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A CAREER IN RESPIRATORY
THERAPY
Respiratory Care is a health care profession comprised of practitioners
who, under physician direction, are trained to actively participate in
the care of patients, especially the monitoring and treatment of cardiopulmonary
function. It is not only the care of the sick but the prevention of illness
and the promotion of health. A career in respiratory therapy offers an
extraordinary range of professional options. Respiratory Therapists today
are involved in patient care as well as management, education, research
and consultation. They work closely with the nurse, physician, and other
members of the health care team in hospitals, clinics, laboratories, health
agencies, and home care settings.
The practice of respiratory care encompasses many activities in the areas
of diagnosis and therapeutics. Diagnostic areas include, but are not limited
to obtaining of blood samples to determine acid-base status and oxygenation
and the measurement of pulmonary function. Therapeutic concerns include,
among others, the application and monitoring of 1) oxygen therapy; 2)
ventilator therapy; 3) artificial airway care; 4) bronchial hygiene therapy;
5) cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and 6) respiratory rehabilitation therapy,
7) aerosol medication administration.
California requires that all Respiratory Care Pratitioners be certified
by the State of California Respiratory Care Board. The Examination given
by the State of California is equivalent to the National Cerification
exam. Nationally, two levels of credential are recognized for Respiratory
Care Practitioners: Certified and Registered. These credentials are based
upon completion of an American Medical Association approved training program
through the Joint Review Committee for Respiratory Therapy Education (JRCRTE),
and successful completion of examinations offered by the National Board
for Respiratory Care (NBRC). The certification requires one year of formal
training. Registration is achieved when a graduate of at least a two year
program passes two levels of examination by the NBRC. This is considered
the basic credential for performing the full range of accepted clinical
practice in respiratory care. The State of California will require that
all graduates entering the field after the year 2000 have the minimum
of an Associate Degree.
For those considering a professional career in respiratory therapy, the
rewards are many. First of all, there is the satisfaction of helping people--of
caring for them when they are sick, and maintaining their health when
they are well. There is satisfaction in utilizing your skills and knowledge
to help save the lives of others. There is also the monetary recognition
of such a role. The salaries in the San Francisco Bay Area, for instance,
ranges from about $41,000 to $45,000 per year for a new two year graduate
entering the field. Finally, the field offers the opportunity to work
in a variety of community health care settings.
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION
for the
RESPIRATORY CARE PRACTITIONER
Hospital Based Respiratory Care
Most RCPs are employed in the hospital setting. It is the best place
to initially gain the experiences to build on the foundation of the
formal training program. Most hospital departments provide care 24 hours
a day, so therapists are employed to work on various shifts, and are
expected to work their fair share of weekends and holidays. The inconvenience
of working evenings and nights (as well as holidays) is compensated
for by additional pay. And while some people prefer to have every weekend
off, any skier can tell you that many recreational facilities are easier
to access and less expensive during the weekdays.
General Patient Care: RCPs provide a wide range of services
including the administration of oxygen and medications, breathing exercises,
bronchial hygiene, diagnostic testing, patient evaluations and monitoring
as well as patient education to the general patient population. We help
to identify the patient's current pulmonary problems as well as their
risk of developing pulmonary complications both during and after surgery.
Critical Care: RCPs essentially provide the same services in
the Intensive Care Units with the addition of operating machines to
mechanically ventilate patients who are too sick to maintain their own
breathing due to a disease process or after open heart surgery. RCPs
operate a variety of complex monitors and "breathing machines"
that provide vital life support while the patient recovers. Most of
the patients that we ventilate recover to breathe on their own, and
go home.
Pediatric/Neonatal: When a baby is born prematurely, sometimes
weighing less than one or two pounds, the lungs are not adequately developed
to stay open between breaths. Without help the baby will become exhausted
and die. RCPs operate ventilators which breathe for the baby until it
grows strong enough to breathe on its own. Many children also have respiratory
diseases needing the skills of a Respiratory Care Practitioner. Children
with pulmonary diseases like asthma and cystic fibrosis have a much
greater life expectancy with the advent of modern respiratory care.
Pulmonary Function and Cardiovascular Laboratories: This is
where patients are tested to see how well their lungs function. Complex
and high-tech equipment are used to measure how well the lungs, heart
and muscles work together to meet the body's needs. RCPs use this equipment
to help diagnose pulmonary and cardiac problems so that they may be
properly treated.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Patients with pulmonary diseases are
often unable to lead normal lives without help. Pulmonary Rehabilitation
is designed to teach patients how to get into shape and get the most
out of their activities of daily living. This can be very rewarding
work with both adults and children.
Supervision and Management: Whenever you want a group
of people to function consistently and effectively, you'll probably
need a supervisor or manager. Supervisors arrange work schedules, teach
new staff how to do their jobs better, evaluate performances, and step
in to support staff members when they have to make hard decisions. Managers
hire, fire, write procedures, and generally make sure that the staff
have the resources they need to do their job, while making sure that
no state and federal regulations are violated. In respiratory care most
managers and supervisors started as staff therapists.
Home Care
Hospitals are expensive places to live. For patients with chronic diseases
who may live from one to twenty years needing oxygen, medications, treatments
or ventilation, receiving that care in their own home is a less expensive
and much more satisfying alternative. RCPs train patients and their
families how to use respiratory equipment safely at home, and periodically
drop in to make sure that no problems develop. These jobs tend to be
mostly weekdays, but may require responding to emergencies at odd hours.
Education
Not only do formal RCP training programs need teachers, many educators
are also hired to teach in hospitals, providing continuing education
to RCP staff as well as nurses, physicians and patients. A strong base
of good clinical experience is essential for the Respiratory Care Educator.
To find out more about Respiratory Care contact the American Association
for Respiratory Care at (972) 243 2272 or http://www.aarc.org
Skyline College Respiratory Therapy Program
Respiratory Therapy is offered primarily at Community Colleges
such as Skyline College. The program is based on college courses that
are transferable and apply towards an Associate Degree. This level of
program prepares you to be a generalist in providing most types of rerpiratory
care provided in the majority of the hospitals today. This level provides
all the necessary basics to enter the profession with a full range of
career options.
The program is competency based. Respiratory care skills are initially
learned in the classroom, then practiced in the laboratory and eventually
applied in the clinical setting. Appropriate clinical time is allowed
to become proficient in providing care in the acute hospital setting.
The program is two years in length. For specific prerequisites,
please refer to the the application information
Recommendations for the High School
Student:
The following courses taken during the high school years are recommended
to help gain acceptance to an accredited school of respiratory therapy:
Math |
Science |
Elementary algebra |
Biology |
Intermediate algebra |
Chemistry |
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Physics |
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Anatomy |
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Physiology |
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Qualifications
& Requirements
Specializations