Respiratory Therapists

Imagine not being able to breathe, how terrifying that can be, and now imagine that you go to do an x-ray, and the radiologist finds that you have 8 more ribs than you should have. How strange that could be. Choosing to be a respiratory therapy and radiology could be both interesting careers. Both careers offer students great opportunities. To become a respiratory therapy or radiology, students should have math, computer and problem solving skills. Also, they should be able to communicate well and have the ability to work with others. In addition, it is very important to be in good physical condition because radiology and respiratory therapy careers require a person his or her to be on their feet for hours. If students have all of these requirements, they are taking big steps towards these two careers. Respiratory therapy and radiology are both beneficial careers for students because they offer good pay, have a good job outlook, and a rewarding education.

Respiratory Therapists work in sleep laboratories helping to diagnose disorders like sleep apnea, in skilled nursing facilities and pulmonary rehabilitation programs helping older people breathe easier and get more out of life. Respiratory Therapists play an important role in asthma education. Not only can they treat disorders and breathing complications their job are to diagnose the patient and follow diagnostics procedures. Common procedures respiratory therapists perform are Arterial Blood Gas Analysis, Pulmonary Function Studies, Sleep Studies, EKG and Cardiac Test, Sputum Specimens, and Stress/Exercise test. Smoking programs assisting those who want to kick the habit for good also in air transport and ambulance programs rushing to rescue people in need of immediate medical attention.

Patient care technicians (PCT’s), formally known as nursing assistants, are the backbone to any nursing department. They create rapport with the patients and family members, as well as the nursing and medical staff. Some of the tasks PCT’s are responsible for include: obtaining and recording vital signs, collecting and labeling specimens, blood glucose specimen, and obtaining electrocardiograms (ECG). All these tasks are important and critical in an emergency. PCT’s designated to work in medical surgical floors may not remember the steps for obtaining a good ECG reading. Like the saying goes: if you don’t use it, you lose it. The most common reason ECG’s are misinterpreted is due to incorrect lead placement. PCT’s in critical settings such

I didn’t know what to expect with my observation with the respiratory therapist. All what I knew about them was they floated around and gave patients aerosol breathing treatments. I learned that a respiratory therapist does a lot more than that. They have access to the Pixis, and are able to give patients any type of respiratory medication. They teach patients how to correctly use inhalers. They educate their patients on way they have to do breathing treatments, or why they have to take certain respiratory medications. They also do an examination to find out what type of breathing treatment or oxygen device is needed to help a patient get the oxygen they need, or help with expanding their lungs, etc

The average day of a respiratory therapist can be very stressful. When Melissa goes into work she never knows what “she maybe walking into,” it can be a code in the er to a newborn being born in nursery. This is what makes my job so interesting said melissa. Melissa attended college at the University of Indiana where she was born and raised. She decided to go to this college with a couple of her close high school friends. After she had graduated she moved to Illinois because her parents had moved while she was in college to be closer to family. Melissa decided to find a job close to her parents. She applied at the hospital and got a call back within a couple weeks to come in for an interview. The interview went great she said and then a week later she accepted her first respiratory therapist job.According to www.learn.org the job growth rate is expected to increase 19% between 2012 to 2022. Melissa says she has already seen this growth rate increase within her hospital and around the area needing more therapist.

Physical Therapist/Occupational Therapist’s careers are on the rise! According to my interest in adaptive technology, and my passion for helping others, a career as a Physical Therapist/Occupational Therapist (PTOT) appears to be a very positive, and a rewarding career choice for me! As a result, as a PTOT I will be working with new adaptive technologies and career advancement, reveling in ultimate job security, and new methodologies, open to growing employment opportunities, experiencing unlimited options, and the rewards of helping others to be healthy, healthy and knowing I had a part in a their recovery is key. However, as I embark on this career path as a PTOT that I have considered all the positive attributes, and the negative

The team will navigate patients through the program, resources and pulmonary rehabilitation. The registered nurse will meet with the patient prior to discharge to evaluate and refer them to the appropriate services along with the social worker, which may find alternative way to pay for patients medication and other support services that may be offered. The nurse practitioner and the respiratory therapist will see the patient within 48 of hours upon admission into program. The nurse practitioner and respiratory therapist will evaluate the needs at home and enroll the patient in pulmonary rehabilitation, which will be part of the care offered to all patients. Resources for the patient will consist of a 24-hour hotline for patients who may need to seek medical advice prior to going to the emergency room. Patient will be supplied with emergency medications for home use if symptoms begin to appear. A nurse practitioner will be available to advice the patient in intervention with the emergency medications is indicated and advice if treatment may need to be continued in the emergency room. With the protocols in place for medications, the patient will be seen within 12 hours if use of the emergency medications were taken in the home. The nurse practitioner will update the electronic medical chart of the patient to document

