What does a Respiratory Therapist (RT) do?

WHAT DOES A RESPIRATORY THERAPIST DO?

A respiratory therapist (RT) is a skilled healthcare professional with training in critical care, cardio-pulmonary medicine, and pulmonary disease who works therapeutically with patients who have these conditions. They work with patients of all ages and in a variety of settings, including clinics, patient’s home, hospitals, and long-term care facilities.

Respiratory therapists are mostly required to have completed the national board certification exam after completing a degree in respiratory therapy from a university or college.

The main role of a respiratory therapist is to evaluate, treat, and manage patients with breathing disorders. Some of the specific tasks and responsibilities of a respiratory therapist include:

• Developing treatment plans: Developing treatment plans: Based on their assessment, respiratory therapists develop treatment plans that include medication administration, breathing exercises, and other therapies to improve patients’ breathing and lung function.
• Carrying out diagnostic tests: Respiratory therapists carry out diagnostic tests, such as pulmonary function tests, to assess lung function and choose the most effective course of treatment.
•  Giving oxygen therapy: Using a nasal cannula, oxygen mask, or other device, respiratory therapists give oxygen therapy to patients who are experiencing trouble breathing.
•  Working together with other medical experts: To coordinate patient care and make sure that treatment programs are successful, respiratory therapists collaborate extensively with doctors, nurses, and other medical experts.
• Managing ventilators: Respiratory therapists manage mechanical ventilators used to support patients who cannot breathe on their own.
•  Patient training: Respiratory therapists instruct patients and their families on breathing techniques and how to manage respiratory disorders. Additionally, they could educate patients on how to operate equipment like nebulizers and oxygen tanks.
• Responding to emergencies: Respiratory therapists are often called upon to respond to respiratory emergencies, such as cardiac arrest or severe asthma attacks. They may perform life-saving interventions, such as intubation or CPR.

Some of the conditions RTs help with are:

• Cystic fibrosis
• Asthma
• Emphysema
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Pneumonia
• Sleep apnea
• Lung disease or cancer
• Bronchitis
• Cardiac failure
• Blocked air passageways
• Chest trauma

In general, respiratory therapists are extremely important in providing patients with respiratory problems with care and treatment. To ensure that patients receive the best care possible to manage various respiratory disorders, they collaborate closely with patients and other healthcare experts.