5.6 Respiratory Therapy
Karen Piette, MHS, CMA and Kristen Hosey
Respiratory care is an area of healthcare that specializes in the promotion of optimal cardiopulmonary function, health, wellness, and treatment. In this section, we will discuss respiratory therapy.
Respiratory therapists (RTs) work with individuals of all ages who have trouble breathing. They are typically found in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, emergency rooms, and even on medical flight teams.
RTs assess patients with respiratory issues in both routine and emergency care settings. They evaluate lung function, oxygen levels, and other respiratory parameters to determine the underlying problem. They also conduct diagnostic testing, such as pulmonary function tests and sleep studies. Based on these assessments and diagnostic test results, an RT develops a personalized treatment plan for the patient. Once the treatment plan is implemented, the RT may administer a variety of therapeutic interventions, including oxygen and medication therapies.
Patient education is an important aspect of an RT’s role. For example, in a cardiopulmonary rehabilitation unit, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients may need instruction 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 respiratory diseases, this could be a good fit for you.
Employment Opportunities for Respiratory Therapists
Employment opportunities for respiratory therapists are promising. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) projects a 14% growth in employment from 2021 to 2031, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. With the growing population of older adults in the United States, there will be an increasing demand for respiratory therapists to address the higher prevalence of pneumonia, COPD, and other changes in lung function due to age or disease.
Areas affected by wildfire smoke, air pollution, frequent use of wood stoves and fireplaces, or communities with high smoking rates are likely to see increased demand for respiratory therapists. In Washington state, for example, increasing smoke from wildfires is expected to increase the need for RTs in the foreseeable future.
About 82% of respiratory therapists work in hospitals, 4% in long-term care facilities, and 2% in physician offices, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024). As mentioned previously, in hospitals or acute care settings, RTs may work in intensive care units or emergency rooms. They may also work in patients’ homes, sleep laboratories, case management programs, asthma education programs, smoking cessation programs, air transport, ambulance services, and physicians’ offices.
Respiratory Therapy Requirements and Qualifications
An associate degree is typically required to become a respiratory therapist, although there is a growing demand for bachelor’s degree programs, especially in urban areas. Most respiratory therapy programs have limited admission and require prerequisite coursework in general education subjects such as anatomy and physiology, psychology, English, and math. Once accepted, students will study pharmacology, respiratory care sciences, and management across the lifespan, and will complete clinical coursework.
In the United States, the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) is the accrediting body for respiratory therapy programs. CoARC uses an outcomes-based process to document program effectiveness. Accreditation information can be found on the website of any accredited respiratory care program.
After completing an associate or bachelor’s degree, students are eligible to sit for the Therapist Multiple-Choice Examination (TMC), which evaluates the abilities required for entry into respiratory therapy practice. The certified respiratory therapist (CRT) credential is awarded to those who pass the TMC examination. Upon passing the TMC, candidates are eligible for the Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE). The CSE must be passed to earn the registered respiratory therapist (RRT) credential, which is considered the standard of excellence, according to the National Board for Respiratory Care. RRTs can also take sub-specialty examinations in areas such as adult critical care, neonatology/pediatrics, or sleep disorders.
Attributions
- 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.
Branch of medicine that focuses on respiratory disorders and breathing difficulties.