What is the Job of a Respiratory Therapist?

When patients have breathing disorders, they are referred to a respiratory therapist. They work with patients that have breathing problems that are related to strokes. Some of the places they can find employment include outpatient facilities, physicians' offices, hospitals and private practices.

Tasks

Some of the duties in the field of respiratory therapy include testing patients to see what their breathing capacity is. They also take and examine specimens taken from their body, like phlegm or blood from their lungs. They are also able to provide treatments and medications to help the patients breathe better, like with the use of ventilators. They are also known to work with patients between infantry and the elderly.



Education

Some of the educational requirements for entering into this field include obtaining an associates degree in the field of respiratory therapy. Make sure that the school you attend is accredited. You can even continue your education to obtain a bachelor's degree. You will study in courses like physics, math, chemistry, anatomy, chemistry and physiology. After you graduate, you will need to obtain a registration to work in the field. You will have to take two exams for registration and one for certification.

Outlook

It is expected that this field will grow faster than average because of the aging population and their development of asthma, along with other breathing conditions.

Compensation

The median annual wage for respiratory therapists was around $55,000 in 2009.