Respiratory Therapist

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.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: CRRT (Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Respiratory Therapist); CRT (Certified Respiratory Therapist); Diagnostics RRT (Diagnostics Registered Respiratory Therapist); Infant RT (Infant Respiratory Therapist); Licensed CRT (Licensed Certified Respiratory Therapist); Licensed RT (Licensed Respiratory Therapist); Registered Respiratory Care Practitioner (Registered RCP); Registered Respiratory Practitioner; Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP); RRT (Registered Respiratory Therapist)

Tasks

• Set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
• 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.
• Relay blood analysis results to a physician.
• Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders.
• 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.
• Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.
• 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.
• 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.
• Perform bronchopulmonary drainage and assist or instruct patients in performance of breathing exercises.
• Demonstrate respiratory care procedures to trainees or other healthcare personnel.
• Perform pulmonary function and adjust equipment to obtain optimum results in therapy.

Knowledge

• Customer and Personal Service
• Medicine and Dentistry
• Public Safety and Security
• English Language
• Mechanical
• Psychology
• Biology
• Administration and Management
• Computers and Electronics
• Physics
• Education and Training
• Administrative
• Chemistry
• Mathematics
• Sociology and Anthropology
• Law and Government
• Personnel and Human Resources
• Therapy and Counseling
• Telecommunications
• Transportation

Skills

• Active Listening
• Critical Thinking
• Monitoring
• Reading Comprehension
• Speaking
• Active Learning
• Writing
• Learning Strategies
• Science

Abilities

• Problem Sensitivity
• Inductive Reasoning
• Oral Comprehension
• Written Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Deductive Reasoning
• Information Ordering
• Near Vision
• Written Expression
• Speech Clarity
• Category Flexibility
• Speech Recognition
• Perceptual Speed
• Number Facility
• Flexibility of Closure
• Selective Attention
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Manual Dexterity
• Control Precision