Respiratory Therapist Salary

Respiratory Therapist Education and Training: Two or four year degree

Respiratory Therapist Salary: Average—$43,140 per year

Nature of Work of Respiratory Therapist

Sometimes respiratory therapist is also known to be inhalation therepist. The therapist treat patient who have breathing problem. The patients can range from infants to elderly stroked which generally have lung disease. The respiratory therepist is required to operate equipment such as ventilator and respirator. Most therepist works in hospitals reporting to the physicians. There are also a trend that the therapist are contracted out of the hospital such as nursing homes.

Most of the time, respiratory therapist work in emergency situtations that involve injury or accidents. They are also working on ongoing treatment programs whereby patients have breathing problem such as emphysema. Respiratory specialist generally work with machines that provide oxygen. Some of such machine also provide medicine in form of gas. Normally the physician will give respiratory personnel prescriptions that state the medicine and the proper dosage. The thereapist will make the decision as to which equipment to use. Respiratory therepists should also be sensitive to the dangers involved in each treatmet. Observation of the patient during the treatment are make and he have to make report if there is any adverse reaction on the patient

The respiratory therapist is also to take care of any faulty equipment, making small repair if necessary. He / she is also require to explain the usage of the equipment to the nurse.

Training Requirements of Respiratory Therapist

To be a trained respiratory therapist, the trainee need to go through a two to four years course. Technical schools or junior colleges offer the two year programs which can lead to associate degree. The four year course offer bachelor degree. Background in mathematics and science are mandatory to enter the course.

Respiratory Therapist Salary

Base on survey for respiratory theapist salary have an average of around $45,000 to $55,000

The working hours are generally forty hours a week but expected to work on some evenings and weekends. It is also not uncommon that some of the respiratory therapist work part time and have other job at the same time.