Duties and Responsibilities of a Registered Respiratory Therapist

Most of the Registered Respiratory Therapists or RRTs work in hospitals, but a growing number are employed by nursing homes, home care agencies and respiratory therapy clinics. Often respiratory therapists are relied upon in emergency centers where people are in need of immediate care. Respiratory therapists complete either 2-year associate’s degree or 4-year bachelor’s degree programs. Upon graduation, you can choose to sit for a national exam to become a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT). After passing this exam, you can decide to sit for two additional tests to become a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).

From an accredited institution most respiratory therapists obtain a four-year or higher degree. On the other hand, there are associate’s degree and certificate programs that can get you started. All states, except Alaska and Hawaii, require respiratory therapists. The annual salary for respiratory therapists ranges from $32,000 to $58,000. Their median annual income is just over $43,000.

Normally, you must graduate from an accredited university and pass the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) exam to qualify for state licenses. Certified Respiratory Therapists who graduated from advanced-level programs and who have met experience requirements can take the exams leading toward the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential. Convinced specialty areas, such as intensive care units and supervisory positions, require the RRT or RRT eligibility. Your school advisor will be able to tell you what requirements have been set by the board of respiratory care examiners in your state.

To evaluate and treat patients with lung disorders Registered Respiratory Therapists or RRT work with a team of physicians and medical professionals. Becoming a Registered Respiratory Therapist is not easy as you think, but there’s no impossible as long as you want this profession. Respiratory therapists are responsible for respiratory treatment of their patients. Respiratory therapists might work for the intensive care or critical care units in hospitals. Respiratory therapists also perform duties such as; testing patients for lung abnormalities, setting up and monitoring ventilator equipment, assisting patients with rehabilitative exercise, and measuring patients’ lung capacity.

A respiratory therapists work with a variety of people with chronic lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, the elderly, premature infants and individuals who need long-term care for diseases like emphysema. They work with complex, highly-specialized equipment that assists people with their breathing. Respiratory therapists are now very active in the fight for smoking cessation, teaching classes to the general public and to their patients.

We all know living and breathing . . . you can’t have one without the other. Most of us take healthy lungs for granted. But breathing is a daily struggle for some people, so their respiratory therapist is literally a lifesaver. If you or someone close to you has experienced an illness that has required respiratory care, you understand how respiratory therapists make a real difference in people’s lives.

As a respiratory therapist, you will dedicate your time and skills to care for and educate those who live with the challenges of a breathing condition. Working with physicians, you’ll help diagnose and treat patients using advanced medical technology. From premature infants to the elderly, you will provide care in a variety of situations and a variety of locations. Life is not boring as a respiratory therapist.