Guide For Respiratory Therapist

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Are you wondering where the respiratory care services provided is? In these days, Job opportunities are expected to be very good, especially for respiratory therapists with cardiopulmonary care skills or experience working with infants. Employment of respiratory therapists is expected to increase faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2012, because of substantial growth in numbers of the middle-aged and elderly population - a development that will heighten the incidence of cardiopulmonary disease. Respiratory therapists held about 112,000 jobs in 2002. More than four out of five jobs were in hospital departments of respiratory care, anesthesiology, or pulmonary medicine. Most of the remaining jobs were found in offices of physicians or other health practitioners, consumer goods rental firms that supply respiratory equipment for home use, nursing care facilities, and home health-care services.

Most people take breathing for granted. It’s second nature, an involuntary reflex. Yet, millions of Americans suffer with chronic and temporary breathing problems; for them, each breath is a major accomplishment. These people rely on respiratory therapists and the profession of respiratory care to improve their breathing and to help make a real difference in their lives.

Respiratory Care is the health care discipline that specializes in the promotion of optimum cardiopulmonary function and health. Respiratory therapists apply scientific principles to prevent, identify, and treat acute or chronic dysfunction of the cardiopulmonary system. Their knowledge of the scientific principles underlying cardiopulmonary physiology and pathophysiology, as well as biomedical engineering and technology, enable them to effectively assess, educate, and treat patients with cardiopulmonary disorders. As a health care profession,

The respiratory Care is practiced under medical direction across the health care continuum. Respiratory Care is specifically focused on the prevention, assessment, treatment, management, control, diagnostic evaluation, education, and care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities of the cardiopulmonary system. Critical thinking, patient/environment assessment skills, and evidence-based clinical practice guidelines enable respiratory therapists to develop and implement effective care plans, protocols, disease-based clinical pathways, and disease management programs. People with chronic lung problems such as asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema need respiratory care.

On the other hand, other people who have had heart attacks, been involved in accidents, or are born prematurely, or have sleep disorders might also need respiratory care to help them breathe easier. Respiratory care is provided by respiratory therapists in nearly all health care venues including, but not limited to: acute care hospitals (where about 75% of respiratory therapists are employed), diagnostic laboratories, sleep disorder centers, rehabilitation, long term acute care and skilled nursing facilities, patients’ homes, patient transport systems, physician offices, convalescent and retirement centers, educational institutions, and wellness centers. People of every age need respiratory care - from premature infants to the elderly. Respiratory therapists with cardiopulmonary care skills and experience working with infants will also be in demand. And many workers can still expect to work in the hospital setting. On the other hand, opportunities outside the hospital will also be available in respiratory therapy clinics, physician offices, nursing homes, and patient homes.

Respiratory therapists, also known as respiratory care practitioners, provide treatment, evaluation, monitoring and management of patients with breathing disorders or cardiovascular problems.

Care provided by respiratory therapists may include: administration of oxygen, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, management of mechanical ventilators, administering drugs to the lungs, monitoring cardiopulmonary systems and measuring lung function.

Respiratory therapists treat all types of patients, ranging from premature infants whose lungs are not fully developed to elderly people with lung disease. They provide temporary relief to patients with chronic asthma or emphysema, as well as emergency care to patients who are victims of a heart attack, stroke, drowning or shock.

Therapists regularly monitor patients and equipment. If the patient is having difficulty, or if the oxygen, carbon dioxide, or pH level of the blood is abnormal, therapists change the ventilator settings according to the physician’s order or check equipment for mechanical problems.

Respiratory therapists perform chest physiotherapy on patients to remove mucus from their lungs and improve breathing. For example, during surgery, anesthesia depresses respiration, so this chest physiotherapy may be prescribed to return the patient’s lungs to normal functioning and prevent congestion. Chest physiotherapy also helps patients suffering from lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, that cause mucus to collect in the lungs.

Respiratory therapists also administer aerosols – liquid medications suspended in a gas that forms a mist which is inhaled – and teach patients how to inhale the aerosol properly to assure its effectiveness.

The median annual earnings of respiratory therapists were $43,140 in 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $37,650 and $50,860. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $32,220, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $57,580. In general medical and surgical hospitals, median annual earnings of respiratory therapists were $44,110 in 2002.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics expects jobs for RTs to grow at a faster than average rate over the next decade, especially in hospitals.  Wages are expected to increase as well.  Currently, the average annual salary for an experienced RT is around $56,000.  RTs can expect to start at an average annual salary of over $41,000, according to the American Association for Respiratory Care.

