Respiratory Therapists

Career summary

Respiratory therapists treat patients who have trouble breathing, including:

• Premature babies with underdeveloped lungs
• People with chronic diseases such as asthma or emphysema
• Elderly patients with lung disease

In some cases, respiratory therapists give care to patients during emergencies such as heart attacks.

Respiratory therapists evaluate new patients before they treat them. They talk to patients and explain what they are doing. They test patients' lung capacity by having them breathe into an instrument that measures oxygen. They compare the reading with the norm for the patient's age, height, weight, and sex. Therapists also use blood gas analyzers to measure the levels of oxygen and acidity in patients' blood.

Respiratory therapists consult with a physician to make a treatment plan. Treatment options include:

• Aerosol medications
• Chest physiotherapy
• Ventilation

Therapists monitor patients' conditions, and consult with the doctor if there are bad reactions.

Some patients use ventilators and other life support systems at home. Therapists teach patients how to use them and make sure the equipment is working correctly. They also teach patients how to inhale medications properly so that the medicine is most effective.

Respiratory therapists maintain patients' charts as they treat them. They record the results of evaluations and all treatment notes. They make sure that all safety precautions are followed. In addition, therapists with experience may train and supervise new therapists and other staff.

Respiratory therapists may perform procedures that test heart and lung function, such as stress tests. They may also draw blood samples from patients.

Related careers

This career is part of the Health Science cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
• Emergency Medical Technicians
• Licensed Practical Nurses
• Occupational Therapists
• Physical Therapists
• Radiation Therapists
• Radiologic Technologists
• Registered Nurses
• Surgical Technologists

Military careers

• Medical Care Technicians

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to respiratory therapists.

• Set up and operate devices for patient treatment, such as ventilators, oxygen machines, and aerosol generators.
• Perform emergency care, such as artificial respiration.
• Follow doctors' orders and consult with doctors if patients have bad reactions.
• Monitor patients' responses to treatment and assess patients' condition.
• Review patient information to assess condition.
• Work with doctors, nurses, and other medical staff to oversee patient progress.
• Enforce safety rules.
• Maintain patients' charts. Note evaluation and treatment information.
• Inspect and clean equipment. Arrange for repairs, if necessary.
• Describe treatments to patients so they will cooperate.
• Teach patients to use ventilators and other life support systems for home care.
• May perform non-traditional tasks, such as drawing blood.
• Check lung function and adjust equipment for best results, following doctors' orders.
• Perform chest physiotherapy to remove mucus from lungs. Assist patients in breathing exercises.
• Teach or supervise respiratory care trainees and other staff.
• Assist doctors in research and diagnoses.
• Make emergency visits to fix equipment.
• Run several kinds of tests, such as electrocardiograms or stress tests, to assess lung functions.
• Use blood gas analyzer to measure blood levels of oxygen and acidity. Report results to doctor.
• Evaluate patients' lung capacity. Compare oxygen readings to normal standards for age, weight, and other factors.

Common work activities

Respiratory therapists perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Document and record information
• Assist and care for others
• Get information needed to do the job
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Analyze data or information
• Evaluate information against standards
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Control machines and processes
• Process information
• Handle and move objects
• Use computers
• Perform for or work with the public
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Perform activities that use the whole body
• Teach others
• Coach others
• Develop and build teams
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Develop goals and strategies
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
• Schedule work and activities
• Provide advice and consultation to others
• Guide, direct, and motivate others
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, respiratory therapists:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of social contact. They work closely with their patients.
• Deal with people daily who are unpleasant or discourteous due to their illnesses.
• Are somewhat responsible for patient health and safety.
• Communicate with patients and doctors daily by telephone or in person. They also write e-mail, but less frequently.
• Work in a group or as part of a team.
• Are somewhat responsible for the work done by other therapists and assistants.

Physical work conditions

• Always work indoors.
• Are exposed to diseases or infections on a daily basis.
• Always wear protective attire, such as gloves and masks, when interacting with patients.
• Work very near patients. They often work within inches of other people.
• Are sometimes exposed to radiation, contaminants, and hazardous conditions.
• Occasionally are exposed to loud and distracting sounds and noise levels.

Work performance

• Must be sure their work is exact. Errors could seriously endanger the health of their patients.
• Make decisions on a weekly basis that strongly impact patients. They rarely consult doctors before making decisions.
• Are usually able to set their tasks for the day without consulting with a supervisor.
• Repeat the same physical and mental activities.
• Must abide by schedules that are largely dictated by patient needs.

Hours/travel

• Generally have a set schedule each week.
• May work part time or full time, but most work 40 hours a week.
• May be required to work evenings, nights, or weekends.

Physical demands

Respiratory therapists frequently:

• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Stand for long periods of time.
• Walk or run for long periods of time.

It is important for respiratory therapists to be able to:

• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for respiratory therapists to be able to:

• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.
• Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
• Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.
• Move arms and legs quickly.

Skills and abilities

Respiratory therapists need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Understand spoken information.
• Understand written information.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.

Reason and problem solve

• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.

Use math and science

• Use scientific methods to solve problems.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Manage the time of self and others.

