What are Registered Respiratory Therapists? They are state-licensed and nationally registered Respiratory Care Practitioners. RRTs have taken and passed the the RRT examination given by the National Board of Respiratory Care. They can only take this exam once they have already passed the Certified Respiratory Therapist examination and of course, have finished the necessary education.
How does one become a Registered Respiratory Therapist? Aspiring registered respiratory therapist should get an associate degree and training. Programs are offered in post secondary level by colleges and universities, medical schools, vocational-technical schools and the Armed Forces. Most of the programs offered include an associate or bachelor’s degree as well as on-the-job trainings. Though not all of the associate level programs guarantee an entry to jobs as registered respiratory therapists.
The task of a respiratory therapist includes treating and caring for patients who has difficulty in breathing or has cardiopulmonary disorders. They are responsible for all respiratory care therapeutic treatments and diagnostic processes. They can also have supervisory tasks among respiratory therapy technicians. They help and work with doctors and other health care staff in developing or changing patient care plans. They also provide assistance and special care for patients confined in the Intensive-care Unit (ICU) of hospitals.
Respiratory therapists handle a variety of patients – from preemie babies who has underdeveloped lungs to elderly people with diseased or damaged lungs. They help patients with chronic asthma or emphysema and are also readily available for assistance during emergency situations such as heart attack, drowning and stroke. They also conduct interviews with patients or physical examinations and they are trained to determine the concentration of oxygen and other gases in the patient’s blood.
Respiratory therapists use a special medical equipment that measures the amount and flow of oxygen during inhalation and exhalation. They use this to evaluate a patient’s breathing to determine any problems. They take a sample from the arterial blood and place it in a gas analyzer to measure the levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide and blood pH levels. The results are then forwarded to a doctor for analysis and possible treatments.
Respiratory therapists use an oxygen mask or nasal cannula if the patient has difficulty breathing. They make sure that the oxygen level is at the prescribed level by the doctor. They can also independently connect patients to ventilators if in case the patients cannot breathe. They do this by connecting a tube to the patient’s windpipe or trachea and connect it to the ventilator, making sure that the rate and volume of the oxygen concentration entering the patient’s lungs is correct.