Respiratory Therapists are also have many advancement opportunities, from becoming department managers and entering other hospital management positions to becoming clinical instructors and education program directors.  Some RTs put their skills and experience to use with equipment and drug manufacturers.  Still others move into case management or research.  You could even be your own boss and start your own home care or diagnostic company.

The first step is to enroll in a CoARC-accredited respiratory care program.  Michigan is home to several such programs.  After graduating with a minimum of an Associate’s degree, you must take the CRT exam from the National Board of Respiratory Care.  Successfully passing this exam qualifies you for a Michigan licence to practice respiratory care.  Most therapists eventually obtain the RRT credential (which requires two additional exams).  Some go on to obtain advanced credentials in neonatal/pediatric care or pulmonary function testing.

A respiratory therapist is a specially trained and licensed care provider responsible for the treatment, management, diagnostic testing and care of patients with abnormalities associated with the cardiopulmonary system, all performed under the direction of a licensed physician. Respiratory therapists provide specialized care for people with breathing difficulties, such as those with chronic lung problems, such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema. But they also provide care to heart attack and accident victims, premature infants, and people with cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, or AIDS.

The Oregon Health Licensing Agency (OHLA) oversees regulation of respiratory therapists and other health and related professions. To access OHLA’s home page, go to Department at the top of the left navigation menu and click on Oregon Health Licensing Agency. Both entry level and advanced level educational programs prepare respiratory therapists for professional practice. Demonstration of entry level competency by passing the Certified Respiratory Therapist examination (administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care) is required to satisfy the legal requirements of the 48 states that regulate the practice of respiratory therapy.

A minimum of an associate’s degree and a certificate of completion from a program accredited by the Committee of Accreditation is required to take this examination. Entry-level respiratory therapists perform general respiratory care procedures. They may assume clinical responsibility for specified respiratory care modalities involving the application of therapeutic and diagnostic techniques under the supervision of an advanced level therapist and/or a physician. 328 of the 354 accredited respiratory therapy programs prepare the students for advanced level practice.

Advanced level practice programs are offered in schools offering associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degrees. Graduates of these programs can voluntarily demonstrate their advanced level of competency by passing the voluntary Registered Respiratory Therapist examination (also administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care) and obtaining the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential. In addition to entry level skills, advanced level therapists participate in clinical decision-making and patient education, the development and implementation of protocols and treatment plans, health promotion, disease prevention and disease management. They practice under the supervision of a physician and may be required to exercise considerable independent judgment in the respiratory care of patients.

America’s Career InfoNet lists respiratory therapists as the 10th fastest growing occupation requiring an associate’s degree. The InfoNet also says that the earnings potential for respiratory therapists is high. Available jobs are expected to grow by nearly 35 percent from 2002 through 2012, says the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS also says that the median annual earnings for respiratory therapists were about $37,680 in 2000 and states, “The middle 50 percent earned between $32,140 and $43,430.” In hospitals, the median annual earnings of respiratory therapists were $38,040.

According to the AARC 2000 Human Resource Study, the mean salary for all respiratory therapy positions is $40,809 annually. Career opportunities will remain good through the year 2010 because of the substantial growth of the middle-aged and elderly population. As this population grows, the BLS estimates that the incidence of lung disease will also increase requiring more services from respiratory therapists.

The respiratory therapists (RTs) are specially trained healthcare professionals.  The primary job description of an RT is to evaluate, treat and care for patients with breathing or other disorders.  Because this is a fairly broad set of responsibilities, RTs tend to have some of the most diverse work days of any health professional. 

On any given shift, an RT can be found interviewing patients, performing limited physical exams and conducting diagnostic tests to determine the extent of a patient’s respiratory disease, consulting with physicians to determine the best course of treatment for a patient, providing aerosol breathing treatments, chest physiotherapy and other treatment options, analyzing blood samples, chest x-rays and other laboratory tests to evaluate treatment, managing artificial airways and ventilators for patients who are not able to breathe sufficiently on their own, providing education on pulmonary disease processes and prevention and performing many other tasks to help their patients breathe easier, both in the hospital and out.

The kind of places an RT can work is as varied as the job description.  Most therapists work in the hospital setting.  In these facilities, RTs work on general medical floors to provide therapy to the chronically ill, in intensive care units managing ventilators, in emergency rooms giving lifesaving therapy to asthma, trauma and many other patients, working with high-risk deliveries with premature babies, on rapid response teams who try to prevent serious illness from becoming critical, and on “code teams” for resuscitating patients in dire straits.

