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2021 Respiratory Therapists

Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment.

Respiratory Therapists Salary

Salary

$61.3K

Growth

21%

Bright Outlook

Bright

Green

No

Respiratory Therapists Career Description

Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment.

Also known as:

Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Respiratory Therapist, Cardiopulmonary Technician and EEG Tech (Cardiopulmonary Technician and Electroencephalogram Technician), Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT), Clinical Coordinator of Respiratory Therapy, Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP), Respiratory Therapist (RT), Respiratory Therapy Director, Staff Respiratory Therapist, Staff Therapist

2021 Respiratory Therapists Salary

Percentile 10% 25% 50% (Median) 75% 90%
Annual Wage $44,850 $52,820 $61,330 $74,160 $86,980
Hourly Wage $21.56 $25.39 $29.48 $35.65 $41.82

2021 Respiratory Therapists Salary

Percentile
10%
25%
50% (Median)
75%
90%
Annual Wage
$44,850
$52,820
$61,330
$74,160
$86,980
Hourly Wage
$21.56
$25.39
$29.48
$35.65
$41.82

Respiratory Therapists Common Job Duties

  • Perform endotracheal intubation to maintain open airways for patients who are unable to breathe on their own.
  • Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
  • Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
  • Set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
  • Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.
  • Work as part of a team of physicians, nurses, or other healthcare professionals to manage patient care by assisting with medical procedures or related duties.
  • Work as part of a team of physicians, nurses, or other healthcare professionals to manage patient care by assisting with medical procedures or related duties.
  • Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.
  • Relay blood analysis results to a physician.
  • Inspect, clean, test, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, ordering repairs when necessary.
  • Inspect, clean, test, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, ordering repairs when necessary.
  • Inspect, clean, test, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, ordering repairs when necessary.
  • Explain treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.
  • Make emergency visits to resolve equipment problems.
  • Determine requirements for treatment, such as type, method and duration of therapy, precautions to be taken, or medication and dosages, compatible with physicians' orders.
  • Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders.
  • 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.
  • Perform bronchopulmonary drainage and assist or instruct patients in performance of breathing exercises.
  • Perform bronchopulmonary drainage and assist or instruct patients in performance of breathing exercises.
  • Conduct tests, such as electrocardiograms (EKGs), stress testing, or lung capacity tests, to evaluate patients' cardiopulmonary functions.
  • Perform pulmonary function and adjust equipment to obtain optimum results in therapy.
  • Perform pulmonary function and adjust equipment to obtain optimum results in therapy.
  • Demonstrate respiratory care procedures to trainees or other healthcare personnel.
  • Use a variety of testing techniques to assist doctors in cardiac or pulmonary research or to diagnose disorders.
  • Use a variety of testing techniques to assist doctors in cardiac or pulmonary research or to diagnose disorders.
  • Transport patients to the hospital or within the hospital.
  • Teach, train, supervise, or use the assistance of students, respiratory therapy technicians, or assistants.
  • Teach, train, supervise, or use the assistance of students, respiratory therapy technicians, or assistants.
  • Monitor cardiac patients, using electrocardiography devices, such as a holter monitor.
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Respiratory Therapists Activities

  • Implement advanced life support techniques.
  • Treat medical emergencies.
  • Implement advanced life support techniques.
  • Inform medical professionals regarding patient conditions and care.
  • Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities.
  • Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment.
  • Prepare medical supplies or equipment for use.
  • Maintain medical facility records.
  • Assist healthcare practitioners during examinations or treatments.
  • Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.
  • Gather medical information from patient histories.
  • Communicate test or assessment results to medical professionals.
  • Examine medical instruments or equipment to ensure proper operation.
  • Maintain medical equipment or instruments.
  • Clean medical equipment or facilities.
  • Explain medical procedures or test results to patients or family members.
  • Repair medical facility equipment.
  • Determine protocols for medical procedures.
  • Verify that medical activities or operations meet standards.
  • Train patients, family members, or caregivers in techniques for managing disabilities or illnesses.
  • Treat chronic diseases or disorders.
  • Train patients, family members, or caregivers in techniques for managing disabilities or illnesses.
  • Test patient heart or lung functioning.
  • Adjust settings or positions of medical equipment.
  • Test patient heart or lung functioning.
  • Train medical providers.
  • Assist healthcare practitioners during examinations or treatments.
  • Test patient heart or lung functioning.
  • Move patients to or from treatment areas.
  • Supervise patient care personnel.
  • Train medical providers.
  • Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities.
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Respiratory Therapists Required Knowledge

  • Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
  • English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
  • Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Common Respiratory Therapists Abilities Required

  • Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
  • Oral Expression - Communicating by speaking.
  • Inductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
  • Information Ordering - Ordering or arranging things.
  • Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
  • Deductive Reasoning - Using rules to solve problems.
  • Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.
  • Near Vision - Seeing details up close.
  • Written Expression - Communicating by writing.
  • Speech Clarity - Speaking clearly.

Common Respiratory Therapists Skills

  • Critical Thinking - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
  • Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
  • Monitoring - Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
  • Speaking - Talking to others.
  • Reading Comprehension - Reading work-related information.
  • Service Orientation - Looking for ways to help people.
  • Active Learning - Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
  • Social Perceptiveness - Understanding people's reactions.
  • Complex Problem Solving - Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
  • Judgment and Decision Making - Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
  • Coordination - Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
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Respiratory Therapists Interests

  • Social - Occupations with Social interests frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. Most involve helping or providing service to others.
  • Investigative - Occupations with Investigative interests frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They often involve research and figuring out problems mentally.
  • Realistic - Occupations with Realistic interests frequently involve practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Projected Employment For Respiratory Therapists

Location 2018 Employment 2028 Employment Percent change Annual projected job openings
United States 134,000 162,000 21% 10,600

Projected Employment For Respiratory Therapists

Location
2018 Employment
2028 Employment
Percent change
Annual projected job openings
United States
134,000
162,000
21%
10,600

Respiratory Therapists Education & Experience

  • Associate's degree
  • No work experience
  • No on-the-job training

Respiratory Therapists Jobs Near Me .

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Respiratory Therapists Jobs Near Me .

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Respiratory Therapists 2021 Salary Guide By State