Respiratory care is an area of healthcare that specializes in the promotion of optimum cardiopulmonary function, health, wellness and treatment. For this section we will talk about respiratory therapy.

Respiratory therapists (RTs) work with individuals that have trouble breathing, at any age across the lifespan. They typically are found in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, emergency rooms and even medical flight teams.

RT’s assess patients with respiratory issues, both in routine care and emergency care. They evaluate lung function, oxygen levels, along with other respiratory parameters to assess the problem at hand. They also conduct diagnostic testing such as pulmonary function tests and sleep studies. Based on assessment and diagnostic testing, an RT will put together a treatment plan tailored to specific patient needs. Upon implementation of a patient’s treatment plan, the RT will administer a wide array of therapeutic interventions. These interventions may include oxygen and/or medication therapies.

Patient education is often an important aspect of an RT’s day. For example, COPD patients in a cardiopulmonary rehabilitation unit will need to be educated on the proper use of bronchodilator medications and sputum clearance techniques. If you are interested in being a lung expert, working closely with patients, and learning about diseases this could be a good fit for you!

Employment Opportunities for Respiratory Therapists

Employment opportunities for respiratory therapists look good. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics the Occupational Handbook projects a 14% growth from 2021 to 2031, much faster than average for all occupations. Since there is a growth in the population of older adults in the United States, there will be a need for more respiratory therapists to address increased prevalence of pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other changes in lung function due to age or disease.

Areas that are prone to wildfire smoke, air pollution, high use of wood stoves and fireplaces, or have a high number of individuals in the community that smoke, will likely also create demand for respiratory therapists. Washington State alone, due to increasing smoke from wildfires, will likely see an increase in RT need in the foreseeable future.

Roughly 82% of respiratory therapists work in hospitals, followed by 4% in long term care facilities and 2% in physician offices according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. As mentioned previously, in the hospital or acute care setting they could work in intensive care or emergency rooms. RTs may also work in patients homes, sleep laboratories, case management programs, asthma education programs, smoking cessation programs, air transport and ambulance programs, and physicians’ offices.

Respiratory Therapy Requirements and Qualifications

To become a respiratory therapist typically requires a minimum of an associate degree. Although there is an increase in demand for bachelor programs, especially in urban areas. Most respiratory therapy programs will have limited admission, and require some prerequisite coursework in general education courses such as anatomy and physiology, psychology, English and math. Once accepted into the program, students will learn about pharmacology, respiratory care sciences and management across the lifespan, and will have some clinical coursework.

The accreditation body in the United States for respiratory therapy colleges and universities is the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), which utilizes an ‘outcomes based’ process to document program effectiveness. Accreditation information will be available on any respiratory care program website.

Upon completing the associate or Bachelor degree, students are eligible to sit for the Therapist Multiple-Choice Examination (TMC). This examination evaluates the abilities required of respiratory therapists for entry into the practice of respiratory practice. Following success on the TMC examination, candidates are eligible for the Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE).

The Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) takes and is successful on the TMC examination. The Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential is considered the standard of excellence according to the National Board of respiratory Care. The RRT can then take sub-specialty examinations in adult critical care, neonatology/pediatrics, or sleep disorders.

Attributions

1. Figure 5.13: Respiratory therapist at Baystate Health NICU.jpg by Rose State Community College. is released under Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Generic license.