Respiratory Therapist
- Help patients breathe easier and improve their quality of life.
- Play a crucial role in life-saving respiratory care and emergency situations.
- Work with advanced technology to monitor and treat breathing disorders.
💰 Earn $82K-$122K
📚 Associate Degree
Overview
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.Scoop
Excellent (Increasing by 5% or more)
Day-to-Day
- Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
- Monitor patient's physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, or blood chemistry changes, and consult with physician if adverse reactions occur.
- Set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
- Work as part of a team of physicians, nurses, or other healthcare professionals to manage patient care by assisting with medical procedures or related duties.
- Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.
Best For You If...
YOU Like 💕
- Working with my hands
- Relating with or serving others
- Thinking and problem solving
You are skilled in 💫
- Social Perceptiveness
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
You value 🙏
- Having support
- Receiving recognition
- Personal relationships
In Action
Want to see what it's like to be a Respiratory Therapist? We've curated a playlist for you to explore.
Respiratory Therapist
This short video gives an overview of what this career is all about.
Pathways to this Career
Here are few pathways you can take to become a Respiratory Therapist. Click on a pathway to learn more about it.
