Employment Outlook

Respiratory therapists are important members of the health care team. They work under the medical direction of physicians with expertise in pulmonary medicine, critical care, pediatrics, care of newborns and rehabilitation, and they also offer services in consultation with the general physician. Therapists assume significant responsibility for patient care and work closely with nurses, physical therapists, radiographers, and social workers. National credentialing exams are given by the National Board for Respiratory Care, which provides career advancement and allows state licensure. Employment opportunities are primarily in hospitals and medical centers, but also may be found in clinics, rehabilitation centers and in-home care. Professional advancement beyond the staff therapist level includes roles in critical care transport, management, rehabilitation and case management, and technical specialization for biomedical industries.

Today, both urban medical centers and rural community hospitals demand highly trained individuals. Respiratory care practitioners work with physicians, nurses and other allied health professionals and accept responsibility and opportunity for decision-making in the care of patients. Advances in technology and changes in the health care system indicate a dynamic future. Currently, the job market is excellent for both new graduates and experienced practitioners.

Patient care services include:

1. Medical gas (oxygen) therapy
2. Managing mechanical ventilators
3. Evaluating lung and heart function
4. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
5. Evaluating vital signs and monitoring oxygen levels
6. Transporting critically ill patients (ambulance and helicopter)
7. Breathing/cardiac retraining and rehabilitation
8. Patient/family education
9. Health promotion (smoking cessation clinics, asthma camps)

Respiratory care is a profession designed with a progressive career ladder, which allows graduates from all programs to advance. Student backgrounds include both recent high school graduates and those with previous college course work or degrees. Advancement opportunities are in leadership roles in management or education, research, and further clinical specialization.

The national average salary of therapists employed in hospitals is $40,000 as determined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (2000 data). In Minnesota, the average salary is $43,000 and the average starting salary for new graduates is approximately $35,000/year ($16.80/hour).

Resources

American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC)
11030 Ables Lane
Dallas, TX 75229-4593
The professional association for respiratory care: career information and a clearinghouse for other information and links regarding other respiratory care organizations.

American Respiratory Care Foundation (ARCF)
972-243-2272
The ARCF is a not-for-profit organization formed for the purpose of supporting research, education, and charitable activities. Specific activities of the Foundation include funding clinical and economic research, education recognition awards, educational activities, literary awards, and scholarly publications.

U.S. Department of Labor and Bureau of Labor Statistics
Occupational Outlook Handbook on the respiratory therapist.

Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)
1248 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX 76021-4244
800-874-5615
All respiratory care programs are approved by the Committee on Accreditation of Respiratory Care Education working under the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). A listing of all approved programs in the United States may be obtained from this organization's Web site.

National Board for Respiratory Care, Inc. (NBRC)
8310 Nieman Road
Lenexa, KS 66214
913-599-4200
The national organization that provides credentialing exams (and for state licensing exams) in the United States.

Minnesota Society for Respiratory Care (MSRC)
Office of the American Lung Association of Minnesota
490 Concordia Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55103-2441
ATTN: MSRC @ State Fair
800-642-LUNG
This society is an affiliate of the AARC. Information may be obtained on local meetings, educational events, state legislative issues, local student scholarships, and the society's newsletter, the Bronchus (available online). The site also provides a Web-based version of this brochure and a "virtual tour" of the work.

Lambda Beta Society
P.O. Box 15945-292
Lenexa, KS 66285
913-541-9077
Honor society for the profession of respiratory care and a source of scholarships.