Have you thought about starting a career in respiratory therapy? Becoming a respiratory therapist can be a good career change. Germantown Primary Health Care has provided some information about becoming a respiratory therapist that you may be interested in learning about before or while pursuing a career as a respiratory therapist.
Respiratory therapy is used in healthcare to assess patients that have cardiopulmonary dysfunctions or diseases that affect the heart and the lungs. Respiratory therapists provide life-saving treatment and care to patients that have been through trauma and need treatment. After diagnosing respiratory problems, a therapist will need to monitor high tech equipment and speak with the patient to discuss their health.
If you want to become a respiratory therapist, you will need an associate’s degree. There are therapists with higher degrees, who can earn much more. A degree for respiratory therapy involves knowing the procedures and treating patients of any age. You will need a thorough understanding of the body as well as the equipment that will be used and any tools required to assess blood oxygen levels of the patient. The state must provide a license to practice respiratory therapy, and you will need to complete annual training.
Nurses and respiratory therapists are both on the healthcare team, but they are two different jobs. Nurses have more knowledge of different issues with the body and equipment, allowing them to provide treatment in a broader range of situations. They can perform assessments on patients and treat issues with any part of the body. Respiratory therapists are specialized and work when the demand requires it.
Many respiratory therapists work inside hospitals, such as the emergency department, pediatric intensive care unit, the emergency department, and other areas of the hospital. Patients may need respiratory therapy regardless of age, so therapists travel throughout different wings of the hospital. Some therapists work outside of the hospital in clinics or care facilities.
