Best Online Respiratory Therapy Degrees (2024)

FAQs

What is the highest degree for respiratory therapist? ›

Respiratory therapists are required to be a graduate and be awarded an associate degree, bachelor's degree, or master's degree from a respiratory therapy education program supported or accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).

As you can see, California offers the highest wages for Respiratory Therapists with New York, Hawaii, Nevada, and Massachusetts offering higher salaries on average as well.

Education Programs

Respiratory therapists graduate from a three- or four-year education program. Typically, three-year programs culminate in a diploma or advanced diploma, and four-year programs culminate in a degree.

From speaking with medical professionals who have gone through both programs, most claim that nursing school was more challenging (for them) than the respiratory therapy program. Again, this is definitely not always the case. It really depends on your location and the program that you're interested in.

Certified respiratory therapists (CRTs) hold an entry-level certification, while registered respiratory therapists (RRTs) hold a more advanced certification. Aspiring professionals can become either a CRT or RRT credential by completing an accredited respiratory therapy program.

They have the opportunity to specialize or treat a broad range of conditions and patients. From the very first breaths of a newborn to emergency transport to helping older patients manage their pulmonary disease, respiratory therapists are there to improve and save lives. It's a challenging and rewarding profession."

Respiratory therapists can find themselves working long hours. You may find yourself working anywhere from eight to thirteen hours a day. If you work these long shifts for a few days in a row you will surely be completely exhausted.

Different colors of scrubs are typically worn by different medical professionals in order to easily identify their role in the hospital. For example, nurses may be required to wear blue scrubs, while respiratory therapists may have to wear green scrubs.

Why should a respiratory therapist pursue a master's degree? Respiratory therapists pursuing a master's degree in the field will obtain a higher level of clinical understanding. Their training includes courses in management to give them the skills to become a leader in the field.

Can you move up as a respiratory therapist? ›

Respiratory Therapist Career Advancement

Licensed therapists can either climb the clinical ladder on the way to becoming a respiratory therapy manager or director of respiratory therapy, or they can help prepare the next generation of RRTs as educators and respiratory therapy program directors.

The main difference between the two is in the types of cases they receive. Respiratory care practitioners are likely to see more intense cases, such as chest infections, pneumonia, or even lung cancer. Respiratory therapists tend to see patients with common or manageable conditions, such as acute asthma.

Respiratory therapy school is hard. The schedule is tight. The material is demanding. The skills lab makes you want to vomit…and if that isn't enough, you also have to survive clinical rotations.

Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists (NOC 3214) usually earn between $23.56/hour and $47.00/hour in Canada.

Respiratory Therapists help and treat heart and lung disease that interferes with breathing. Carrying the stress and responsibility of trying to treat people who are in desperate straits is never easy. They have a work environment stress of 60/100 because of working in hospitals and doctor's offices.

In comparison to RT's, RN's generally have higher salaries, more opportunities for specialization and a wider range of work settings. RN's also have more opportunity for advancement in clinical care.

Registered nurses enjoy a higher average pay than respiratory therapists. The breakdown of average annual salary is as follows: Registered Nurses – $68,450. Respiratory Therapists – $58,670.

Respiratory Therapists do not start IVs or give meds by IV. They do, however, place arterial lines in the radial artery. The line is used to draw arterial blood gases (avoids frequent needle sticks) and to continuously monitor blood pressure.

Respiratory therapists perform endotracheal intubation in many hospitals. Current literature supports this practice, although different training methodologies and skill maintenance practices have been described.

Is the RRT exam hard? ›

The NBRC clinical simulation exam has the distinction of being the hardest exam to pass of all allied health fields. This includes nursing, radiology, physical therapy and laboratory technician board exams.

Injuries and Illnesses

Like other healthcare workers, respiratory therapists may be exposed to patients who have infectious diseases. They also may experience strains or sprains when lifting or turning patients. Because of this, they must take precautions to minimize their risk of illness or injury.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for RTs is expected to grow 23% by 2030. This projection is much faster than the average for all other occupations, including a projected 12% growth, on average, for healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners.

Respiratory therapists who specialize in-home care have the option to establish their own respiratory home care practices to provide respiratory diagnostic services, patient care, education, and other services related to the field while others offer equipment and clinical services.

Work from home respiratory therapy positions focus on assisting patients with breathing issues or other conditions that affect the lungs. A remote respiratory therapist is a telemedicine professional, meaning you use the internet or telephone to communicate with patients and to monitor their condition.

The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) endorses the use of qualified and appropriately educated Respiratory Therapists to insert and perform maintenance of arterial lines.

Also known as respiratory care practitioners, respiratory therapists practice under a physician yet assume all responsibility for respiratory care therapeutic treatments and procedures; Respiratory therapists can make judgments independently such as those caring for patients on life support as well as work with ...

Sometimes it's not to separate specialties, but professions: doctors wear a dark blue, while nurses wear a softer blue, surgeons wear green, receptionists wear gray, technicians wear maroon, and so on.

Black. A very bold and powerful color choice, the black scrubs meaning as seen above is consistent with strength, sophistication, and elegance. By wearing black scrubs, a feeling of formality is part of your presentation.