RTs treat patients of all ages, from neonates whose lungs have not yet developed enough to patients of advanced age with chronic disease. There are many opportunities outside the hospital for RTs as well.  Many home medical equipment companies staff RTs to set up and monitor equipment for patients needing long-term oxygen therapy and nebulizer treatment, as well as to instruct these patients on proper use and safety with the equipment. 

Doctors’ offices employ RTs to develop and run smoking cessation and asthma education programs.  Therapists also work in specialized facilities such as sleep labs, pulmonary function and rehabilitations centers and emergency transport programs. In other words, wherever there are people with breathing troubles, an RT is usually not far away.

The average income of RT’s is over $50,000 for a forty hour workweek, and if you’re willing to work overtime, you can make a lot more than that. One of the best things about respiratory therapist jobs is that you don’t have to go to college for four years to become one. You can get licensed and hired as a respiratory therapist with an associate’s degree. Some RT jobs will require a bachelor’s degree, of course, but not all. You can begin working in as little as two years, and then go on to complete the additional course work toward a bachelor’s degree. Few positions offer as much satisfaction as a respiratory therapist job, and if you’ve got a desire to help people, and are comfortable working with technology, it may be the perfect job for you.

Being a respiratory therapist has many advantages that can also help you. You can also help many people that have breathing disorders. Respiratory therapists who have a higher level of expertise may advance to teaching or supervisory positions. Therapists who have higher education and experience have a better chance to advance. Respiratory Therapists with outstanding achievement during training are frequently hired by the hospitals where they obtained their training. Others may apply directly to hospitals and civil service agencies. 

They may also register with the California Employment Development Department Job Service, private registries and medical employment agencies.  Other sources of assistance are professional associations, a in newspapers or medical journals classified ads, and referrals from instructors. Respiratory therapists are critical players in the health care field. A medical specialty all its own, the job consists of helping to treat patients with breathing disorders. Respiratory therapist jobs offer a high level of responsibility, along with allowing the therapist to offer their own opinions and judgments on medical decisions.

Working directly with physicians and other health care staff, they help formulate treatment plans and suggest modifications to those plans when they see fit. Other than doctors and nurses, few health care positions are as important as respiratory therapist jobs. RT’s see and work with patients all over the spectrum-from premature babies, to patients in their nineties. No day is ever the same, as patients range from people who need regularly scheduled care, such as those with emphysema, to emergency room victims who’ve had heart attacks or strokes, and must quickly have their breathing functions restored if they’re to survive.

In addition, many respiratory therapist jobs require home visits to care for patients who can’t or don’t need to come to the hospital. And the employment outlook for respiratory therapists couldn’t be better. There are around 125,000 RT’s in America right now, which is not enough to fill all open positions.

 And the number of respiratory therapist jobs is expected to increase at twice the rate of other employment categories over the next few years, in large part due to America’s aging population. If you’re a respiratory therapist already, there are many ways of looking for a different, better job, and enhancing your chances of landing one. One of the best ways is to take advantage of continuing education, either on a regular college campus or through internet based distance learning.

The American Association for Respiratory Care offers many online courses to enable therapists to obtain additional certifications without leaving their home. These courses are very inexpensive, and they’re even less expensive if you’re a member of AARC. They’re highly recommended for all RT’s, especially those who may be looking for a different respiratory therapist job in the near future. And if you’re trying to decide on a career field, either directly out of school, or you’re thinking of changing careers, you should consider becoming a respiratory therapist. To be certified as a respiratory therapist you must pass the CRT or RRT test.

As of early 1998, there were about 13,000 registered Respiratory Therapists in California.  They enjoy one of the most favorable employment outlooks in California.  Health care costs have risen faster than the rate of inflation during the past several decades, leading to increasing pressure to control costs.  The health care industry has responded in part by taking advantage of lower-cost employees where practical. 

Salaries for Respiratory Therapists are lower than those for registered nurses or physicians, so job prospects are enhanced by this trend.  Also fueling growth is the aging of the population, an increase in lung damage because of air-borne pollutants, and the development of new drugs and delivery systems to help treat lung disease.  Therapists working for the State of California earn starting wages of $13.18 per hour.  The maximum salary in State service is $17.22 per hour.  The normal work week is 40 hours.

While respiratory departments in hospitals operate on a 24-hour basis, day and night shifts as well as holiday and weekend work are required.  Most facilities have rotating schedules for holidays and weekends.  Fringe benefits generally include paid group health and life insurance, vacation, sick leave, and retirement plans.  In addition, some institutions provide credit unions, tuition assistance, and parking.

