Respiratory therapy means giving the breath of life to another human being.
Working as part of a life-saving team with doctors, nurses and respiratory
therapists is an experience most respiratory students never forget.
Respiratory therapists (RTs) help people with breathing disorders such
as asthma and emphysema get the oxygen they need. They use ventilators, oxygen
tanks and other equipment to help patients breathe easier.
Respiratory therapy is also called respiratory care. It's offered both
at the two-year associate's degree and the four-year bachelor's degree levels.
The four-year programs may prepare you for higher positions in the field.
Many two-year programs offer you the option of transferring to a four-year
program if you change your mind later.
Though programs may allow applicants to apply directly from high school,
those applicants will often be competing with many applicants who have some
post-secondary education.
"To be honest, you need to be an A honor student to get into our
program," says Marlene Zahn. She is a training consultant for an RT program.
Students must also provide proof of a medical examination and immunization
schedule.
In Zahn's two-year program, the first year consists of an anatomy and
physiology core. In the second year, students experience an extensive
clinical period in an affiliated hospital emergency department, intensive
care unit, nursery, trauma ward, pulmonary function lab, research lab or home
care lab.
"Be well prepared when you come for your interview," says Zahn. "Attempt
to visit a respiratory therapy department in a hospital to ensure you are
familiar with the duties and what it is like to work with the sick and dying."
In the U.S., programs are accredited by the Committee on Accreditation
for Respiratory Care (CoARC). Contact them for a complete list of programs.
High school students should take courses in English, math, social sciences,
natural sciences, a foreign language and the visual or performing arts.
It can also be useful to have some leadership experience and experience
working with people in a service role, says F. Herbert Douce. He is director
of the respiratory therapy division at Ohio State University.
Besides tuition, you'll have to pay for books, supplies, liability insurance,
travel and health insurance.
Links
Occupational Outlook Handbook
For more information related to this field of study, see: Respiratory
Therapists
Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
List of accredited programs
Respiratory Care Links
An extensive collection of links to sites related to respiratory
therapy
World Health Organization
Read about respiratory-related conditions
What's New in Respiratory Care
Read the latest news from the NBRC