Respiratory Therapists
They treat people who need help breathing.
| Wages |
$30.34 per hour on average
|
| Outlook |
Data not available
|
| Education & Training |
Associate degree is common.
|
| Related Programs (Current training programs available) |
|
| On the Job |
Work Activities
- 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.
|
| Career Path |
Patient Care
|
| Similar Careers |
- Dental Assistants
- Dental Hygienists
- Dental Laboratory Technicians
|
| Find Jobs |
|
Want to explore more careers?
