What Do Respiratory Therapy Technicians Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Respiratory Therapy Technicians provide respiratory care under the direction of respiratory therapists and physicians. They also work with patients in areas such as the emergency rooms, neonatal or pediatric intensive care, or surgical intensive care, treating conditions such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma, cystic fibrosis, or pneumonia.

Other tasks include:

• Monitor patients during treatment and report any unusual reactions to the respiratory therapist.
• Keep records of patients’ therapy, completing all necessary forms.
• Use ventilators or various oxygen devices or aerosol and breathing treatments in the provision of respiratory therapy.
• Follow and enforce safety rules applying to equipment.
• Set equipment controls to regulate the flow of oxygen, gases, mists, or aerosols.
• Collect and analyze arterial blood gas samples.

We asked Respiratory Therapy Technicians how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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74% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 82% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Respiratory Therapy Technicians administer breathing or oxygen procedures, such as intermittent positive pressure breathing treatments, ultrasonic nebulizer treatments, or incentive spirometer treatments. They clean, sterilize, check, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment.

A typical day for a Respiratory Therapy Technician will also include:

• Collect and analyze arterial blood gas samples.
• Read and evaluate physicians’ orders and patients’ chart information to determine patients’ condition and treatment protocols.
• Interview or examine patients to collect clinical data.
• Set equipment controls to regulate the flow of oxygen, gases, mists, or aerosols.
• Monitor patients during treatment and report any unusual reactions to the respiratory therapist.

We asked some Respiratory Therapy Technicians a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	73% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	85% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	90% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	53% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	10% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	95% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Respiratory Therapy Technicians also teach patients how to use respiratory equipment at home. They may also recommend or review bedside procedures, x-rays, or laboratory tests.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Respiratory Therapy Technicians Teach or oversee other workers who provide respiratory care services. They might also Collect and analyze arterial blood gas samples.

In addition, they Perform diagnostic procedures to assess the severity of respiratory dysfunction in patients.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Clean, sterilize, check, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment.

To some Respiratory Therapy Technicians, it is also their responsibility to Prepare or test devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, aerosol generators, or electrocardiogram (EKG) machines.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Respiratory Therapy Technician, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292054.htm