Having a job as a respiratory therapist means helping patients who face a wide variety of health problems. These patients can be babies who have breathing problems because of immature respiratory systems, or seniors who suffer from lung ailments. A respiratory therapist is sometimes called a respiratory care practitioner. The kind of treatment they give is mainly related to various breathing disorders.
This kind of work will also involve keeping a watchful eye on the progress of patients, as well as the medical equipment. That means monitoring the patient’s levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide, and setting their ventilator up for their attending physician. They are responsible to ensure that equipment is still functioning properly. They administer medications as well, for improving the patient’s breathing while undergoing surgery.
There are a lot of respiratory therapist jobs available. This is a trend that’s expected to continue for many years into the unforeseeable future. Especially in the area of infant care and heart conditions.
Most of the work of the respiratory therapist takes place within a hospital setting. It involves respiratory care, pulmonary, and anesthesiology units. RTs can find work with businesses who sell or rent out their machines for use in homes for improving breathing. They can also find working doctor’s offices or nursing homes.
The education requirements for respiratory therapists is no less than an associates degree for becoming a respiratory therapist. The students can easily find training programs being given at medical schools, universities and colleges, and at many vocational institutes. These Respiratory Therapy Schools can be acquired through the Armed Forces as well.
These education programs are mainly made up of a curriculum of health and science. Preparing for secondary education, as a high school student wanting to be a respiratory therapist, you need to focus on excelling in math, physics, chemistry, and biology. These are the necessary skills for becoming a successful respiratory therapist and landing a good job. You’ll be dealing with measuring medicine and calculating oxygen levels.
The course for the respiratory therapy programs will include some anatomy, pharmacology, and microbiology. Students are also required to study some cardiopulmonary resuscitation, equipment, out-patient care, and therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. It’s vitally important that students get their education in a respiratory therapy program with an accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation and Allied Health Education Program. Almost 400 RT schools all over the U.S. have this accreditation.
Many states will require their students to obtain a license, and it’s considered part of the training. They can do this once they’ve earned their degree in respiratory therapy. Alaska and Hawaii are the two states who don’t require this. All respiratory therapists are required to know CPR as well. All licensing requirements are set by the NBRC.