Category Archives: Respiration Therapy

Respiratory Therapist Salary – Worth A Closer Look

Despite the high unemployment rate and the many people who have lost their jobs, the healthcare industry is one of the fastest, if not the fastest, growing industries in terms of the number of jobs generated. One of the reasons for this is the growing number of people in society who need healthcare assistance. People may be able to postpone buying a new car or other gadget, but when it comes to one’s health, there’s no postponement for finding a good solution fast. And with a growing number of people with breathing and other cardiopulmonary disorders, the job outlook for respiratory therapists will grow much faster than the average for all occupations. This in turn will also result in an increase in the average respiratory therapist salary, which is good news for those in this field and for those that are planning to pursue this career.

Respiratory therapists, also known as respiratory care practitioners, evaluate, treat, and care for patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders. Although they work under the direct supervision of licensed physicians, they are primarily in-charge of all respiratory care therapeutic treatments and diagnostic procedures that the physician prescribes. Respiratory therapists will also be in-charge of the respiratory therapy technicians working with them.

The mean annual respiratory therapist salary, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is $54,200. The 10% of respiratory therapists earning the lowest salary receive $39,030 annual wage. Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a “year-round, full-time” hour figure of 2,080 hours. On the other end of the scale, the 10% of respiratory therapists earning the highest respiratory therapist salary receive $71,920 annually. The national data for overtime pay for this occupation is from $27.89 to $40.79 an hour.

Most respiratory therapists work in a hospital setting and can earn an average therapist salary of $53,950 a year or $25.94 an hour. This hospital setting is for general medical and surgical hospital types. For specialized hospitals, the respiratory therapist salary is higher at $56,290 in mean annual respiratory therapist salary. These salary figures represent the highest and the second highest number of respiratory therapists working in various settings. The third from the list are those working in nursing care facilities, making $55,980 a year.

When it comes to the work setting with the highest respiratory therapist salary, the one at the top of the list is for those working in employment services. In this type of work setting, they earn $65,250 in mean annual salary. Those that are working in local governments as respiratory therapists are second on the list with $61,890 in mean annual wage. The third industry with the highest paid respiratory therapists is in offices of other health practitioners, earning $57,900 in mean annual therapist salary.

With 12,230 respiratory therapists working as of May 2009, the State of California offered the highest mean annual respiratory therapist salary of $65,580. Across from New York, the State of New Jersey is second on the rank with $65,540 a year, followed by Maryland, offering $65,430 in mean respiratory therapist salary a year.

The job opportunities for respiratory therapists should be very good. This is even more true if you have a bachelor’s degree and certification. Certification is obtained from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). A license is required in all States, except in Alaska and Hawaii. Licensure is mainly based on meeting the requirements for certification from the NBRC. If you want to earn a decent respiratory therapist salary, your foremost priority should be to earn your associate degree, which is already a minimum educational requirement in most States.

What You Have To Endure To Earn A Respiratory Therapist Salary

A respiratory therapist plays a vital role not just in the medical field but also in our community or society. They are the medical professionals more than willing to assist patients and help them with their breathing problems or cardiopulmonary diseases. These professionals usually assist patients who are really young and those who are of old age.

Due the increasing percentage of people getting cardiopulmonary diseases the demand for medical professionals like a respiratory therapist has increased too. To be in this type of work is pretty challenging because it’s considered as one of the most complex professions in the healthcare industry. The minimum requirement to be a respiratory therapist is an associate degree. But this doesn’t mean that the work is as easy as finishing a two-year course. This type of job requires handling patients under intensive care units and in a very critical condition. These professionals are already destined to handle patients with chronic lung disease as well as those who are on life support. Seeing someone struggling or can barely fight to live is a scene that is hard to bear but it will be a part of the everyday work of a respiratory therapist.

If you still want to pursue this kind of job despite the hardship of it you may opt to work in respiratory equipment firms. Another option is to teach in colleges or work in the pharmaceutical side of the medical business. The respiratory therapist salary ranges from $52,000 to $$70,000. Those who are earning $65,000 and above are those who hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree and often works on critical patients. There are a lot of things one must possess to be in this profession and skills are just one of them. One should have great patience and passion to love what he does. He also must have the ability to think quickly and maintain his composure at all times. To be obsessive compulsive will be considered as an advantage in this job because one cannot afford to commit any error.

