Therapist) Avg. salary → $51,210 | Bad job prospects are expected for respiratory therapy technicians because of the change made to credentials. |
