Respiratory Career Respiratory Therapists

Respiratory Therapists 

What is a Respiratory Therapists?

The respiratory therapist treats people with health care issues affecting the cardiopulmonary system such as asthma, emphysema, pneumonia, cardiovascular disorders, and trauma.In the hospital setting, the respiratory therapist provides care and life support to patients in the emergency room, intensive care units, general hospital areas, the pulmonary diagnostics laboratory and other specialty areas such as rehabilitation. They use high-tech equipment and the latest medical procedures to help patients and may be employed in non-hospital environments as well.Patients receiving care from a respiratory therapist range in age from the premature infant to geriatrics. The respiratory professional is also involved in the diagnostic testing of infants, children and adults with underlying medical concerns including disease and sleep disorders.

What are the tools they use?

Ventilator

• Individuals in a coma and others with serious injury or illness are unable to breathe on their own. Instead a respiratory therapist connects them to a ventilator which breathes for the patient by pumping in and releasing oxygen from their lungs. Ventilators are usually computerized, which allow respiratory therapists to set the amount of pressure and type of air a patient requires for their specific needs.

Spirometer

• To measure a person's lung capacity a respiratory therapist uses a spirometer. The patient takes a breath and blows into the spirometer tube until they have exhaled all the air from their lungs. The machine records the amount of air released from the lungs as well as its intensity. This data is then compared by a respiratory therapist against the baseline for a person of the same age, sex and height. A major difference between the patient's blowing ability and the baseline can indicate diseases or injury in a person's lungs.

Blood Gas Analyzer

• The amount of oxygen in a patient's blood is generally 95 to 100 percent at sea-level elevations. Respiratory therapists can draw blood from a patient and use a blood gas analyzer to determine if a patient has the correct percentage of oxygen in their blood. Below 90 percent is considered low and is referred to as hypoxemia.

What do you need to do become a respiratory therapists?

Step 1: Earn an Associate's Degree

Many community and technical colleges offer associate's degree programs in respiratory therapy. Students may need to complete introductory college-level coursework in English, math, chemistry, anatomy and physiology before beginning a respiratory therapy program. Some programs also require that applicants demonstrate a commitment to the profession by showing documented volunteer or work experience hours in a respiratory healthcare setting.

Students should choose a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) to ensure that all requirements for licensure and certification are met. Coursework in an associate's degree program introduces students to theories and science of respiratory therapy and teaches clinical techniques for use with adults, children and infants. Students complete clinical rotations in various specialty areas to learn how to properly put their skills to work in real-life situations.

Step 2: Complete the Examination to Become a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT)

The National Board for Respiratory Care administers the computer-based CRT test daily through testing centers located across the country. The organization offers a free online practice test to acquaint candidates with the format of the certification exam.

Step 3: Obtain a State License

Every state except Alaska regulates licensure for respiratory therapists. Many states require that professionals pass the NBRC exam and be certified as CRTs to qualify for state licensure. Some states require a higher level of certification, such as Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).

Step 4: Consider Obtaining Additional Certification

Many employers prefer or require respiratory therapists to have additional life support certifications. Respiratory therapists who want to work with children or infants should consider getting Pediatric Advanced Life Support certification and completing a Neonatal Resuscitation Program. All respiratory therapists should also consider earning Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications.

Salary Range

The annual salary for someone with the job title Registered Respiratory Therapist may vary depending on a number of factors including industry, company size, location, years of experience and level of education. Our team of Certified Compensation Professionals has analyzed survey data collected from thousands of HR departments at companies of all sizes and industries to present this range of annual salaries for people with the job title Registered Respiratory Therapist in the United States.