Respiratory Therapists
Under the title Respiratory Therapists, workers assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Expect to set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment. Its interest code is RSI. Realistic leads at 5.0 out of 7, so expect hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world, with Social next at 4.9. Plan on one or two years of vocational training, an apprenticeship or an associate’s degree; O*NET labels this medium preparation. Strength in monitoring, critical thinking, and active listening helps most here. It tends to suit people who want hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world, and it offers little for anyone seeking creative work with room for original expression.
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.
Main tasks
- Set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
- 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.
- Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.
- Relay blood analysis results to a physician.
- Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
- Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders.
Skills
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Reading Comprehension
Who this career fits
May suit you if
- You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
- You get energy from helping other people move forward.
- You are willing to put in a year or two of focused training.
- You are comfortable relying on monitoring and critical thinking.
May not suit you if
- You would rather stay away from physical, hands-on tasks.
- You need creative expression to be a big part of your day. Artistic rates 1.0 out of 7 here.
- You need to start within a few months, with no training period.
Interest profile
O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code RSI takes the three highest, and Realistic comes first here.
Preparation
Medium preparation. Expect vocational school, an apprenticeship, related experience or an associate’s degree, usually one or two years in total.
Also called
- CRRT (Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Respiratory Therapist)
- CRT (Certified Respiratory Therapist)
- Diagnostics RRT (Diagnostics Registered Respiratory Therapist)
- Infant RT (Infant Respiratory Therapist)
- Licensed CRT (Licensed Certified Respiratory Therapist)
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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.