Definition of the Profession
Perhaps you are looking for a challenge
where you can be involved in the areas of disease prevention,
cardio-respiratory diagnosis, treatment, management and
rehabilitation of people with lung problems. Respiratory Therapy is
a health care specialty that provides these specialty opportunities.
As a
respiratory therapist, you will enjoy working in a fast-paced
environment where your technical and medical responsibilities will
be matched by a need for good human relations skills.
Practitioners in Respiratory Therapy are involved in a wide variety
of life-saving and life-supporting situations, working side by side
with physicians and others on the health care team. You'll treat
patients ranging in age from newborns to senior citizens. Expertise
in Respiratory Therapy is in great demand and opportunities to
expand your knowledge and skills are great.
Respiratory care practitioners work under the direction of qualified
physicians. Their job frequently involves the administration of
daily treatments to a variety of patients. Using sophisticated
medical equipment, respiratory care practitioners help people with
such lung disorders as asthma, emphysema, pneumonia, and bronchitis.
Respiratory therapists also work as members of the critical care
team in treating individuals who are seriously ill. This may include
computerized life-support technology that will mechanically breathe
for the patient. With the assistance of sophisticated monitoring
devices and techniques, they give around-the-clock care to
individuals who otherwise would not be able to survive
life-threatening conditions.
Respiratory Therapy is an allied health specialty employed in the
treatment, management, control, and care of patients with
deficiencies and abnormalities associated with the cardiorespiratory
system.
It means
the therapeutic use of medical gases, air and oxygen administering
apparatus, environmental control systems, humidification and
aerosols, drugs and medications, ventilatory assistance and
ventilatory control, chest physiotherapy and breathing retraining,
respiratory rehabilitation, assistance with cardiopulmonary
resuscitation, and maintenance of natural, artificial, and
mechanical airways.
Specific
testing techniques are employed in respiratory therapy to assist in
diagnoses, monitoring, treatment and research. This includes
measurement of ventilatory volumes, pressures and flows, and blood
gas analyses.
Respiratory Therapy is a licensed Allied Health Care Profession;
therefore, the demand for employment is high. There are
opportunities for employment as a general therapist or specialized
therapist in critical care, pediatrics, neonatology, rehabilitation
management, skilled nursing facilities, research and education.
Generally, most employment is in the hospital setting.
|
 Grossmont College
8800 Grossmont College Drive
El Cajon, CA 92020
Counseling Office
(619)644-7208
Admissions & Records Office
(619)644-7186 Respiratory Therapy
(619) 644-7448 Email
Respiratory Therapy
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