According to the recent Bureau of Labor Statistics the employment for respiratory therapists is expected to increase by twenty percent eight years from now. The demand for such profession will increase because of the rising number of patients with cardiopulmonary disease.

To work as a for respiratory therapists means having a great job that provides security. One can earn a very stable and competitive for respiratory therapist salary by helping people live another day. If you love to help people in need then this career will surely be the perfect one for you. Earning a respiratory therapist salary for a living can be spiritually satisfying but the hardship tied to it is very challenging. This is why a great income awaits those people who wish to be in this profession. The best way to choose your career is to settle for the one that makes you happy and not what will make you rich because at the end of the day money can never buy you happiness. To be contented and satisfied in your career is priceless, so choose wisely because it is where your happiness will depend on.

A Fast Track Career Guide to a High-Paying Respiratory Therapist Career

The healthcare industry is composed of different fields and professions. As part of the healthcare sector, one of the most rewarding careers that offers more than just paychecks and a steady job are careers in the medical tech. One of the careers in the field is that of a registered respiratory therapist. It provides the same sense of accomplishment as they are able to help people at times when they are in need of medical care, as well as it can be rewarding and secure. There are over thousands of American that are suffering from breathing problems, which is why there is no doubt that the demand for the profession will improve in the next several years.

Describing the nature of their work in simple terms, the respiratory therapist helps the people with breathing problems. Respiratory therapists are also known as respiratory care practitioners. They are in charge of all the respiratory care treatments as well as diagnostic procedures that involve the lungs and the respiratory system. They consult with physicians as well as follow the specific treatment plans for each case. They are also involved in caring for those with complicated cases like those patients who are on life support. The respiratory therapists are also the ones responsible for giving temporary relief to those patients with emphysema and chronic asthma, as well as in giving emergency treatments to patients who have experienced heart attack, shock, stroke, and near drowning.

This is a fast track career has held over 120,000 jobs in the United States last 2006. With just a short training period, one can already land in a respiratory therapist job and earn a respiratory therapist salary of about $40,000 per year. The training is offered in post-secondary levels in vocational colleges, universities and medical school. The programs are offered in an associate’s degree and bachelor’s degree. When considering a career as a respiratory therapist, the required educational requirement is an associate’s degree as this can lead to entry level positions. Registration is then awarded for those who have completed the program and have successfully passed two separate examinations.

If you do decide on becoming a respiratory therapist, expect that the rewards will be worth all your hard work and efforts. Not only will it be able to provide an excellent salary, but it will also provide a sense of satisfaction of being able to help improve the health and the lives of the people. As you will know, it will also provide you with a secure profession, especially that the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the profession to grow at a faster than average rate in coming decade. This is because hospitals will always be in need of a certified respiratory therapist as well as in other settings such as in doctor’s offices. It is without doubt one of the most lucrative professions today.

Respiratory Therapist Career Overview and Training

The aging population increases and everyone seem to be finding ways in order to live longer and so the healthcare industry relies much on the highly trained medical professionals that would provide quality care to patients while keeping the costs to a minimum. These days, many functions and responsibilities of physicians and registered nurses are delegated in the hands of highly-trained and specialized medical personnel like the respiratory therapists. They are able to provide the essential quality care that the patients need, but at a more affordable cost. A respiratory therapist is one of the most sought after professions in the healthcare industry these days as they require minimal training while providing a decent respiratory therapist salary.

Respiratory therapists typically work under the supervision of a physician. The respiratory therapists are responsible for delivering respiratory care and therapeutic treatments to patients having cardiopulmonary and breathing disorders. Their tasks involve evaluating the patients and perform diagnostic tests or conducting a limited physical exam. They are also responsible for the maintenance of respiratory equipments as well as teach the patients the proper use of such things. The respiratory therapists or RTs may work in different health care settings such as in hospitals, private practices, home health care, and in nursing homes.

