As a Respiratory Care practitioner, you'll help patients promote optimum cardiopulmonary function and health, including the prevention, identification and treatment of acute or chronic dysfunction of the cardiopulmonary system.

Respiratory care providers also address breathing and other cardiopulmonary disorders for patients of all ages. Issues you could be treating include asthma, emphysema, pneumonia, cardiovascular disorders and trauma.

In the hospital setting, your role could provide care and life support to patients in the emergency room, intensive care units, general hospital areas, the pulmonary diagnostics laboratory, disease and sleep disorder settings and rehabilitation.

Respiratory Therapy Specializations

• pulmonary rehabilitation
• neonatology
• adult critical care
• management
• education
• sleep disorders
• cardiopulmonary diagnostics
• hyperbaric oxygen therapy

The future for respiratory therapists is bright with employmentexpected to grow, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

• Respiratory therapist employment projected to grow 23% 2020 to 2030
• Continuing growth in respiratory technology
• Median salary of $29 per hour