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Respiratory Therapists

Also called: Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT), Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP), Respiratory Therapist (RT)

What they do:

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.

On the job, you would:
  • 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.
On the job, you'll need:

Business

  • customer service

Health

  • medicine and dentistry

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Education and Training

  • teaching and course design

Basic Skills

  • keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Social

  • looking for ways to help people
  • understanding people's reactions

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say

Ideas and Logic

  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
  • notice when problems happen

Hand and Finger Use

  • hold or move items with your hands
  • put together small parts with your fingers

Attention

  • pay attention to something without being distracted

Social

People interested in this work like activities that include helping people, teaching, and talking.

  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Integrity
  • Self Control

Medical software

  • eClinicalWorks EHR software
  • MEDITECH software

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft Excel

Video courtesy of CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this position is Bright.

New job opportunities are very likely in the future. This career will grow rapidly in the next few years.

Median Annual Salary: $70,540

Education

Associate's degree or bachelor's degree is usually needed.

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