To become a respiratory therapist there is a certain kind of training that you have to undergo. Either an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree is required in this field. Respiratory therapist training programs are offered in colleges, medical schools, Armed Forces, or in vocational schools. After completing the said program, you can now become wither a CRT (Certified Respiratory Therapist) or an RRT (Registered Respiratory Therapist) which may be required in most states. Certification is offered by the National Board for Respiratory Care and those who have completed an accredited respiratory care program and have passed the respiratory therapy exam. To become a registered respiratory therapist, the CRT must continue their education with advanced trainings as well as pass two registration exams administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). The license can then be maintained by taking up continuing education credits every two years.

The employment opportunities for both the certified respiratory therapist and the registered respiratory therapist are expected to increase at a faster rate than the average for all other occupation through 2018. The employment for respiratory therapists is expected to grow by 21 percent with a projected employment of about 128,100 by 2018. The opportunities for respiratory therapists specializing in treating infants and the elderly will be greatest. As of December 5, 2011, they also have an average respiratory therapist salary of about $65,000 per year in the United States. Take the first step today and start pursuing the respiratory therapist career with the program that’s right for you.

Helping People Breathe Easy with Respiratory Therapy

Respiratory care is an allied health field that includes a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic services for patients having heart and lung diseases. This field requires the skills of respiratory care practitioners, who are also known as the respiratory therapists. As a part of the healthcare team, they are involved in monitoring and evaluating the conditions of the heart and of the function of the lung. They deliver respiratory care and conduct limited physical examinations for all types of patients from premature infants to elderly people while working under the supervision of a physician. They are aimed at providing the people with temporary relief to patients having emphysema, chronic asthma, as well as those victims of shock, drowning, and heart attack.

Respiratory care is in fact a very rewarding career both professionally and personally on the part of the respiratory therapists. Specifically, respiratory therapists are the ones responsible for administering oxygen, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, administering medications for the lungs, handling mechanical ventilators, as well as monitoring and measuring of the heart and lung functions.

Those people who are interested pursuing this career can choose to take either a 2 year associate’s degree or a 4 year bachelor’s degree. This can be taken from institutes such as in the armed forces, vocational institutions, and health care institutions. Students may also advance to higher levels of education such as Master’s and Doctorate degrees. Specializations are open for those in pediatric, critical care, emergency and many other areas. Aside from the formal training and education, the aspiring respiratory therapist should also successfully pass the respiratory therapist exam, given by the National Board of Respiratory Care. License in this field is required before one is allowed to practice and this is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. In order to maintain the license, continuing education credits are needed.

The respiratory therapists may work in hospitals in their respiratory departments. They may also work in laboratories, educational institutions, pharmaceutical industries, nursing homes, and many other medical settings. Employment opportunities for the therapists are high, especially for those with a license and with advanced training courses. These working opportunities are expected to grow at a faster than average rate of about 21% for all occupations through 2018. The earning potential of respiratory therapists as of 2008 were $52,200, and in the same year, they held about 105,900 jobs. In 2018, it may increase by 22,100.

With this profession, the respiratory therapists may work at different shifts including day, graveyard, weekends, and even on holidays. They can choose to work part-time or full-time. Other benefits include paid sick and vacation leave, superior health coverage, retirement plans, and many other benefits. With breathing being a vital function of the body that most people often disregard. In the U.S. alone, there are many people suffering from lung disorders such as asthma, COPD, and many other diseases that are in need of the expert services of the respiratory therapists.

Everything You Need to Know About Respiratory Therapists and Their Promising Income

From immature babies having respiratory problems up to the aging people with chronic lung conditions, the respiratory therapists are the healthcare professionals that are responsible for providing them the means to make sure that sufficient air is able to enter the lungs of the patients. It is known that absence of oxygen in the lungs and brain of the patients often result to permanent brain damage or even death. Breathing problems is almost always one of the symptoms present in most health issues. Accidents, chronic illnesses and even hypersensitivity reactions often lead to respiratory insufficiencies. This is how important respiratory therapy is to the lives of the people.

For those who are interested in going for this profession, they are not only given the chance to save the lives of many individuals, they are also provided with a relatively good respiratory therapist salary. Looking into the job of the respiratory therapist, they may also be prone to health hazards that usually come with communicable diseases and viruses that may be transmitted via droplet or airborne. This is why a respiratory therapist must be very well trained on how to safeguard their own health while giving proper breathing care to their patients. They should have incurred the right training and education in order to be qualified for this complicated vocation.

