Respiratory Therapist
Care for patients who have trouble breathing
What Do Respiratory Therapist Do?
Help Patients that have trouble breathing such as chronic respiratory disease, asthma or emphysema. Also provide emergency care such as patients from suffering heart attacks, stroke, drowning or shock.
All Ages
Respiratory Therapist provide help to all ages of all different kinds of breathing problems. It doesn't matter how old or young you are.
Asking Questions
Respiratory Therapist examine patients with breathing problems or breathing disorders.
Inhaling
Respiratory Therapists teach patients how to use inhalers so that they can breathe better.
Duties
- Interview and examine patients with breathing problems
- Discuss with physicians to plan a patients treatment
- measuring the lung capacity
- monitor and record the progress of the treatment of a patient
- teach patients how to use treatment
Work Experience
Therapist work mostly in Hospitals and others work in offices or travel to patients' homes.
Most therapist work full-time because they work in hospitals that are always open, some may work evening, night, or weekend hours.
Education
Respiratory therapy programs include courses in human anatomy and physiology, chemistry, physics, microbiology, pharmacology, and mathematics.
High school students interested in applying to respiratory therapy programs should take courses in health, biology, mathematics, chemistry, and physics.
Skills
- Compassion-to provide emotional support to patients undergoing treatment and be sympathetic to their needs.
- Detailed Oriented-They must also monitor and record various pieces of information related to patient care.
- Interpersonal skills- they must be able to follow instructions from a supervising physician.
- patience- may work for long periods with patients who need special attention.
- problem-solving skills- to consult with other healthcare professionals, and recommend and administer the appropriate treatments.
- science and mathematical skills-to calculate the right dose of a patient’s medicine.
Quick Facts
- Entry level Education Associates degree
- Salary is $54,280 per year /$ 26.10 per hour
- Job outlook 28% (faster than average)
- No work experience needed or job on training required.