Job opportunities for a Respiratory Therapist are great. Any health careers are always in need. The salary for being a Respiratory Therapist is roughly $59,000 a year. The salary seems to go up each year, because the demand for this job is in great need in most areas. The benefits of being a Respiratory Therapist is just knowing you helped someone in need. Which makes you feel better about yourself. Also, there?s only about 5% paper work involved, which isn?t a lot at all. But then there is always the negative aspects of the job, which involve dealing with nasty things. Such as spit, blood, vomiting, and more. Overall, it?s a good job to pursue.

My duties include treating my patients by using a variety of methods, including chest physiotherapy and aerosol medications. All while recording my patients progress. Also, I teach my patients how to use treatments and equipment, such as ventilators and oxygen tanks. I love that I have the option to work at a hospital or a

Respiratory Therapy has been in practice for many decades. From the time it was discovered to this day numerous of roles have been appended to the profession. Prior to the AARC the primary purpose of the inhalation therapist was to maintain patients on mechanical ventilation. Depending on the employment setting the Respiratory Therapist is capable of performing different roles for example; managing life support mechanical ventilation, analyzing blood, analyzing x-rays and sputum specimens, administering treatments and educating patients and families.

Through the convenience sampling, 90 clients were recruited as research participants were in the waiting room of the respiratory clinic. 60 subjects agreed to attend a support group for socialization with each other. 30 of 60 clients were assigned to participate in the presentation and therapeutic exercises by the instructor. The instructor group divided into halves: 15 clients received instructions with family caregiver and the other clients without a caregiver. The second 30 clients received written materials and allowed to access the website for video presentation and exercises. Half of website group assigned to the family caregiver and the other half without a caregiver. The last 30 subjects were assigned as a control group, and half of these clients received usual care with family caregiver and other 15 clients without a family caregiver. The data was collected by the pulmonary functional status survey, 30 items, five points, Likert-type scale.

The American Association for Respiratory Care is a non-profit organization which provides numerous resources for registered respiratory therapists all over the United States. Membership through the AARC renders an abundance of incentives such as professional development, respiratory care education, social networking opportunities, continuing education programs and much more. The American Association for Respiratory Care truly believes in the cause of respiratory therapy and in the rights of their patients to receive competent respiratory care. Their advocacy team works with local, state and federal governments concerning public policies that affect their patients as well as their profession.

Respiratory therapists deal with all aspects related to the patient’s breathing. The respiratory therapist also helps his or her patient prevent possible problems within the respiratory system. In addition to preventing problems, the therapists can diagnosis and treat all respiratory issues. The respiratory therapist usually performs a variety of tests to determine what type of treatment will be needed. Some examples of these respiratory problems include Asthma, COPD, pneumonia, emphysema, bronchitis, and any type of respiratory trauma. Also, people with certain sleeping disorders, such as sleep apnea, may need to see a respiratory therapist to receive additional help with breathing. Respiratory therapists also deal with all oxygen and other gases in patient’s blood. Therefore it is important for respiratory therapists to always check their patient’s pulse oximetry to determine the amount of oxygen in the blood. The respiratory therapists usually checks pulse oximetry with every treatment, which is always charted. Patients who also have heart problems also may need to see a respiratory therapist to make sure they have good pulmonary health. This is important because the heart and lungs work together. This is why RTs are allowed to perform Electrocardiograms (EKGs). The EKG shows the electrical activity within the heart. Another job of respiratory therapists is to educate their patients on how to use certain medical equipment used for respiratory purposes. For example, the

The role of the pulmonologist is to perform additional diagnostic test and prescribing the right medication that works for the patient. The role of the respiratory therapist is provide patient with nebulizer treatment and patient education such as inhaler training. The role of pulmonary rehabilitation therapists is to provide care for COPD patients to improve their symptoms, endurance and quality of life, (Lilly & Senderovich,2016).

Ancillary services such as respiratory care can be located in inpatient and outpatient settings. Respiratory care is a specialty involving the management, diagnostic evaluation and care of patients with anomalies of the cardiopulmonary system. The primary focus is providing relief to patients’ respiratory diseases, and also emergency care to patients who are experiencing a heart attack, stroke or drowning. The patients range from newborn to the elderly generation. Respiratory care is an essential part in the surgical and medical units, critical and intensive care and the emergency department. It is a care that is provided in skilled nursing facilities and in the home.