Respiratory Therapists

patient social interests therapist condition disorder equipment physician medical equipment medical procedure customer

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.

Knowledge

Business

  • customer service

Health

  • medicine and dentistry

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Education and Training

  • teaching and course design

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

  • 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

Personality

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

They do well at jobs that need:

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

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Medical software

  • eClinicalWorks EHR software Hot Technology
  • MEDITECH software

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology

Education

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

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Bright
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about respiratory therapists.