Respiratory therapists prevent, evaluate, and treat respiratory and cardiopulmonary diseases in various settings, including hospitals, clinics, and patients’ homes. A degree, licensure, and certification are required, and strong attention to detail and the ability to work under pressure are essential skills. The demand for respiratory therapists is high due to the aging population and advances in treatment.
There are many career opportunities for the qualified respiratory therapist. Also known as a breathing specialist, or respiratory therapy technician, he or she is responsible for preventing, evaluating, and treating cardiopulmonary and respiratory disease. Most respiratory therapist jobs take place in hospitals. These may be in the departments of respiratory care, anesthesiology or pulmonary medicine.
Respiratory therapist jobs can also take place in a variety of other settings such as private physicians’ offices, universities, laboratories, clinics, intensive care units, nursing facilities, and even in patients’ homes. Within the intensive care unit, a breathing specialist may work with the elderly as well as with infants or accident victims. Patients with lung disease, heart disease, and neuromuscular problems may also need respiratory therapy.
Most respiratory therapist jobs require a standard work week. Hours and shifts often vary, with some respiratory therapists working on-call. Some of the more common disorders that physical therapists may encounter include chest trauma, asthma, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, bronchitis, and emphysema.
While duties vary depending on the workplace, respiratory therapist jobs typically include creating patient care plans, providing therapy specific to the patient’s needs, and performing diagnostic procedures. Some diagnostic procedures include sleep studies, stress and exercise tests, analysis of sputum samples, cardiac tests, and arterial blood gas analysis. A respiratory therapist can perform an assessment of the patient, including taking a medical history, reviewing symptoms, and performing a basic medical exam.
An individual interested in respiratory therapist jobs may want to study biology, physics, mathematics, health and chemistry. He or she should also feel comfortable working with the public. Because a high-stress environment is sometimes part of the job, a person pursuing this career must be able to work under pressure, alone or in a team. Strong attention to detail and the ability to follow directions are also key skills to have in this career.
To be a physical therapist, an associate’s degree is usually required. This can be obtained through a community or technical college, university, medical school, or in the Armed Forces. People looking for respiratory therapist jobs in an advanced environment may want to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Some areas of study that future respiratory therapists may choose to include include mathematics, microbiology, pathophysiology, human anatomy and physiology, physics, pharmacology, and chemistry. After a degree, licensure and certification are also usually required.
Largely due to the continued growth of the elderly population, respiratory therapist jobs are in high demand. Advances in the treatment of premature babies and cardiopulmonary disease also contribute to the growth of this field. Other factors include the presence of smoking and various environmental factors that can cause or exacerbate respiratory disease.
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