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Respiratory Therapist Career
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Respiratory Therapist Job Description
A respiratory therapist evaluates diagnoses and cares for patients suffering from complications related to the breathing system. They practice under the direction of expert physicians and ensure that respiratory care, from diagnosis to the treatment is correctly carried out.
He consults with the physicians about the holistic health of the patient and modifies the patient care-plans as per the requirement. They handle patients of all ages, from infants to the elderly. Premature infants, whose lungs are not properly developed, and older people with diseased hearts, require special consideration from the respiratory therapists.
They provide relief to patients suffering from asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia and help patients of stroke, heart attack and heart failure.
Respiratory Therapist Skills/Duties
A respiratory therapist assesses, examines, treats, and cares for patients having respiratory disorders. They initiate and carry out therapeutic procedures; keep records of the patients; and decide on, test out, and operate respiratory machines, like mechanical ventilators, administration apparatus, therapeutic gas, and environmental-control systems.
They ensure availability of emergency care - artificial respiration, assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation and external cardiac massage.
He must monitor the patient's responses to the therapy, like the vital signs, blood chemistry changes, and arterial blood gases; and must confer with the physician, if unfavorable reactions occur.
A respiratory therapist should work as a division of a team of doctors, physicians, nurses, surgeons and other healthcare personnel.
Research respiratory therapists conduct a range of investigations / tests to decide the complications of the patients. They check the patient's lung capacity and the strength of oxygen in the blood.
The therapist also assesses the patient’s lung capacity. The patient is provided with an instrument and is asked to breathe in. The respiratory therapist records the level of oxygen inhaled and exhaled. He will then compare the readings, taking in to account the age, gender, height and weight of the patient.
They scrutinize blood samples in the blood gas analyzer and check the concentrations of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.
He also removes mucus from the lungs of the patients, by performing chest physiotherapy. A respiratory therapist will vibrate the rib cage and tap the chest to get rid of the mucus from the lungs. This enables the patient to breathe easily.
They must possess a certain level of strength and stamina, since, they need to spend lots of time walking and standing in the rooms of patients.
A research therapist may also visit the patient's home to examine hygiene of the home and will teach families to implement cleanliness and hygiene.
Respiratory Therapist Education and Training
• The preliminary step to become a respiratory therapist is to acquire a high school degree in subjects related to science such as biology, chemistry and physics.
• Next, a 2 years Associate degree program or a 4 years Graduation in respiratory therapy by National Board for Respiratory Care is necessary to become a Research Therapist.
• Having appeared for the examinations, you can move on to becoming Certified Research Therapist and Registered Research Therapist.
• A Certified Respiratory Therapist is a respiratory-care practitioner, and is trained to diagnose and treat patients having respiratory problems. They manage the cardio-pulmonary system, related to the functioning of the heart and the lungs.
Respiratory Therapist Job Outlook
The BLS has predicted that jobs and employment opportunities for respiratory therapists will increase by 21 % between 2008 and 2018, which is a faster rate than average. This has been ascribed due to a rise in the number of geriatric patients, who suffer from respiratory disorders.
BLS says, almost 80 % of respiratory therapists work at clinics, nursing care facilities hospitals and health care centers. They have a standard 35 – 40 hour workweek. On the other hand, respiratory therapists attached to hospitals work round-the-clock.
Respiratory Therapist Salary
The salary of a respiratory therapist is about $47,000 per year.
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