Respiratory Therapy

Alternative Job Titles for Respiratory Therapists

• Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Respiratory Therapist
• Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT)
• Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)
• Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP)
• Respiratory Therapist (RT)
• Staff Respiratory Therapist
• Staff Therapist

Job Tasks and Activities for Respiratory Therapists

• Adjust settings or positions of medical equipment.
• Assist healthcare practitioners during examinations or treatments.
• Clean medical equipment or facilities.
• Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.
• Communicate test or assessment results to medical professionals.
• Conduct tests, such as electrocardiograms (EKGs), stress testing, or lung capacity tests, to evaluate patients' cardiopulmonary functions.
• Demonstrate respiratory care procedures to trainees or other healthcare personnel.
• Determine protocols for medical procedures.
• Determine requirements for treatment, such as type, method and duration of therapy, precautions to be taken, or medication and dosages, compatible with physicians' orders.
• Educate patients and their families about their conditions and teach appropriate disease management techniques, such as breathing exercises or the use of medications or respiratory equipment.
• Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders.
• Examine medical instruments or equipment to ensure proper operation.
• Explain medical procedures or test results to patients or family members.
• Explain treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.
• Gather medical information from patient histories.
• Implement advanced life support techniques.
• Inform medical professionals regarding patient conditions and care.
• Inspect, clean, test, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, ordering repairs when necessary.
• Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.
• Maintain medical equipment or instruments.
• Maintain medical facility records.
• Make emergency visits to resolve equipment problems.
• Monitor cardiac patients, using electrocardiography devices, such as a holter monitor.
• Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities.
• 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.
• Move patients to or from treatment areas.
• Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment.
• Perform bronchopulmonary drainage and assist or instruct patients in performance of breathing exercises.
• Perform endotracheal intubation to maintain open airways for patients who are unable to breathe on their own.
• Perform pulmonary function and adjust equipment to obtain optimum results in therapy.
• Prepare medical supplies or equipment for use.
• Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.
• Relay blood analysis results to a physician.
• Repair medical facility equipment.
• Set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
• Supervise patient care personnel.
• Teach, train, supervise, or use the assistance of students, respiratory therapy technicians, or assistants.
• Test patient heart or lung functioning.
• Train medical providers.
• Train patients, family members, or caregivers in techniques for managing disabilities or illnesses.
• Transport patients to the hospital or within the hospital.
• Treat chronic diseases or disorders.
• Treat medical emergencies.
• Use a variety of testing techniques to assist doctors in cardiac or pulmonary research or to diagnose disorders.
• Verify that medical activities or operations meet standards.
• Work as part of a team of physicians, nurses, or other healthcare professionals to manage patient care by assisting with medical procedures or related duties.

Interests for Respiratory Therapists

• Social
  Helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others.
• Realistic
  Designing, building, or repairing equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors.
• Investigative
  Studying and researching scientific subjects and human behavior.

Skills for Respiratory Therapists

In order of importance

• Active Listening
  Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
  Importance: 72/100
• Monitoring
  Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
  Importance: 72/100
• Critical Thinking
  Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
  Importance: 72/100
• Speaking
  Talking to others.
  Importance: 69/100
• Active Learning
  Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
  Importance: 66/100
• Social Perceptiveness
  Understanding people's reactions.
  Importance: 66/100
• Service Orientation
  Looking for ways to help people.
  Importance: 66/100
• Reading Comprehension
  Reading work-related information.
  Importance: 66/100
• Judgment and Decision Making
  Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
  Importance: 60/100
• Complex Problem Solving
  Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
  Importance: 60/100
• Coordination
  Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
  Importance: 60/100
• Instructing
  Teaching people how to do something.
  Importance: 56/100
• Learning Strategies
  Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
  Importance: 53/100
• Writing
  Writing things for co-workers or customers.
  Importance: 53/100
• Time Management
  Managing your time and the time of other people.
  Importance: 53/100
• Science
  Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
  Importance: 50/100
• Quality Control Analysis
  Testing how well a product or service works.
  Importance: 50/100
• Operations Monitoring
  Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
  Importance: 50/100
• Systems Evaluation
  Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
  Importance: 47/100
• Management of Personnel Resources
  Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
  Importance: 47/100
• Systems Analysis
  Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
  Importance: 47/100
• Negotiation
  Bringing people together to solve differences.
  Importance: 47/100
• Operation and Control
  Using equipment or systems.
  Importance: 47/100
• Persuasion
  Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
  Importance: 47/100
• Mathematics
  Using math to solve problems.
  Importance: 44/100
• Troubleshooting
  Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
  Importance: 35/100
• Equipment Selection
  Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
  Importance: 35/100
• Repairing
  Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
  Importance: 31/100
• Equipment Maintenance
  Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
  Importance: 31/100
• Operations Analysis
  Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
  Importance: 28/100
• Technology Design
  Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
  Importance: 28/100
• Management of Material Resources
  Managing equipment and materials.
  Importance: 25/100
• Management of Financial Resources
  Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
  Importance: 22/100
• Programming
  Writing computer programs.
  Importance: 13/100

