Respiratory Therapist Jobs

Respiratory therapist jobs are responsible for treating, evaluating, and caring for patients with breathing or respiratory problems under the supervision of a physician. Generally providing more care to patients than respiratory technicians, respiratory therapy jobs give interviews to their patients and perform physical examinations along with diagnostic tests for a person's breathing capacity and concentration of oxygen and gases in their blood. To treat their patients, respiratory therapists use oxygen or oxygen mixtures, chest physiotheraphy, and aerosol medications. Working close to 40 hour work weeks, due to the needs of their patients they may be required to work evenings, nights, or weekends.

Respiratory therapist careers require at least an associate degree, but a bachelor's degree or a master's degree is more favorable. Colleges and universities, medical schools, vocational technical institutes, and the Armed forces all offer training and education programs that can lead to reparatory therapist employment. In 2006, the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredited 45 entry level and 334 advanced respiratory health programs. Common courses for this area of study include human anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, physics, chemistry, microbiology, pharmacology, and mathematics. Licensure is required before practicing as a respiratory therapist except in Alaska and Hawaii. The credential of Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) is given to graduates of entry level or advanced programs accredited by CAAHEP or the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (COARC) and that pass an exam.

In 2006, there were 122,000 respiratory therapist jobs in the nation with the majority being employed within in hospitals. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there will be an increase of 19 percent during 2006 to 2016. This rate will be faster than the national average for all occupations with the demand created from the expanding role of respiratory therapists and the increasing elderly population. Job opportunities are expected to be very good for qualified professionals.

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