What do Respiratory Therapists do?
Respiratory Therapists (RT’s) work with all ages of patients from the premature baby to the elderly. Respiratory Therapists do simple yet vital things such as setting up and monitoring oxygen therapy and delivery of life-saving aerosolized medication. RT’s are involved in more complex tasks as well. Disease management for patients with pulmonary disease, monitoring and maintaining respirators, complex diagnostic testing including sleep studies, pulmonary function, arterial blood gases are just some of the duties of Respiratory Therapists.
• Critical thinking • Patient/environment assessment skills • Evidence based clincal practice skills Respiratory Therapists: • Develop and implement effective care plans • Apply patient driven protocols • Utilize disease-based clincal pathways • Implement disease managemnet programs • Perform therapeutic and diagnostic procedures
