What You'll Do

  • Set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
  • Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
  • Determine requirements for treatment, such as type, method and duration of therapy, precautions to be taken, or medication and dosages, compatible with physicians' orders.
  • 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.
  • Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.
  • Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders.
  • Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.
  • Inspect, clean, test, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, ordering repairs when necessary.
  • 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.
  • Explain treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.

Essential Skills

Active Listening 3.88/5
Critical Thinking 3.88/5
Monitoring 3.88/5
Speaking 3.75/5
Reading Comprehension 3.62/5
Active Learning 3.62/5
Social Perceptiveness 3.62/5
Service Orientation 3.62/5
Coordination 3.38/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.38/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.38/5
Instructing 3.25/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Helper: Supporting people and making a difference matters to you.
  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.

Common styles

Cooperation, Concern for Others, Attention to Detail, Dependability, Integrity

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Oral Expression 4.0/5
Problem Sensitivity 4.0/5
Inductive Reasoning 4.0/5
Oral Comprehension 3.88/5
Deductive Reasoning 3.88/5
Information Ordering 3.88/5
Written Comprehension 3.75/5
Near Vision 3.75/5

Technologies & Tools

Calendar and scheduling software Database software eClinicalWorks EHR software Electronic medical record EMR software HMS MEDITECH software Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Cooperation (High importance: 4.86/5)
  • Concern for Others (High importance: 4.84/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.81/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.78/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.76/5)

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How to Become One

This career typically requires vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some specialized training or certification may also be required.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Respiratory Therapist Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) Hospital Respiratory Therapist Inhalation Therapist NICU Respiratory Therapist (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Respiratory Therapist) Oxygen Therapist Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) Respiratory Therapist (RT) Staff Respiratory Therapist Staff Therapist Travel Registered Respiratory Therapist (Travel RRT) Travel Respiratory Therapist