To be able to succeed in this career, they should start it with good grades in High School for them to be admitted to an accredited respiratory therapy program. Respiratory therapy program courses usually takes up about two years, and by the end of the program, they should apply for the certification exam and be a certified respiratory therapist (CRT). Aside from this, they should also complete a short course on Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) before you are eligible for employment.

As for the compensation, it will mostly depend on the State where you are working but the average income of respiratory therapist can be as much as $50,400 in a year. The job opportunities are increasing rapidly along with the promising salary rate. With more experience and with more qualifications, you will be able to increase your employability chances and your deserved salary rate. Your qualifications may be improved by regularly taking up continuing education modules in order to keep yourself updated about the new developments in healthcare, particularly in respiratory therapy.

Success in this field largely depends on the respiratory therapists themselves. If you want to increase your income, then you should do the necessary actions such as getting as much experience as you can, taking up additional respiratory education courses, as well as look for employment in high paying States for you to be able to work in a facility that knows how to take care of you as you take care of their establishment and their patients.

Environmental and Lifestyle Factors Increase Demand for Respiratory Therapists

With the undeniably fast destruction of our environment and unhealthy lifestyle, there have been an increasing number of people suffering from breathing problems. Also, also, because of the projected increase in the number of the aging population in the next decade, services of respiratory therapists are in great demand since these people are highly susceptible to respiratory-related problems or conditions such as asthma, pneumonia, emphysema and chronic bronchitis, among others. Those who have chosen the career of answering to this need may be in for the next generation of health care providers who not only have stable occupations but a secure future with good compensation as well.

For people, the healthcare industry is generally dominated by physicians, the ones who are expected to assess and diagnose the patients and make orders, and by nurses, the ones who are carrying out these orders. However, they are not the only members of the healthcare team. Along with physical therapists, medical technologists, radiological technicians, occupational therapists, nursing aides, midwives and a whole lot more, respiratory therapists play a major role in the proper administration of needed care by the patients.

It may frustrate most people upon knowing being in the healthcare industry may mean years of extensive education and trainings, but it is not the case for an array of vocational careers one could choose from this field. Associate’s degrees may be offered by hospitals, career schools and community colleges after you have undergone two-year training programs of allied health degrees. For those interested in having a higher level of expertise in order to gain access to several courses and perform roles in the advancement of their own careers, a Bachelor’s degree in Respiratory Care may be obtained, which would also include courses pertaining to non-clinical aspects and management of healthcare. They are expected to take up subjects such as Airway Management, Mechanical Ventilation Management, Respiratory Care Protocols, Anatomy and Physiology, Cardiopulmonary Pharmacology, and the like. Before practicing, they are required to pass licensing examinations, depending on the requirements given by the state or country.

Respiratory therapists work under the supervision of physicians in administering respiratory treatments and performing tests related to the breathing capabilities of the clients. They are the ones responsible for conducting appropriate physical examinations and tests to the clients as well as educate them and their families about normal and abnormal breathing conditions. Their primary work would usually involve managing ventilators and other respiratory devices, diagnosing breathing conditions and recommending management or implementing correct treatment. Respiratory therapists may work in the respiratory or cardiopulmonary department of clinics, hospitals and home health services centers. Their services are especially needed in the emergency setting, since difficulties in breathing or deviations from normal breathing patterns are considered urgent cases.

The average annual respiratory therapist salary may be roughly around $42, 500, but it may also increase up to an estimate of $72,000. Other than this, the benefits given by the institutions to them may be one great motivator in the increase of the applicants in this occupation, not to mention that the job availability for them is projected to be promising in the next years to come. Over 41,000 jobs will be waiting for them in the next 10 years, and with 81% of employment potential are those in the hospitals, it would be a great opportunity for them to gain experience and competence in the field. Those who are interested to make advancements in their career may do so as well with many in-service trainings and specializations they could acquire from their own institutions or other training programs.