Knowledge for Respiratory Therapists

In order of importance

• Customer and Personal Service
  Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  Importance: 83/100
• Medicine and Dentistry
  Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
  Importance: 82/100
• English Language
  Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  Importance: 73/100
• Education and Training
  Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
  Importance: 68/100
• Psychology
  Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
  Importance: 61/100
• Computers and Electronics
  Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  Importance: 56/100
• Biology
  Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
  Importance: 56/100
• Chemistry
  Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
  Importance: 53/100
• Mathematics
  Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  Importance: 52/100
• Therapy and Counseling
  Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
  Importance: 48/100
• Physics
  Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
  Importance: 47/100
• Law and Government
  Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
  Importance: 43/100
• Sociology and Anthropology
  Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
  Importance: 40/100
• Public Safety and Security
  Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
  Importance: 39/100
• Philosophy and Theology
  Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
  Importance: 34/100
• Mechanical
  Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  Importance: 33/100
• Communications and Media
  Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
  Importance: 33/100
• Administrative
  Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
  Importance: 33/100
• Engineering and Technology
  Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
  Importance: 30/100
• Administration and Management
  Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  Importance: 29/100
• Personnel and Human Resources
  Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
  Importance: 26/100
• Foreign Language
  Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
  Importance: 25/100
• Telecommunications
  Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
  Importance: 24/100
• Production and Processing
  Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
  Importance: 15/100
• Economics and Accounting
  Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
  Importance: 14/100
• Sales and Marketing
  Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
  Importance: 13/100
• Transportation
  Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
  Importance: 12/100
• Geography
  Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
  Importance: 8/100
• Building and Construction
  Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
  Importance: 7/100
• History and Archeology
  Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
  Importance: 5/100
• Design
  Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
  Importance: 5/100
• Food Production
  Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
  Importance: 2/100
• Fine Arts
  Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
  Importance: 2/100

