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
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