Respiratory Therapist (RT)
Respiratory therapists (RTs), also known as Respiratory Care Practitioners (RCPs), are allied health professionals who specialize in the assessment and treatment of breathing disorders. These include chronic lung problems (e.g., asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, COPD) and more acute problems stemming from conditions such as heart attacks, stroke, or trauma. RTs are specialists in airway management, mechanical ventilation, and critical care medicine. RTs work closely with other medical disciplines such as physicians, nurses, speech therapists and physical therapists. They practice in a variety of settings including, but not limited to: acute care hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, rehabilitation and skilled nursing facilities, patients' homes, patient transport systems, physician offices, convalescent and retirement centers, educational institutions, and wellness centers.To treat patients, respiratory therapists use oxygen or oxygen mixtures, chest physiotherapy, and aerosol medications (liquid medications suspended in a gas that forms a mist which is inhaled). When a patient has difficulty getting enough oxygen, therapists increase the patient’s oxygen by placing an oxygen mask or nasal cannula on the patient. Therapists also connect patients who cannot breathe on their own to ventilators that deliver pressurized oxygen into the lungs. In home care, therapists teach patients and their families to use ventilators and other life-support systems. In addition, therapists visit patients several times a month to inspect and clean equipment and to ensure its proper use.
An associate’s degree is required for entry into the field of respiratory therapy. Most programs award associates or bachelor’s degrees and prepare graduates for jobs as advanced respiratory therapists. The National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) offers certification and registration to graduates of programs. Two credentials are awarded to respiratory therapists who satisfy the requirements: Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) and Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT).
Weblink to US Department of Labor Respiratory Therapists: Respiratory Therapists
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Respiratory_therapist
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos084.htm