Delving into the Respiratory Therapist Career

If you are considering taking up a career in respiratory therapy, then you are making the right choice. There are high demands for respiratory therapist services nowadays and the demands continue to increase. The path to becoming a respiratory therapist is short but it also offers a good respiratory therapist salary. With the good job opportunities awaiting you, this is truly one great career choice to make.

A respiratory therapist (RT), also known as a respiratory technician or respiratory specialist, works in conjunction with a medical doctor’s orders and helps patients having trouble breathing. The respiratory therapists deliver respiratory care, as well as therapeutic treatments to patients having breathing problems and other cardiopulmonary disorders. They are also responsible for evaluating the patients’ condition. They clean and test mechanical devices, operate them, and connect them to the patients. They are responsible for monitoring the patient’s blood gases as well as chart the results. They work with patients from all walks of life and they also work with other health care professionals. The respiratory therapist salary ranges are based on different factors aside from the basic responsibilities of an RT.

An associate’s degree is the minimum educational requirement to become a respiratory therapist. However, a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree may be needed for advancements. All the other states excluding Alaska and Hawaii require their respiratory therapists to be licensed. Respiratory therapy training programs are offered in colleges, universities, vocational schools and medical schools. Most programs offer an associate and bachelor’s degree to prepare the students as advanced respiratory therapists. Associate degree programs often lead to entry-level jobs. The CAAHEP or the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs has accredited 31 entry-level and 346 advanced respiratory therapy programs in 2008. Licensure or certification is offered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). The NBRC offers the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential for those who have graduated from programs accredited by the CAAHEP or the CoARC. The Registered Respiratory Therapist (CRT) is awarded by the board to those CRTS who have graduated from advanced programs and for those who have passed the examinations.

The employment change for respiratory therapists is expected to increase by 21 percent from the years 2008 through 2018. This is much faster than average for all other occupations. The employment growth for respiratory therapists is due to the substantial growth in the elderly population and the advancements in technology. The job prospects for respiratory therapists are expected to be good especially for those with a bachelor’s degree and certification. The median respiratory therapist salary in the United States as of October 2011 is $58,438. With these data, many would surely be attracted with the respiratory therapist career. Not only will you be able to help those who are in need, but you will also have good employment chances and earn a decent respiratory therapist salary.

When Working Gets Tough For Natalie

Natalie is a 32 year old single mom and has been working as a respiratory therapist for the past eight years. She got used to handling babies and elderly and seeing chronically ill patient was just a normal scenario for her. But things have changed when she found out that her two-year old son is suffering from a chronic cardiovascular illness.

‘It was painful and heart breaking to know that the person whom I love the most will be one of my patients’ says Natalie. Everyday seems to be a mixture of motivation and heartbreak for Natalie and earning a respiratory therapist salary for her was way different than before. She also said that life has never been this hard for her since her son got hospitalized in the hospital she’s currently working in. Natalie used to be carefree and treats every work day as a normal day. She doesn’t get affected by her patients’ situation and she usually leaves whatever happened at work in the hospital so she can have a good day for her son. Things got skeptical and complicated for Natalie especially when going to work is not because she needs to earn her respiratory therapist salary, instead she has to work and go to the hospital to attend to her very sick son.

Natalie also said that she used to empathize to the parents of the babies and kids she attends to but now she knows exactly what those parents are feeling. ‘Sympathy is more of what I’m feeling now for the parents of the kids I treat in the hospital. I never knew nor have I even imagined that along my career’s way I would be in the same place as the parent’s of my patients’ Natalie exclaims with a trembling voice. Every morning when I wake up I usually take my time to relax but since my son was admitted in the hospital every single morning is like rush hour for me even if I’m three hours ahead of my duty. Things have been so heavy for me lately and every work day is like nightmare that I need to survive in because I know my child is waiting for me.

It’s been three months since Natalie’s son has been under the intensive care unit of the hospital that she is working for and despite the struggle that the two is experiencing their faith in God is as strong as ever. ‘I’m grateful that I have my son covered by the insurance provided by the hospital I work for because my respiratory therapist salary would never be able to cope with the hospital bills’. Despite all the hardship coming through to Natalie’s path she is strongly believes that her son will be okay and they will be able to go home safe and healthy.