Physical Abilities for Respiratory Therapists

In order of importance

• Oral Expression
  Communicating by speaking.
  Importance: 75/100
• Problem Sensitivity
  Noticing when problems happen.
  Importance: 75/100
• Inductive Reasoning
  Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
  Importance: 75/100
• Information Ordering
  Ordering or arranging things.
  Importance: 72/100
• Oral Comprehension
  Listening and understanding what people say.
  Importance: 72/100
• Deductive Reasoning
  Using rules to solve problems.
  Importance: 72/100
• Near Vision
  Seeing details up close.
  Importance: 69/100
• Written Comprehension
  Reading and understanding what is written.
  Importance: 69/100
• Written Expression
  Communicating by writing.
  Importance: 63/100
• Speech Clarity
  Speaking clearly.
  Importance: 63/100
• Speech Recognition
  Recognizing spoken words.
  Importance: 56/100
• Perceptual Speed
  Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
  Importance: 56/100
• Selective Attention
  Paying attention to something without being distracted.
  Importance: 53/100
• Finger Dexterity
  Putting together small parts with your fingers.
  Importance: 53/100
• Manual Dexterity
  Holding or moving items with your hands.
  Importance: 53/100
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
  Keeping your arm or hand steady.
  Importance: 50/100
• Flexibility of Closure
  Seeing hidden patterns.
  Importance: 50/100
• Multilimb Coordination
  Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
  Importance: 50/100
• Category Flexibility
  Grouping things in different ways.
  Importance: 50/100
• Control Precision
  Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
  Importance: 50/100
• Far Vision
  Seeing details that are far away.
  Importance: 50/100
• Fluency of Ideas
  Coming up with lots of ideas.
  Importance: 47/100
• Mathematical Reasoning
  Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
  Importance: 47/100
• Originality
  Creating new and original ideas.
  Importance: 47/100
• Hearing Sensitivity
  Telling the difference between sounds.
  Importance: 47/100
• Time Sharing
  Doing two or more things at the same time.
  Importance: 47/100
• Extent Flexibility
  Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  Importance: 47/100
• Number Facility
  Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
  Importance: 47/100
• Visual Color Discrimination
  Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
  Importance: 47/100
• Trunk Strength
  Using your lower back and stomach.
  Importance: 44/100
• Auditory Attention
  Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
  Importance: 44/100
• Depth Perception
  Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
  Importance: 41/100
• Memorization
  Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
  Importance: 41/100
• Speed of Closure
  Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
  Importance: 35/100
• Stamina
  Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
  Importance: 35/100
• Visualization
  Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
  Importance: 35/100
• Static Strength
  Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
  Importance: 31/100
• Gross Body Coordination
  Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
  Importance: 28/100
• Response Orientation
  Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
  Importance: 28/100
• Reaction Time
  Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
  Importance: 28/100
• Dynamic Strength
  Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
  Importance: 28/100
• Wrist-Finger Speed
  Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
  Importance: 28/100
• Gross Body Equilibrium
  Keeping your balance or staying upright.
  Importance: 25/100
• Rate Control
  Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
  Importance: 25/100
• Speed of Limb Movement
  Quickly moving your arms and legs.
  Importance: 25/100
• Peripheral Vision
  Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
  Importance: 22/100
• Sound Localization
  Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
  Importance: 19/100
• Night Vision
  Seeing at night or under low light.
  Importance: 16/100
• Glare Sensitivity
  Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
  Importance: 16/100
• Spatial Orientation
  Knowing where things are around you.
  Importance: 13/100

Tools and Technology used by Respiratory Therapists

• Spirometers
• Nebulizers
• Medical oxygen masks or parts
• Arterial blood gas monitors
• Flow sensors or regulators or components
• Medical nasal cannulas
• Intermittent positive pressure breathing IPPB machines
• Medical gas cylinders or related devices
• Respiratory humidifiers or vaporizers
• Pulse oximeter units
• Medical head hoods
• Respiratory manometer kits
• Chest cuirass products
• Non invasive continuous positive air pressure machines
• Electronic blood pressure units
• Intraaortic balloon pumps
• Clinical incubators or infant warmers
• Medical aerosol tents
• Perfusion oxygen or hematocrit saturation monitors
• Medical or surgical suction or vacuum appliances
• Medical acoustic stethoscopes
• Non invasive bi level machines
• Resuscitation masks
• Bedside pulmonary function screeners
• Mercury blood pressure units
• Autotransfusion units
• Endotracheal tubes
• Cardiac output CO monitoring units
• Treadmill exercisers for rehabilitation or therapy
• Sputum collection apparatus or containers
• Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizers
• Intensive care ventilators
• Respiratory monitoring kits
• Oxygen delivery connectors or adapters
• Respiratory monitoring kit accessories
• Respiratory therapy compressors
• Vacuum blood collection tubes or containers
• High frequency ventilators
• Pulmonary functioning tubing
• Surgical isolation suit or helmet or shield
• Chest percussors
• Tablet computers
• Apnea monitors
• Electrocardiography EKG units
• Oxygen concentrators
• Notebook computers
• Tourniquets
• Tracheostomy tubes
• Bronchoscopes
• Blood collection syringes
• Personal computers
• Medical software
  • Electronic medical record EMR software
  • HMS
  • MEDITECH software
  • eClinicalWorks EHR software
• Presentation software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
• Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel
• Electronic mail software
  • Microsoft Outlook
• Office suite software
  • Microsoft Office software
• Word processing software
  • Microsoft Word
• Data base user interface and query software
  • Database software
• Calendar and scheduling software
  • Calendar and scheduling software

Employment Industries for Respiratory Therapists

• General medical and surgical hospitals; private
  85,400 employed
• General medical and surgical hospitals; local
  10,800 employed
• Specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals; private
  8,400 employed
• Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities)
  4,900 employed
• General medical and surgical hospitals; state
  4,300 employed
• Temporary help services
  2,600 employed