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See Available Respiratory Therapist Schools
Respiratory therapists provide care and treatment for patients with respiratory or cardiopulmonary diseases or disorders. They work under the direction of physicians and consult with them regularly about courses of treatment for new patients and any adjustments that need to be made for existing patients. They treat all types of patients, from premature infants with underdeveloped lungs to elderly people whose lungs are diseased. They also help those with chronic asthma or emphysema, and provide emergency care for victims of heart attack, stroke, drowning, or shock.
When starting treatment on a patient, a respiratory therapist will first interview the patient and then perform tests to evaluate their breathing capacity. They measure the level of oxygen and other gases in the patient’s blood, as well as the blood’s pH levels. After fully evaluating a patient, the therapist and physician will meet to determine a course of treatment for the patient. Respiratory therapists use several methods of treatment, including oxygen or oxygen mixtures, chest physiotherapy, and aerosol medications. The therapist constantly monitors each patient, checking pH and oxygen levels in the blood and adjusts treatment as needed.
Respiratory therapists work mainly in hospitals, though some work in private offices, nursing homes, and home healthcare services. They usually work a 40 hour week, but because of the nature of the job and according to the capacity in which they are employed, they may also work evenings, weekends, and holidays. Their salaries vary as well, ranging from $30,270 to $54,030, with an average salary of $40,220.
In order to become a respiratory therapist, one must have obtained an associate’s degree, though there are also some four-year bachelor’s programs as well. More than 40 states license respiratory therapists, and it is best to check with your state’s licensing requirements before pursuing this career. In non-licensing states, most employers also require the therapist to pass the CRT, or Certified Respiratory Therapist exam.
The growth outlook for this occupation is very good, especially as the nation’s largest population, the baby boom generation, passes into old age. Therapists will also be needed to assist with premature or underdeveloped newborns and infants, due to technological advances in medicine that will allow more babies with severe birth defects to survive.
Arizona Schools
Kaplan College
(Phoenix) - Respiratory Therapy
California Schools
Maric College
(Modesto) - Respiratory Therapy
San Joaquin Valley College
(Visalia) - Respiratory Care Practice
Florida Schools
ATI College of Health
(Miami) - Respiratory Therapist
Georgia Schools
Everest Institute - DeKalb
(Atlanta) - Respiratory Care
Missouri Schools
Sanford-Brown College
(Fenton) - Respiratory Therapy
Texas Schools
ATI Career Training Center - Dallas Medical and Massage
(Dallas) - Respiratory Therapy Technology
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