Occupation Profile for Respiratory Therapists

opportunity | video

Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment.

Signficant Points

  • Job opportunities should be very good.
  • An associate degree is the minimum educational requirement, but a bachelor’s or master’s degree may be important for advancement.
  • All States, except Alaska and Hawaii, require respiratory therapists to be licensed.
  • Hospitals will account for the vast majority of job openings, but a growing number of openings will arise in other settings.
 

Tasks

  • Core — Set up and operate devices such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, and aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
  • Core — Determine requirements for treatment, such as type, method and duration of therapy, precautions to be taken, and medication and dosages, compatible with physicians' orders.
  • Core — Work as part of a team of physicians, nurses and other health care professionals to manage patient care.
  • Core — Provide emergency care, including artificial respiration, external cardiac massage and assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
  • Core — Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders.

Activities

  • Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.