Respiratory Care Practitioner/ Therapist

Respiratory care practitioners work under the direction of a physician and assist in the diagnosis, treatment and management of patients with pulmonary disorders like asthma.

According to AZCaringcareers.com, respiratory therapists earn approximately $37,000 a year.

Job responsibilities:

• Measure the capacity of a patient's lungs to determine if there is impaired function.
• Draw and analyze blood samples to determine the levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide and other gases to assess the best course of treatment.
• Treating and providing therapy to help patients to help recover their lung function.
• Use various types of equipment to administer oxygen or to stimulate breathing.
• Administer medications in aerosol form to help alleviate breathing problems.

Patients who need a respiratory care practitioner

• Premature infants
• The elderly
• Women with high-risk deliveries
• Patients with acute and chronic lung diseases
• Patients with emergencies from disease or trauma

Places of practice:

• Hospitals
• Nursing homes
• Home health agencies
• Medical equipment supply companies
• Physicians' offices

Educational requirements:

• Two-year associate degree program in respiratory care.
• A license obtained by passing the required examination.

Educational programs:

• Community College of Rhode Island
• Northeastern University
• Quinnipiac University

Professional organizations:

• American Association for Respiratory Care
  http://www.aarc.org/