Work with people

• Look for ways to help people.
• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Teach others how to do something.
• Use several methods to learn or teach new things.

Work with things

• Inspect and evaluate the quality of products.
• Watch gauges, dials, and output to make sure a machine is working properly.

Perceive and visualize

• Quickly and accurately compare letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.
• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Respiratory Therapy

Other programs of study to consider

• Registered Nursing
• Respiratory Therapy Assisting

Training

To work as a respiratory therapist, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• have an associate degree in respiratory therapy; and
• pass exams to become certified.

Education after high school

An associate degree is the general requirement for entry into this field. Career colleges, technical schools, and two-year colleges offer respiratory therapy programs. Some four-year colleges and universities also offer these programs. Depending on the program, you earn an associate or bachelor's degree.

In a respiratory therapy program you study anatomy, physiology, and microbiology. You also learn about procedures, equipment, and clinical tests.

Work experience

Work experience is necessary to become certified. You may need up to one year of related work experience.

On-the-job training

New therapists often receive training on the job. The length of training varies by employer, but may last up to six months.

Military training

Some branches of the military train people to be medical care technicians. Training lasts seven to 52 weeks, depending on your specialty. Additional training occurs on the job.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum may be different from your state's graduation requirements.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Computer Applications
• Introduction to Health Care
• Nursing
• Safety and First Aid

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Respiratory theory, clinical practice, and equipment have become increasingly complex in recent years, making formal training a requirement for entry into the field. Two-year respiratory therapy programs are offered by several community colleges in the state. Graduates who pass both theory and clinical written exams are recognized as Registered Respiratory Therapists by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). The national registry examination fees are $390.

#Multiple choice & clinical simulations exams still are same cost 3/30/15 cj. No change from National Board fac pages http://www.nbrc.org/ lh 3/24/15 lh, no change 3/20/18 lh

Some employers prefer applicants with a four-year degree. Certification related to Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) is becoming more important in some settings such as emergency room and critical care. Some employers test new employees to make sure that they meet basic skill requirements.

Employers look for applicants who have good critical thinking, conflict resolution, and interpersonal and communication skills. They also look for applicants who can work as part of a team, are knowledgeable about safe and unsafe health care practices, and are committed to health care and ongoing education to stay current in their field.

Tips

Combining respiratory therapy training with a bachelor's degree in education or health care management, or with training in other health care areas, may expand job possibilities. Employers look for therapists who are flexible and willing to learn new skills. Part-time or volunteer work as a respiratory aide or equipment technician is a good way to gain experience in a hospital environment. To learn more about this occupation, spend time with a respiratory therapist at his or her job site. You can also attend local association meetings or events.

Costs to workers

Some hospitals provide lab coats or scrubs for their employees, while other hospitals require employees to purchase their own. Some workers may be required to join a union and pay an initiation fee and union dues. Workers may join a professional association and pay annual dues.

Licensing/certification

Respiratory therapists must be licensed by the State of Washington. Requirements include:

• completion of an accredited two-year respiratory therapy training program;
• successful completion of the entry-level examination given by the National Board for Respiratory Care ;
• a good moral character;
• seven-clock hours of HIV/AIDS education;
• 30 hours of continuing education every two years for license renewal; and
• pay application and renewal fees.

For more information, contact:

Washington State Department of Health
Health Professions Quality Assurance
Customer Service Center 
PO Box 47877
Olympia, WA 98504
360.236.4700

#2/11/20

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Respiratory Therapists 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Wages vary according to the responsibilities and experience of the therapist. Wages also vary by area of the country.

Respiratory therapists who work full time generally receive benefits. Typical benefits include paid vacation, sick leave, and health insurance.

Employment and outlook

State Outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Four out of five respiratory therapists work in hospitals.

Major employers:

• Hospitals
• Doctors' offices
• Nursing care facilities

National outlook

Demand for respiratory therapists is expected to grow much faster than average. Much of the demand for this occupation will be due to the aging population. Older adults suffer more from breathing and lung diseases than young people do. As the number of the elderly increase, the need for respiratory therapists will grow. In addition, advances in treatment for different types of patients, such as premature infants, will also increase the demand for these workers.

Job prospects will be best for those who are willing to move to locations where there are very few respiratory therapists.

Other resources

American Academy of Sleep Medicine 

American Association for Respiratory Care 
9425 North MacArthur Boulevard, Suite 100
Irving, TX 75063
972.243.2272

American Association of Sleep Technologists 
330 N. Wabash Avenue, Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60611
630.737.9704

Explore Health Careers: Respiratory Therapist 

How to be an RT 
(from the American Association of Respiratory Care)

National Board for Respiratory Care 
10801 Mastin Street, Suite 300
Overland Park, KS 66210
888.341.4811
913.895.4900

Respiratory Care Society of Washington 

References

Career cluster

• Health Science

Career path

• Social

O*Net  occupation

• Respiratory Therapists (29-1126.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.

DOT occupation

• Respiratory Therapist (076.361-014) 

Strong Interest Inventory

• Respiratory Therapist

Holland occupational cluster

• Social/Investigative/Realistic

COPSystem

• Service Professional