Respiratory Therapist

Category: 
Degree type: 
Length of Education: 
2 years
Average Salary: 
$59,710

People can have lung problems for a variety of reasons and respiratory therapists are often who treats them. Respiratory therapists are responsible for working with physicians to develop treatment plans in both emergency and non-emergency settings.

They examine patients, measure lung capacity and oxygen levels, administer treatments. These treatments may include medications or manually vibrating a patient’s rib cage.

In hospitals, they are responsible for connecting patients who cannot breathe on their own to ventilators and monitoring their progress. Respiratory therapists are licensed and receive an associate’s degree.

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