Persons engaged in respiratory or inhalation therapy must be certified. There are two exams a prospective therapist may take.  Both exams require the completion of an American Medical Association approved one- or two-year program.  The entry-level exam, which all candidates must take, is for the

“Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician” (CRTT). This exam requires at least one year of approved training, and consists of a multiple-choice written test.  The advanced exam, “Registered Respiratory Therapist” (RRT), can be taken by persons who have completed at least two years of approved training.  This exam consists of a written and clinical simulation test. All candidates must present proof of high school graduation or its equivalent.  Examination fees are required for the examinations.  To maintain active certified status, annual renewal is also required.

Training programs are conducted by community colleges, universities, and hospitals.  Eighteen such programs are accredited in California.  Courses vary in length from 18 months to four years and consist of classroom instruction and clinical training at one or more hospitals.  After July 1,

2000, it is anticipated that all applicants must complete an accredited two-year program.

The Respiratory Therapy program includes human anatomy and physiology, chemistry, physics, microbiology, mathematics, and psychology.  The clinical program deals with patient care, hospital procedures, and the maintenance and operation of equipment.  Therapists must continue their formal education and technical training to keep up with of medical discoveries and equipment changes.

A genuine interest in people, a strong sense of responsibility, patience, tact, good judgment, and the ability to endure stress are personal traits important to success in this occupation.  The job requires good vision and hearing, manual dexterity and mechanical aptitudes.  Some employers may give achievement tests and require physical examinations.  Applicants for civil service positions must take and pass written and oral examinations.

Respiratory therapy is used in the diagnosis, treatment, management, and care of patient’s cardiopulmonary problems.  Increasing numbers of persons suffering from respiratory diseases need complex treatment and rehabilitation, creating a need for specialists to assist doctors and nurses.  As a result, RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS (also known as respiratory care practitioners), have become an essential part of the health team.

Respiratory Therapists work under the direction of physicians and follow their prescriptions for treating patients.  Their duties range from giving temporary relief to persons with asthma, pulmonary edema, or emphysema to giving emergency care for asphyxiation, heart failure, stroke, drowning, or shock. Respiratory Therapists are among the first persons called to work with doctors and other specialists to give treatments for acute respiratory conditions, head injuries, and drug poisoning.  Therapists’ duties can also include treating gangrene, carbon monoxide poisoning, tetanus, and the respiratory care of newborn infants.

Respiratory Therapists make sure that physician’s orders are carefully followed.  They set up and operate respirators, masks, incubators, and positive breathing machines designed to give respiratory assistance to patients.  They use other mechanical devices such as precursors’ to stimulate the flow of mucus from the lungs, as well as aerosol inhalants and sprays that supply the lungs with medication.  They do blood-gas analyses.  They explain treatment to patients so as to gain cooperation and to allay fears.  They also instruct patients and their families on the performance of breathing exercises, handling of equipment, and continuance of treatment at home.

Therapists monitor equipment, observe patient reactions, assess conditions, assure comfort, and recommend changes in therapy to physicians. They record relevant information on patients’ charts.  They may also use a variety of testing techniques to assist doctors in medical Research and to diagnose disorders.  Respiratory Technicians, who perform similar duties but with less critical patients, assist them, other duties may include the maintenance, sterilization, proper assembly, and testing of the machines and equipment they use.

Respiratory Therapists work in modern, well-equipped medical facilities that are adequately lighted and ventilated.  Considerable walking, prolonged standing, and some lifting of patients and equipment are necessary.  Hazards include muscle strain from lifting and bending, as well as exposure to infectious and communicable diseases. Following safety standards and precautions minimize hazards.  Interruptions of regular assigned tasks to handle emergency cases and accident victims may result in emotional stress. Therapists may have to provide their own lab coats.

It’s the fine distinctions that sometimes make all the difference; intubation a trachea is a lot more effective than intubation an esophagus, after all! When it comes to salary questions, asking the right question makes for more accurate answers. Find out why asking “what are median respiratory therapist salaries” is a better question than “what is the average respiratory therapist salary” from Dr. Salary and his article, Why is Median better than Mean for a Typical Salary? “Respiratory Therapists earned an average of $17.26 per hour in 1996.  Those at a supervisory level or senior level may expect to receive up to $25.00 or more an hour. 

According to the physician’s order, respiratory therapist should determine requirements for treatment; type, method and duration of respiratory therapist based. Set up and operate mechanical and therapeutic devices following specified parameters of treatment. Respiratory therapist also monitors patient’s physiological responses to therapy; vital signs, arterial blood gases and blood chemistry changes and consult with physician if adverse reactions occur. Maintain patient charts with therapy information. Inspect, clean, and test respiratory therapy equipment. One of the most frightening sensations for most of us is the inability to breathe. When an injury or illness is keeping a patient from breathing, a respiratory therapist can restore that most basic element of life, the very air we breathe, into that patient’s lungs.

