Respiratory Therapist
Starting Salary
Median Annual Wage
Job Outlook
Annual Job Openings
Most people breathe without a second thought, but some people aren’t so fortunate.
Respiratory therapists are there to treat and care for the individuals who need that extra help. This could include diagnosing lung and breathing disorders and recommending treatment methods; interviewing patients and doing chest physical exams to determine what kind of therapy is best for their condition; consulting with physicians to recommend a change in therapy; analyzing breath, tissue, and blood specimens to determine levels of oxygen and other gases; managing ventilators and artificial airway devices for patients who can’t breathe normally on their own; responding to Code Blue or other urgent calls for care; and educating patients and families about lung disease so they can maximize their recovery.
Durham Tech provides the Respiratory Therapy program for students interested in this type of work. The program consists of classroom instruction, clinical labwork, and clinical practice at local hospitals.
