Career Overview
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
- Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT)
- Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)
- Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP)
- Respiratory Therapist (RT)
Alternate Job Titles
- Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Respiratory Therapist
- Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT)
- Hospital Respiratory Therapist
- Inhalation Therapist
- NICU Respiratory Therapist (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Respiratory Therapist)
- Oxygen Therapist
- Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)
- Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP)
- Respiratory Therapist (RT)
- Staff Respiratory Therapist
- Staff Therapist
- Travel Registered Respiratory Therapist (Travel RRT)
- Travel Respiratory Therapist
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
- Set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
- 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.
- Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.
- Relay blood analysis results to a physician.
Emerging Responsibilities
As this field evolves, you may also:
- Attend high-risk and caesarian section infant deliveries to provide neonatal respiratory care as needed.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Customer and Personal Service
- Medicine and Dentistry
- English Language
- Education and Training
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Social Perceptiveness
- Service Orientation
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Inductive Reasoning
- Oral Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Oral Comprehension
- Information Ordering
- Deductive Reasoning
- Near Vision
- Written Comprehension
- Speech Clarity
- Written Expression
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Stress Tolerance
- Cooperation
- Self-Control
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Support
- Recognition
- Working Conditions
- Achievement
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months
Education Details: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience Required: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- eClinicalWorks EHR software
- MEDITECH software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Aerosol masks
- Air compressors
- Ambu bags
- Apnea monitors
- Bedside spirometers
- Bilevel positive airway pressure BiPAP ventilators
- Blood collection syringes
- Blood gas kits
- Blood gas machines
- Bronchoscopes
- Cannulas
- Capillary catheters
- Cell savers
- Christmas tree adapters
- Continuous positive airway pressure CPAP ventilators
Work Environment
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Exposed to Disease or Infections
- Contact With Others
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $61,900 |
| Median | $80,450 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $108,820 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 136,420
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $67,260
Paramedics
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: $58,410
Acute Care Nurses
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $93,600
Radiation Therapists
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $101,990
Critical Care Nurses
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $93,600
Is This Career Right for You?
Discover your perfect career match with our free comprehensive assessment! Get personalized recommendations based on your interests, skills, and values.
Take the Free Career Assessment →
Want Personalized Guidance?
For customized career recommendations, college selection strategies, and expert application support, explore the MehtA+ Admissions Consulting Program. We help students identify the right opportunities and navigate the path to achieving their academic and career goals.
Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.