A respiratory therapist often doesn’t have much time to get a patient breathing again; every second counts, and when breath is restored it can sometimes be a delicate treatment process to keep respiration at optimal levels. Thanks to increasingly sophisticated respiration technologies, more and more people can be saved and treated by respiratory therapists. However, this means that respiratory therapists in the modern world must be highly trained and incredibly knowledgeable in both human physiology and respiratory treatment methods in order to excel at his or her job. This responsibility is one reason that respiratory therapists want to be sure that they will be well compensated for their services.

Where in the U.S. are respiratory therapist salaries highest? Is the average respiratory therapist salary higher in Boston or Chicago? What kind of college degree is most advantageous to respiratory therapist salary? What are different industries entered by respiratory therapists and technicians, and how does this affect average respiratory therapist salary? These common questions and more can be answered with Pay Scale’s salary data. You can know the salary for respiratory therapists by city, degree, industry, and much more. Before you begin your respiratory therapist salary research, you should know that respiratory therapist salary is determined based on a variety of factors; to get the complete picture, it’s important to investigate all aspects that might raise or lower respiratory therapist salaries.

For example, the Respiratory Therapist Salary by State chart shows that respiratory therapist salaries are highest overall in California and Ohio, but if you drill down into respiratory therapist salaries by city, you can see that neither Ohio nor California is home to the city with the highest average respiratory therapist salary - that honor goes to New York City. Every respiratory therapist must complete a college degree, but which sort of degree to choose? Use Pay Scale’s Salary by Degree/Major Subject chart to know the salary for respiratory therapists based on college degree.

Respiratory therapists have become an integral and life-saving part of any health care institution’s medical team. This means that there are now a plethora of career choices available to a respiratory therapist, with different salaries accompanying them. Researching Respiratory Therapist Salaries by Industry, we can see that Acute Care hospitals currently offer the highest median salary for respiratory therapists, probably due to the frequency with which Acute Care patients need respiratory assistance.

In most states, respiratory therapists must be licensed to practice. Of those states requiring licensure, most recognize the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) and the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) as the acceptable credentials for respiratory therapists. Both the CRT and RRT are credentials offered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). To qualify for the CRT credential, graduation from an accredited respiratory therapy program is required. Upon successful completion of a respiratory therapy program, CRT candidates must take an examination. The credential of Certified Respiratory Therapist is awarded to candidates after completion of the examination. Certified Respiratory Therapists are qualified for entry-level positions in respiratory therapy.

Though respiratory therapists work with patients of all ages, some choose to specialize in the area of pediatrics. For these respiratory therapists, the National Board for Respiratory Care offers the Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care Specialty Examination. This examination is open to CRT’s with one year of experience in neonatal/pediatric respiratory care and to all RRT’s. Successful completion of this examination awards the Neonatal-Pediatric Specialist (NPS) credential. Respiratory therapists interested in becoming pulmonary function technicians should complete the National Board for Respiratory Care examination to become a Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist (RPFT). This credential is available to RRT’s and CRT’s and offers respiratory therapists expanded career options.

Respiratory care therapists provide services to patients with abnormalities associated with the cardiopulmonary system under the direction of a licensed physician and as part of a health care team. Respiratory care therapists administer therapeutic or diagnostic drugs to patients as part of a physician-prescribed treatment plan, implement a physician’s orders for respiratory treatments, observe and monitor patient symptoms, and assist with administering medical gases (including hyperbaric or standard oxygen, vapor therapies and ventilation support).

Respiratory therapists provide specialized care for people with breathing difficulties, such as those with chronic lung problems, such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema. But they also provide care to heart attack and accident victims, premature infants, and people with cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, or AIDS. Any use of the title “Respiratory Therapist” or “Respiratory Therapy Technician” within New York State requires licensure. To be licensed as a Respiratory Therapist or Respiratory Therapy Technician in New York State you must be of good moral character; be at least 18 years of age; and meet education and examination requirements.

You must submit an application for licensure and the other forms indicated, along with the appropriate fee, to the Office of the Professions at the address specified on each form. It is your responsibility to follow up with anyone you have asked to send us material. In addition to these certifications, most states require that respiratory therapists and other registered respiratory professionals maintain current CPR certifications. These certifications can be renewed in a short amount of time, often by taking a quick refresher course.

Many states require that licensed respiratory therapists renew their licensure through continuing education credits. State requirements vary, but most require renewal every three years by obtaining at least 30 hours of continuing education credit. Continuing education credit can be obtained by taking respiratory therapy courses, participating in professional associations, and attending professional seminars and conferences.