In this section
Who we hire
- Child welfare
- Corporate and service professionals
- Equal opportunity employer
- Food service
- Medical assistant
- Nurses
- Other healthcare professionals
- Physicians and practitioners
- Respiratory therapy
- Experienced and new graduate respiratory therapists
- Respiratory therapist internships
- What do respiratory therapists do?
- Why should I become a respiratory therapist?
- Respiratory therapists schools and scholarships
- Surgical technologist
What do respiratory therapists do?
- A respiratory therapist helps patients who are having trouble breathing.
- Respiratory therapists work under the direction of doctors and treat a range of patients, from premature infants whose lungs are not fully developed to elderly people with lung disease.
- They give patients oxygen, manage ventilators, and administer drugs to the lungs.
Scope of practice
Respiratory therapists work with doctors and nurses to treat patients of all ages, from infants to the elderly. In a typical day, respiratory therapists may:
- Assist with diagnosing lung or breathing disorders
- Evaluate patients and performing tests and studies
- Determine appropriate therapy and treatment options with physicians
- Analyze blood and sputum in the lab
- Manage equipment and devices needed to help people that can’t breathe normally on their own
- Educate patients and families about lung diseases and breathing disorders
Specializations
There are many different areas that respiratory therapists can specialize in. Some areas require extra certification or experience. Respiratory therapists can specialize in:
- Neonatal or pediatric
- Geriatric
- Pulmonary rehab
- Polysomnography
- Critical care
- Home care
- Pulmonary diagnostics
Work environment
Respiratory therapists work in hospitals, cardiopulmonary diagnostic labs, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, and home health agencies; however, about 75% of respiratory therapists are employed by hospitals. They typically work 35-40 hour weeks. Depending on where they work, they may work nights, weekends, and holidays, especially if they do direct patient care in hospitals or nursing homes. Shifts can be long, and respiratory therapists typically spend most of their shift on their feet.