Respiratory Therapy Careers and Degrees: Here鈥檚 What You Need to Know
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It can be argued that nothing is more important than breath. Which is why so many are drawn to a career as a respiratory therapist. Respiratory therapists help patients breathe better, taking care of patients suffering from chronic or acute illnesses like asthma or pneumonia.
Learn how to become a respiratory therapist and answer the question of how long does it take to become a respiratory therapist, as well as find out what to look for in聽respiratory therapy training, and more about this exciting health care career.
Why Become a Respiratory Therapist?
Respiratory therapists possess a set of specialized skills that play a vital role in the healthcare industry.
They typically work in various areas of a hospital, including emergency rooms, critical care units, and neonatal intensive care units.聽 Respiratory therapists can choose to work as general respiratory therapists or specialize in a specific area, like pediatric, geriatric, critical care, or home care.聽 Another benefit of this career is the potential for flexibility. Depending on the setting you work in, you may have some flexibility in your schedule.
If helping people is important to you, you鈥檒l love being a respiratory therapist. At the end of the day, you鈥檒l know that you have truly made a difference in people鈥檚 lives.
What Does a Respiratory Therapist Do?
Respiratory therapists care for those who have trouble breathing. Some of the most common chronic respiratory illnesses are chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, occupational lung diseases and pulmonary hypertension. According to the World Health Organization, asthma affected an estimated 262 million people in 2019 聽and in 2019 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was the third leading cause of death worldwide, causing 3.23 million deaths.
Respiratory therapists work with common respiratory patients like those described above, as well as everyone from premature infants with undeveloped lungs to elderly patients who have diseased lungs. Respiratory therapists also provide emergency care to patients suffering from heart attacks, drowning, or shock, according to the BLS.
Some common job duties of a respiratory therapist include:
- Interviewing and examining patients with breathing or cardiopulmonary disorders
- Consulting with physicians to develop patient treatment plans
- Performing diagnostic tests, such as measuring lung capacity
- Treating patients by using a variety of methods, including chest physiotherapy and aerosol medications
- Monitoring and recording patients鈥 progress
- Teaching patients how to take medications and use equipment, such as ventilators
Respiratory therapists use a variety of tools to measure lung capacity, as well as bloodwork to determine oxygen levels. They also can provide physiotherapy on patients to remove mucus from their lungs and make it easier for them to breathe. Removing mucus is necessary for patients suffering from lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, and involves the therapist vibrating the patient鈥檚 rib cage, often by tapping the patient鈥檚 chest while the patient coughs.
Where Do Respiratory Therapists Work?
Respiratory therapists can work in a variety of medical settings. While the BLS reports that 82% of respiratory therapists worked in either state, local or private hospitals,聽they are not limited to there.
According to the American Association of Respiratory Care, respiratory therapists can be found in:
- Intensive care units
- Emergency rooms
- Newborn and pediatric units
- Operating rooms and surgical suites
- In-home care settings
- Sleep laboratories
- Smoking cessation programs
- Asthma education programs
- Physicians鈥 offices
- Skilled nursing facilities
All of these settings will see respiratory therapists working to help people breathe easier, through lifesaving procedures like ventilation or everyday pulmonary therapy.
Skills for Respiratory Therapists
Respiratory therapy is a skilled industry. There are many technical abilities you will need to learn to pursue this career, including physiotherapy and other respiratory treatments. Those skills can be learned at various聽Respiratory Care聽programs. There are, however, so-called 鈥渟oft skills鈥 and traits that may make one more suited for a career in respiratory therapy. According to O*NET, these can include:
- Active Listening鈥 Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Critical Thinking鈥 Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Speaking鈥 Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Active Learning鈥 Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Service Orientation鈥 Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Social Perceptiveness鈥 Being aware of others鈥 reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Complex Problem Solving鈥 Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Judgment and Decision Making鈥 Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Time Management鈥 Managing one鈥檚 own time and the time of others.
- Inductive Reasoning鈥 The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions.
- Problem Sensitivity鈥 The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
- Deductive Reasoning鈥 The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Information Ordering鈥 The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules.
- Perceptual Speed鈥 The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.
How to Become a Respiratory Therapist
Unlike some more accessible medical fields that can allow entry-level employees to learn on the job, respiratory therapy requires a degree from an accredited institution. Here鈥檚 how to become a respiratory therapist:
Obtain an associate degree.聽According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, respiratory therapists typically need at least an associate鈥檚 degree in respiratory therapy from a program approved by the American Medical Association, such as those accredited by the (CoARC).
- Pass a certification exam.聽Some states require that you pass a state or professional certification exam like the Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) Examination through the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).
- Obtain licensure. Respiratory therapists are required to be licensed in all states except Alaska, where national certification is recommended. Licensure requirements vary but usually include passing a state or professional certification exam. For specific requirements, contact a state鈥檚 health board.
- Stay up-to-date with licensure. While all states (except Alaska) have different requirements, most require you to renew your license.
