Respiratory Therapy Major
Career Information
Possible Job
Titles
- Respiratory therapist
- Respiratory care practitioners
- Supervisory or managerial
positions in a respiratory therapy
department.
- Respiratory therapists in home
care and equipment rental firms may
become branch manager.
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- Sales representatives
- Equipment designers for
equipment manufacturers.
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Typical
Places of Employment
- Hospitals (departments of
respiratory care, anesthesiology, or
pulmonary medicine) and medical
centers
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- Durable medical equipment rental
companies, home health agencies, and
nursing homes
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Typical Work
Activities
- Evaluate, treat, and care for
patients with breathing disorders.
- Test the capacity of the lungs
and analyze the oxygen and carbon
dioxide concentration and potential
of hydrogen (pH), a measure of the
acidity or alkalinity level of the
blood.
- Respiratory therapists perform
chest physiotherapy on patients to
remove mucus from their lungs to
make it easier for them to breathe.
- Keep records of the materials
used and charges to patients. Some
therapists teach or supervise other
respiratory therapy personnel.
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- Provide temporary relief to
patients with chronic asthma or
emphysema and emergency care for
heart failure, stroke, drowning, or
shock victims.
- Respiratory therapists most
commonly use oxygen or oxygen
mixtures, chest physiotherapy, and
aerosol medications.
- Administer aerosols-generally
liquid medications suspended in a
gas that forms a mist which is
inhaled and teach patients how to
inhale the aerosol properly to
assure its effectiveness.
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Additional
Info in Career Services
These publications must be used in the Career
Services Office. However there are many
brochures and magazines such as Resume Writing,
Interviewing and Job Choices that you may take
with you:
- 150 Careers in the Health Care
Field
- Job Opportunities for Health and
Science Majors
- Job Opportunities in Health and
Science
- Health Care Job Explosion
- Medical and Pharmaceutical Sales
- Opportunities in Physician
Careers
|
- Opportunities in Physician
Assistant Careers
- Opportunities in Physical
Therapy Careers
- Opportunities in Gerontology and
Aging Services Careers
- Quick Reference to Occupational
Therapy
- Resumes and Personal Statements
for Health Professionals
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To see a complete list of career books
located at the Career Services Office click
here.
Alumni Resources
(Listed below are examples of SU Alumni and
their Jobs in this major- For more alumni
resources, go to
Mentor Network)
| ALUMNI NAME |
GRADUATION DATE |
CURRENT JOB |
ORGANIZATION |
| Danette Wolford |
2005 |
RRT-NPS |
The Johns Hopkins Hospital NICU |
| Kenneth Garritano |
2000 |
Hospital Pharmaceuticals Specialist |
AstraZeneca |
| Mwelwa Changwe |
2005 |
Respiratory Therapist |
Peninsula Regional Medical Center |
| Jude Muneses |
1988 |
Physician |
Jude C. Muneses, MD |
Related Links
- Occupation Description: 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.
- American
Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) Main
Webpage
-
AARC Career Video (Scroll down to What
is an RT-Breath and Life Video)
-
Explore Health Careers-Respiratory
Therapist
-
Guide to College Major in Respiratory
Therapy
-
Health Careers Spotlight: Respiratory
Therapist
-
Respiratory Therapist Careers –
Opportunities and Salary Range.
Respiratory therapy is a growing field
mainly due to the rise in both the infant
and elderly population. Increasingly, more
respiratory therapy job openings are
becoming available, particularly for
traveling therapist.
-
Respiratory Therapist Career - Options and
Outlook
-
Respiratory Therapist: Career Information
-
Respiratory Therapist information from
Occupational Outlook Handbook.
-
Respiratory Therapy Careers, Jobs, and
Employment Information
-
Respiratory Therapy Technicians -
Interesting Career Overview.
-
Sample Resumes by Major
-
Other
Health-Related Options -Links to
various health careers and the career
opportunities associated with them.
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