How to become A Respiratory Therapist

Anyone who faced and overcame serious challenges with breathing - the single factor that can spell the instantaneous difference between life and death - will appreciate the vital role of Respiratory Therapists whose patients range from premature infants with undeveloped lungs to elderly patients with diseased lungs.

• Registered Respiratory Therapist 
• Certified Respiratory Therapist
•  Respiratory Care Practitioner
•  Licensed Registered Respiratory Therapist

What do Respiratory Therapists do?

A Respiratory Therapist would typically need to:

• Provide medical care to patients ranging in age from premature infants to the very elderly with breathing or cardiopulmonary disorders
• Interview and examine the patient; perform appropriate diagnostic tests, such as electrocardiograms (EKGs) and ones that measure lung capacity and blood alkalinity/acidity
• Supervise respiratory therapy technicians during tests and evaluate the findings of the tests
• Consult with physicians to develop viable individualised treatment plans based on the findings from the tests done
• Discuss with the patient different treatment options, address their concerns and get their sign-off on suitable ones
• Set up and operate devices such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems or aerosol generators as per specific protocol
• Treat the patient through a judicious blend of treatments, including bronchopulmonary drainage, chest physiotherapy and aerosol medications
• Assist a team of physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals to assist with medical procedures and manage patient care 
• Monitor and record the patient’s progress and physiological responses to therapy such as vital signs, arterial blood gases or blood chemistry changes
• Inform and consult with the physician-in-charge, if adverse reactions occur
• Instruct the patient and their families on their conditions, appropriate disease management techniques and use of medication/equipment 
• Provide emergency care such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage or assistance with CPR 
• Perform endotracheal intubation to maintain open airways for patients who are unable to breathe on their own
• Keep cardiac patients under observation, using electrocardiography devices, such as a Holter monitor
• Diagose breathing problems for people with sleep apnea, counsel people on how to stop smoking and make home visits, if part of the job description 
• Inspect, clean, test and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure its safe and efficient operation; order repairs when required
• Demonstrate respiratory care procedures to trainees and other relevant healthcare personnel
• Assist doctors in cardiac or pulmonary research; teach, train, supervise or use the assistance of students, respiratory therapy technicians or assistants

Respiratory Therapists work in healthcare settings and in ambulances; they work closely with registered nurses, physicians, surgeons and medical assistants to help treat many kinds of patients across all ages. Your work often involves emergency situations, remaining on your feet for long periods and lifting/turning patients.  

Most Respiratory Therapists work full time. Some may work evening, night or weekend shifts if they are employed by hospitals that are open 24/7/365. For the most part though, the therapy sessions are booked in advance and so RTs can have a fairly regular work schedule.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Respiratory Therapists can boost their job search by checking in with their school placement offices, trade and professional journals, newspaper ads and online job banks. Leverage social media and contact employers directly.

Respiratory Therapists are generally employed by:

• Respiratory Care, Anesthesiology & Pulmonary Medicine Departments of Hospitals
• Nursing Care Facilities
• Home Health Care Agencies
• Physicians’ Offices

Healthcare associations, such as the International Council for Respiratory Care, provide unparalleled networking and educational opportunities. They offer all the certification courses members will need throughout their professional careers. 

Affiliated Respiratory Therapists may attend conventions, seminars, and dinners frequented by peers, mentors, and other industry leaders. The events help them keep up with the newest breakthroughs and latest developments in the field, including plum jobs. 

• Physical strain and likelihood of injuries from being on one’s feet for extended periods and lifting or turning patients
• Exposure to infectious diseases
• Emotional distress caused by the condition of patients in emergencies

Most academic programs have clinical components that allow potential Respiratory Therapists to gain supervised, practical experience in treating patients. Clinical rotations in related speciality areas will enable students to practice their skills in real-life situations.

Note that online associate’s degree programs exist that assist students in arranging local clinical practice, an essential prerequisite to the certification exam. 

To show their commitment to the long qualifying period, every applicant to a medical program needs work experience in their local hospital, doctor's surgery, nursing home, or mental health trust. It will help them understand some of the physical and emotional demands of a career in medicine.

Some teaching hospitals also offer work experience in their Department of Respiratory Medicine, specifically for secondary school students interested in a career as a Respiratory Therapist. It can be a helpful way to gain insight and help you decide before committing to pursuing the profession.

Read about the profession, speak with your academic adviser and interview/ job shadow experts working in respiratory therapy to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers.

