Respiratory Therapy Technicians
On the Job
Respiratory Therapy Technicians provide respiratory care under the direction of respiratory therapists and physicians. They may be responsible for setting up equipment, recording patient data, or working directly with patients who need care.
Physical Demands
This career requires time standing, walking, or running.
Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:
- Treat acute illnesses, infections, or injuries.
- Treat chronic diseases or disorders.
- Collect medical information from patients, family members, or other medical professionals.
- Examine medical instruments or equipment to ensure proper operation.
- Examine patients to assess general physical condition.
- Test patient heart or lung functioning.
- Inform medical professionals regarding patient conditions and care.
- Record patient medical histories.
- Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment.
- Clean medical equipment or facilities.
Typical Working Conditions
- Frequent contact with others.
- Close physical proximity with other people.
- Working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions.
- Exposure to disease or infections.
- Frequent decision-making.
- Working with a group or team.
- The importance of being accurate or exact.
- Meeting strict deadlines.
- Using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
- Responsibility for others' health and safety.
- Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
- Dealing with unpleasant or angry people.
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.