Respiratory Therapy

Aspiring respiratory therapists learn how to treat and care for patients who are unable to breathe normally. It will be their responsibility to maintain the lives of those who are seriously ill. Students in the major become familiar with physiological and technical concepts. They must be able to properly administer breathing treatments and long-term ventilation; use and maintain respiratory therapy equipment; and perform physical exams and diagnostic tests. They learn about pharmacology, clinical medicine, anatomy, physiology, microbiology and chemistry. Some of the more specific classes in respiratory therapy include cardiopulmonary sciences, cardiopulmonary pharmacology, respiratory therapy procedures, neonatal and pediatric respiratory care, and advanced mechanical ventilation. Students are also usually required to gain clinical experience by way of an internship.

Respiratory therapists, much like their peers in the health care industry, perform noble tasks that will always be needed. They work in hospitals and clinics, specializing in the treatment of people – from infant to elderly – suffering from asthma, emphysema, cystic fibrosis and cardiopulmonary disorders. Therefore, the employment outlook for RTs is very good: it’s expected to grow by 21 percent through 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a result of the aging population, which commonly experiences cardiopulmonary diseases and respiratory illnesses. The pay is promising as well: the top 10 percent of earners in the field make just under $70,000 per year.