The minimum academic qualification is a two-year accredited associate’s degree, but most employers prefer applicants with an accredited four-year bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy from a community college, university, vocational-technical institute, medical school, hospital or the Armed Forces.

Ideally, such programs include science-based courses in human anatomy & physiology, chemistry, physics, microbiology, pharmacology and math.

Aspiring Respiratory Therapists (RTs) also learn about patient-focused components such as therapeutic & diagnostic procedures and tests, equipment, computers, patient assessment & management and CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

Individuals with a nursing degree also go on to take graduate work in respiratory therapy.

Focus on getting a high rank in health, health occupations, anatomy, physiology, biology, maths, chemistry and physics while in high school. Courses in English composition, public speaking and psychology will also help get you admission to a reputed program.

Certification from an objective and reputed organisation can help you stand out in a competitive job market and increase your chances of advancement. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.

With two levels of board certification in store, applicants get to choose between becoming a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) or Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT). Some locations require RTs with both certifications. You may be able to access no-charge online practise exams to familiarise yourself with the format of the certification exams. 

Applicants who have earned an accredited associate’s degree in respiratory therapy or completed the equivalent coursework in a bachelor’s degree program and passed the exam can acquire CRT certification. CRTs who meet the additional educational or experience standards and pass the exam will be certified as RRTs. 

Some locations will allow prospective RTs who have completed an associate degree or the requisite coursework in a bachelor’s program to apply for a temporary license before taking the CRT exam. You can begin working in the field while preparing to sit for the certification exam.

There is an increasing demand for RTs with BLS (Basic Life Support) and ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certifications. Those who wish to work with children or infants would do well to acquire PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) certification and complete a neonatal resuscitation course. 

Consider completing the first course in CPR while still in high school.

Most employers lean towards licensed Respiratory Therapists. Licensure requirements vary across regions and include passing either a government or professional certification exam after completing an accredited program in respiratory care.

Contact your local health board for specific details.

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive the career progression of Respiratory Therapists who usually move into supervisory positions. You may begin by providing general care in a clinical setting and opt to specialise in taking care of only critically ill patients. Those who have master’s or doctoral degrees may get teaching positions within a hospital or university. There are chances to be promoted as a branch manager, if employed by a healthcare agency.

Candidates with a bachelor’s degree in relevant subjects, certifications and licences have the best job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is essential in the healthcare sector for public wellbeing and career progression. It embraces several new learning objectives, educational methodologies, and novel technological developments, especially in education, management, and IT.

CPD also helps in the regular renewal of essential certifications and licenses. 

Reflective learning, interaction with peer groups, comprehensive inclusion, workshops, and professional publications serve to educate, influence, support, and foster lifelong enlightenment in all career-grade Respiratory Therapists.

Patient Evaluation Toolkit

Respiratory Therapists test the patient’s lung capacity by having them breathe into an apparatus that measures the volume and flow of oxygen when they inhale and exhale. They use a blood gas analyser to test the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood samples taken from a patient.

Restorative Respiratory Therapies

Chest physiotherapy helps remove mucus from the patient’s lungs and make it easier for them to breath. RTs tap the chest of a patient suffering from lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis and encourage them to cough and so dislodge the mucus.

When patients cannot breathe on their own, RTs insert a tube in the patient’s windpipe and connect it to a ventilator that delivers optimal oxygen to the lungs.

Current Status

Increasing growth in the middle-aged and older population is leading to an increased incidence of respiratory conditions such as pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other disorders that can cause irreparable damage to the lungs or restrict lung function. Such cases require respiratory therapy services and treatments, mostly in hospitals.

A growing emphasis on reducing readmissions in hospitals may also result in increased demand for RTs in nursing homes and physicians’ offices. Furthermore, advances in preventing and treating disease, improved medications and more sophisticated treatments add to the demand. Respiratory problems in the general public due to smoking and air pollution as well as respiratory emergencies also play a part in the need for more RTs.

The common cold, the leading cause of doctor visits and missed days from work and school, can be due to more than 200 viruses, including the human coronavirus and the respiratory syncytial virus. 

Respiratory Therapists strive to encourage every individual they come across to internalise the fact that breath is the best gift from nature that must be cherished in order to enjoy life.

“Don’t do things because that’s the way they’ve always been done. Challenge the status quo, create and build a better team. Do it for the team and you’ll get what you want.”

Darien Raitey, RRT