Respiratory Therapists
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.
What is this job like?
- 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.
- Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.
- Perform pulmonary function and adjust equipment to obtain optimum results in therapy.
- Monitor cardiac patients, using electrocardiography devices, such as a holter monitor.
- Perform endotracheal intubation to maintain open airways for patients who are unable to breathe on their own.
- Use a variety of testing techniques to assist doctors in cardiac or pulmonary research or to diagnose disorders.
- Explain treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.
- Demonstrate respiratory care procedures to trainees or other healthcare personnel.
- Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders.
- Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
- Relay blood analysis results to a physician.
- 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.
- Determine requirements for treatment, such as type, method and duration of therapy, precautions to be taken, or medication and dosages, compatible with physicians' orders.
- Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.
- Inspect, clean, test, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, ordering repairs when necessary.
- Inspect, clean, test, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, ordering repairs when necessary.
- 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.
- Use a variety of testing techniques to assist doctors in cardiac or pulmonary research or to diagnose disorders.
- Inspect, clean, test, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, ordering repairs when necessary.
- 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.
- Make emergency visits to resolve equipment problems.
- Teach, train, supervise, or use the assistance of students, respiratory therapy technicians, or assistants.
- Conduct tests, such as electrocardiograms (EKGs), stress testing, or lung capacity tests, to evaluate patients' cardiopulmonary functions.
- Teach, train, supervise, or use the assistance of students, respiratory therapy technicians, or assistants.
- Perform bronchopulmonary drainage and assist or instruct patients in performance of breathing exercises.
- 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.
- Set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
- Transport patients to the hospital or within the hospital.
- Perform bronchopulmonary drainage and assist or instruct patients in performance of breathing exercises.
- Perform pulmonary function and adjust equipment to obtain optimum results in therapy.
- Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Local Wage Data
Showing wage data for: New Orleans
Entry
Median
High
Salary
Hourly Wage
$47,020
$59,930
$74,640
$22.61
$28.81
$35.88