WHAT IS RESPIRATORY THERAPY?
Respiratory Therapy is a specialized health care field where practitioners are trained in pulmonary medicine in order to work therapeutically with people suffering from pulmonary disease.
WHAT RTs DO
A day in the life of an RT might include—
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Assessing patients for lung and breathing disorders and recommending treatment modalities.
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Interviewing patients and doing chest physical exams to determine what kind of therapy is best for their condition.
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Consulting with physicians to recommend a change in therapy, based on your evaluation of the patient.
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Analyzing breath sounds, measuring vital signs, and drawing arterial blood to determine levels of oxygen and other gases.
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Managing ventilators and artificial airway devices for patients who can’t breathe normally on their own.
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Responding to Code Blue or other urgent calls for care.
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Educating patients and families about lung disease so they can maximize their recovery.
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WHERE RTs WORK
You’ll find RTs—
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IN HOSPITALS giving breathing treatments to people with asthma and other respiratory conditions.
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IN INTENSIVE CARE UNITS managing ventilators that keep the critically ill patients alive.
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IN EMERGENCY ROOMS delivering life-saving treatments.
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IN NEWBORN AND PEDIATRIC UNITShelping children with conditions ranging from premature birth to cystic fibrosis.
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IN OPERATING ROOMS working with anesthesiologists to monitor patients’ breathing during surgery.
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IN PATIENT’S HOMES providing regular check-ups and making sure people have what they need to stay out of the hospital.
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IN SLEEP LABORATORIES helping to diagnose disorders like sleep apnea.
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IN SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES and pulmonary rehabilitation programs helping older people breathe easier and get more out of life.
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IN DOCTOR’S OFFICES conducting pulmonary function tests and providing patient education.
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IN ASTHMA EDUCATION PROGRAMShelping children and adults alike learn how to cope with the condition.
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IN SMOKING CESSATION PROGRAMSassisting those who want to kick the habit for good.
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IN AIR TRANSPORT AND AMBULANCE PROGRAMS rushing to rescue people in need of immediate medical attention.
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IN CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMShelping devise long-term care plans for patients.
Source: https://be-an-rt.org/what-is-respiratory-therapy/where-rts-work/