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Respiratory Therapists

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

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.
  • Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.
  • 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.

Knowledge

Business
  • customer service
Health
  • medicine and dentistry
Education and Training
  • teaching and course design
Arts and Humanities
  • English language

Skills

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

Abilities

Verbal
  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say
Ideas and Logic
  • notice when problems happen
  • order or arrange things
Hand and Finger Use
  • hold or move items with your hands
  • keep your arm or hand steady
Attention
  • pay attention to something without being distracted

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include
helping people, teaching, and talking.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Concern for Others
  • Integrity
  • Dependability
  • Cooperation
  • Independence
  • Attention to Detail

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel
Medical software
  • Electronic medical record EMR software
Electronic mail software
  • Microsoft Outlook

Education

Education: (rated 3 of 5)
associate's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Average Outlook
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
Salary
$55,250
per year, on average
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Explore More

See more details at O*NET OnLine about respiratory therapists.