Purple: This color is most closely associated with royalty, but some consider it to be less professional than other colors. For that reason, purple is a popular choice for medical staff who work with children.

Can respiratory therapists make 6 figures? ›

Respiratory therapists typically make $62,500 per year.

They earn around $30.05 an hour, on average. According to the BLS, there are currently 129,600 respiratory therapists employed in the US today.

It takes about two years to become a respiratory therapist. Within this two-year timeline, you'll complete an associate degree program in respiratory care and the other requirements for licensure.

They typically work 35-40 hour weeks. Depending on where they work, they may work nights, weekends, and holidays, especially if they do direct patient care in hospitals or nursing homes. Shifts can be long, and respiratory therapists typically spend most of their shift on their feet.

Respiratory therapists have more autonomy in treatment and care of patients than technicians, although therapists usually work with a licensed physician. Respiratory therapists also oversee and supervise the work of respiratory therapy technicians.

As a respiratory therapy manager, you supervise respiratory therapy technicians and personnel, oversee department operations, approve and direct budgets, hire and manage employees, and fill in for respiratory therapy technicians as necessary.

The National Board for Respiratory Care offers specialty credentials in adult acute care (the ACCS), neonatal-pediatrics (the NPS), sleep (the SDS), and respiratory diagnostics (the CPFT and RPFT).

Respiratory Therapist Workplaces

Additionally, they perform pulmonary function testing to determine disease state and course of treatment, drawing blood samples and performing chest physiotherapy to remove mucus from the lungs.

Respiratory therapists are certified medical professionals who treat problems with your lungs or breathing. They're not doctors. But they work closely with your doctors to diagnose and monitor your condition.

The Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy (BS RT) is a four-year degree program that provides students with an intensive foundation in evaluating, treating, and caring for patients with cardiopulmonary disorders.

How do respiratory therapists survive school? ›

For education, you typically need to be at a diploma or degree level. Some people begin with a nursing degree and then take graduate work in respiratory therapy. Most of the coursework is heavily science-based, with patient-focused components such as patient management, computers and diagnostic procedures.

California has the highest respiratory therapist salary of $76,450. Maine has the lowest respiratory therapist salary of $40,166. The national average salary for respiratory therapists is $55,617. The national hourly pay for respiratory therapists is $26.74.

From speaking with medical professionals who have gone through both programs, most claim that nursing school was more challenging (for them) than the respiratory therapy program.

Nurse. A nurse is one of the other most stressful occupations (at the end of the day, so many of those in the medical field are). They often do just as much as doctors — especially nurse practitioners — with the addition of grunt work and being responsible for patient care.

Respiratory therapists tend to be predominantly social individuals, meaning that they thrive in situations where they can interact with, persuade, or help people. They also tend to be investigative, which means that they are quite inquisitive and curious people that often like to spend time alone with their thoughts.

Education and Training

There are two levels of respiratory therapist: the certified respiratory therapist and the registered respiratory therapist. Respiratory therapists are required to complete either a two-year associate's degree or a four-year baccalaureate degree.

Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioners (RCPs) regularly perform critical lifesaving and life support procedures prescribed by physicians that directly affect major organs of the body. RCPs provide care directly to the patient in either a hospital setting or the patient's home.

What course is respiratory therapist? ›

Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy

The program is designed to equip student with intensive technical knowledge and skills in evaluating, treating and caring for patients with breathing and other cardiopulmonary disorders.

Respiratory Therapist Career Advancement

Licensed therapists can either climb the clinical ladder on the way to becoming a respiratory therapy manager or director of respiratory therapy, or they can help prepare the next generation of RRTs as educators and respiratory therapy program directors.

The NBRC clinical simulation exam has the distinction of being the hardest exam to pass of all allied health fields. This includes nursing, radiology, physical therapy and laboratory technician board exams.

[color=#231f20]rt is the all-encompassing nickname for respiratory therapists. rrt = registered respiratory therapist. this is a credential awarded by the national board of respiratory care (nbrc). the credential held depends on the exams passed.

Although both health professionals work with breathing disorders, they have very different educational, training and testing requirements. Respiratory care practitioners and registered respiratory therapists often work with the same patients but provide different levels of care.

A Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP), also known as a Respiratory Therapist, is a licensed specialist trained in providing care to patients with heart and lung disorders. There are more than 100,000 RCPs in the United States.

In many institutions, respiratory therapists (RTs) provide intubation in emergencies or elective procedures. The efficacy of RTs performing intubation is well-established, with success rates comparable with those of physicians.

Respiratory therapy school is hard. The schedule is tight. The material is demanding. The skills lab makes you want to vomit…and if that isn't enough, you also have to survive clinical rotations.

As a respiratory therapist, you will find that you will be on your feet all day long. You will have little downtime. Your job will be labor-intensive and will demand a lot of you not only intellectually but also physically. It will be like working out at the gym on some days.

Why do I want to be a respiratory therapist? ›

A Meaningful Career

Respiratory therapists play a critical part in helping patients improve their health and wellness by increasing their lung function and helping them to breathe easier. A deep focus on patient- and family-centered care is integral to the way we practice.