A Respiratory Therapist is a specific medical care therapist who has graduated from a college or a university and approved a national board validating exam. Respiratory practitioners work under the general guidance of a primary provider, such as a doctor or health professional therapist most often in intensive care units and operating rooms, but also in out-patient treatment centers.
Respiratory therapy has been one of the best medical care professions in the United States. This is due to the increasing population of middle-aged and seniors who will be requiring health support for respiratory cases such as emphysema, serious respiratory disease, pneumonia, and other lung and heart problems in the long run. Other cases that will continue to demand for respiratory practitioners consist of cigarette smoking, air pollution and respiratory emergency situations. These are the tips of a respiratory therapist to aspiring individuals who are willing to traverse this career path:
- Associate’s and bachelor’s degree graduates will have the same wage rate. The only aspect that will change the wage is the experience. However, if you want to go to the managing level, you will need to take the bachelor’s degree.
- The job is very constant. Respiratory practitioners and therapists do not just work at medical centers. They are also in-demand for home care sufferers, treatment centers, assisted living facilities and other organizations having respiratory care.
- Going through a respiratory treatment education and studying is not that easy. However, they will teach you everything you need to learn about respiratory care. Aside from theory sessions, you will encounter hands-on studying in an approved medical center under the guidance of a respiratory therapist.
Lastly, to eligibly work as a respiratory therapist, you will need to get two permits. One is the national certification which will be offered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) as soon as you successfully pass their exam. The other certificate is your “state license” which will be given specific state licensing boards.