Respiratory Therapists
On the Job
Respiratory Therapists treat patients with breathing disorders. They may supervise Respiratory Therapy Technicians. They maintain patient records, and operate equipment that is needed to treat patients.
Physical Demands 
This career requires time standing, walking, or running.
Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:
- Maintain medical facility records.
- Assist healthcare practitioners during examinations or treatments.
- Implement advanced life support techniques.
- Treat chronic diseases or disorders.
- Treat medical emergencies.
- Gather medical information from patient histories.
- Examine medical instruments or equipment to ensure proper operation.
- Test patient heart or lung functioning.
- Determine protocols for medical procedures.
- Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.
Typical Working Conditions
- Having telephone conversations.
- Exposure to disease or infections.
- Working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions.
- Frequent decision-making.
- The importance of being accurate or exact.
- Working with a group or team.
- Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
- Meeting strict deadlines.
- Using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
- Responsibility for others' health and safety.
- Exposure to contaminants (like gases or odors).
This page includes information from the O*NET 24.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Source: You can learn about our data sources in the About Us section.