- Obtain a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy (BSRT).聽The next level of education for respiratory therapists is to obtain a BSRT.
It鈥檚 important to note that all 49 states that regulate the practice of respiratory care use the NBRC CRT or RRT credential as the basis for state licensure.
黑料不打烊 prepares students to take appropriate certification and licensure exams related to their individual聽majors. The College does not guarantee students will successfully pass these exams or be certified or licensed as a result聽of completing the program.
Different Levels of Respiratory Therapy Certification
The National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) offers a number of different certifications for respiratory therapists. These certifications may affect state licensure requirements.
黑料不打烊 prepares students to take appropriate certification and licensure exams related to their individual聽majors. The College does not guarantee students will successfully pass these exams or be certified or licensed as a result聽of completing the program.
Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) Credential
In order to obtain the Certified Respiratory Therapist credential you must take and pass the Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) Examination offered by the National Board for Respiratory Care.聽 This exam objectively measures essential knowledge, skills, and abilities required of respiratory therapists at entry into practice.聽 To be eligible for the TMC Examination you must:
- Be 18 or older
- AND be a graduate of and have a minimum of an associate degree from a respiratory therapy education program supported or accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)
Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) Credential
The RRT designation is nationally recognized as the standard of care for respiratory therapists. To qualify for the RRT credential you must:
- 聽take and pass the Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) Examination offered by the National Board for Respiratory Care.聽 To be eligible for the TMC Examination you must: :
- Be 18 years of age or older
- AND be a graduate of and have a minimum of an associate degree from a respiratory therapy education program supported or accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)
- Take and pass the Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE).聽 To be eligible for the CSE you must:
-
- Be a CRT and have successfully completed the Therapist Written Examination (WRRT) or the Therapist Multiple-Choice Examination (TMC) at the high cut score.
- AND be a graduate of and have a minimum of an associate degree from an advanced level respiratory therapy education program supported or accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).
What to Look for in a Respiratory Therapy Training
Choosing the right school to pursue a respiratory therapy education is a big decision. The right training can open doors for better jobs and possibly salary down the line. While many institutions may offer respiratory therapy degrees, it鈥檚 important that you look for the one that fits your goals and lifestyle.
A few core things to look for when considering聽Respiratory Care聽programs include:
- Small class sizes. When learning to be a Respiratory Therapist you want individual attention from your instructor.
- Hands-on training. When dealing with tasks like drawing blood and performing physiotherapy, it鈥檚 important that you have time to practice those skills hands-on.
- Externships or career training.Most programs include an opportunity to learn in the real world before you even graduate! You鈥檒l earn an impressive experience that looks great on your resume.
- Cost. Education is a major investment, but it鈥檚 an investment in your future. At 黑料不打烊 and many other institutions, we participate in most financial assistance programs, both federal and state, as well as private financing. Student loans, grants, and scholarships are available to those who qualify. For complete information on current tuition costs, please see the聽academic catalog.
How Long is Respiratory Therapy Training
If you鈥檙e wondering how many years to become a respiratory therapist, a typical respiratory therapy degree can be obtained in as few as two years. The Respiratory Care program at 黑料不打烊 can be completed in as few as 19 months.
What Will I Learn in Respiratory Therapist Training
Most Respiratory Care programs cover knowledge of anatomy and physiology of cardiac and respiratory systems and biochemical and cellular functions of the human body, as well as knowledge of the general principles of pharmacology and cardiopulmonary drugs including knowledge of indications, doses, calculations, mechanisms of action and adverse effects.
Skills in patient examination, assessment, intervention and treatment planning, especially in relation to the pathophysiology of cardiopulmonary diseases, are a big part of the program. Additionally, knowledge and skills in the principles and applications of emergency medicine, resuscitation equipment, intubation, airway clearance, chest tubes and tracheostomy care should be taught.
Start Training for Your Career in Respiratory Therapy With 黑料不打烊
黑料不打烊 is experienced in turning out highly trained respiratory therapists who should be ready to confidently enter the work world. 黑料不打烊 features small class sizes, hands-on training, skills labs and experiencedfaculty. Learn more about the 黑料不打烊聽Respiratory Care program.
Carrington鈥檚 Respiratory Care Faculty and Students
黑料不打烊 takes a personal approach to preparing graduates for professional success. Our faculty members are experienced and passionate about helping you reach your career goals鈥攚hether they involve furthering your healthcare career or changing industries altogether.
With students of different backgrounds and ages, you鈥檒l develop respiratory therapist skills in a robust community. 黑料不打烊 cares that you鈥檙e not just a face in a classroom. Your peers and teachers will know and care about you and your career.
Find Respiratory Therapist Training Near Me
黑料不打烊鈥檚 Respiratory Care program is available at three locations in聽Arizona,听California, and聽Nevada. Find out if one of our locations is right for you.
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Last Updated:
April 5, 2024
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