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Respiratory Therapists

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)	Projected Growth (2023-2033)
National Statistics	$80,450	8200	13.1%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$80,450

Median Wage (USD, 2023)

8200

Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)

13.1%

Projected Growth (2023-2033)

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.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
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.
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)

Related Work Experience: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months

On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months

Detailed Work Activities

Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.
Assist healthcare practitioners during examinations or treatments.
Move patients to or from treatment areas.
Implement advanced life support techniques.
Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities.
Prepare medical supplies or equipment for use.
Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment.
Treat medical emergencies.
Implement advanced life support techniques.
Determine protocols for medical procedures.
Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities.
Inform medical professionals regarding patient conditions and care.
Gather medical information from patient histories.
Verify that medical activities or operations meet standards.
Maintain medical facility records.
Examine medical instruments or equipment to ensure proper operation.
Clean medical equipment or facilities.
Maintain medical equipment or instruments.
Train patients, family members, or caregivers in techniques for managing disabilities or illnesses.
Explain medical procedures or test results to patients or family members.
Communicate test or assessment results to medical professionals.
Test patient heart or lung functioning.
Adjust settings or positions of medical equipment.
Treat chronic diseases or disorders.
Train patients, family members, or caregivers in techniques for managing disabilities or illnesses.
Train medical providers.
Train medical providers.
Supervise patient care personnel.
Test patient heart or lung functioning.
Assist healthcare practitioners during examinations or treatments.
Repair medical facility equipment.
Test patient heart or lung functioning.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

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.
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.
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.
Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders.
Educate patients and their families about their conditions and teach appropriate disease management techniques, such as breathing exercises or the use of medications or respiratory equipment.
Perform bronchopulmonary drainage and assist or instruct patients in performance of breathing exercises.
Conduct tests, such as electrocardiograms (EKGs), stress testing, or lung capacity tests, to evaluate patients' cardiopulmonary functions.
Perform pulmonary function and adjust equipment to obtain optimum results in therapy.
Demonstrate respiratory care procedures to trainees or other healthcare personnel.
Use a variety of testing techniques to assist doctors in cardiac or pulmonary research or to diagnose disorders.
Transport patients to the hospital or within the hospital.
Teach, train, supervise, or use the assistance of students, respiratory therapy technicians, or assistants.
Perform endotracheal intubation to maintain open airways for patients who are unable to breathe on their own.
Monitor cardiac patients, using electrocardiography devices, such as a holter monitor.

Work Styles

Persistence

Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Achievement/Effort

Initiative

Leadership

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self-Control

Stress Tolerance

Adaptability/Flexibility

Dependability

Attention to Detail

Integrity

Independence

Innovation

Analytical Thinking

For more information on this career visit: https://explorehealthcareers.org/careers/allied-health-professions/respiratory-therapist/

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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