Breathe Easier with Respiratory Therapy |
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March 28, 2006
By Sonja Albrecht
sonja.albrecht@healthcare-programs.com
Healthcare Programs Columnist
Breath is life. No one is more conscious of this than patients with cardiopulmonary conditions such as emphysema and asthma. As a respiratory therapist, you could help these patients in their life-and-death struggle to breathe.
Respiratory Therapy in Action
Patients with cardiopulmonary disorders such as chronic asthma, emphysema, and cystic fibrosis depend on respiratory therapy for relief and treatment. These respiratory disorders are chronic and require regular therapy procedures. This is where the respiratory therapist comes in. The therapist is involved at every stage of treatment, from diagnosis to acute care to regular therapeutic check-ups. Under the supervision of a physician, the respiratory therapist evaluates the patient, runs diagnostic tests, and administers oxygen therapy.
A respiratory therapist's job is divided between managing and carrying out the patient's care plan. The care management aspect of the job requires coordination with the physician and other healthcare providers to ensure that an ongoing schedule is in place for regular outpatient treatment. The respiratory therapist makes sure all the details are in place: appointments scheduled, equipment monitored and maintained, the patient properly educated in self-care, and more.
The technical aspect of respiratory therapy involves regular blood and lung capacity tests. The therapist monitors the oxygen, carbon dioxide, and pH level of the blood. If the levels are abnormal, the therapist determines treatment; possible therapies include oxygen masks, chest physiotherapy, and aerosol medications. Cystic fibrosis patients, for example, gain relief from chest procedures that remove mucus from the lungs.
Learning to Breathe
Patients with respiratory disorders have to learn to breathe all over again; as a respiratory therapist, you can guide them through this difficult but crucial process. To do so, you'll need formal training from an accredited respiratory therapy program. An associate degree is the minimum qualification, but advanced or continued training is also advisable. The respiratory therapy curriculum includes basic science courses, therapeutic and diagnostic procedures and tests, and proper use of respiratory equipment.
Once you've completed the degree and fulfilled your state's licensing requirements, you'll be able to restore your patients to the most basic function of life: simply breathing.
Source
"Respiratory Therapists," Bureau of Labor Statistics
About the Author
Sonja Albrecht works as a writer and editor for an online media company. She has also taught college writing and completed a Ph.D. in English.
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