What Does a Respiratory Therapist Do? | A Day in the Life (2024)

Respiratory therapists spend their career focused on something that many of us take for granted — breathing. Respiratory therapists are integral members of the healthcare team who specialize treating and caring for patients with breathing difficulties.

From managing ventilators to conducting diagnostic tests, they play a crucial role in helping patients breathe easier and improving their quality of life. If you enjoy working with technical equipment and love working directly with people, becoming a respiratory therapist (RT) may be the right path for you.

Wondering what a respiratory therapist does each day on the job? Here’s a glimpse into an RT’s day-to-day to help you better understand their responsibilities.

What Is a Typical Day Like for a Respiratory Therapist?

As is true for many healthcare roles, a respiratory therapist’s duties vary greatly so no two days look exactly the same. The specifics of an RT’s day will also depend on the healthcare setting where the RT works. RT workplaces include¹:

• Hospitals
• Outpatient care centers
• Skilled nursing care facilities
• Home healthcare
• Physician offices

An RT may start their workday by checking in with the RT who worked the previous shift, catching up on how/if patients’ conditions changed while they were off shift. In fact, a major part of an RT’s duties involve communicating with other members of the healthcare team (registered nurses, other RTs, physicians, surgeons, medical assistants, etc.), patients, and patients’ families. Top Responsibilities RTs have a wide range of responsibilities that span emergency care, record maintenance, explaining treatments, and more. The particular duties an RT performs on any given day will depend on the patient’s needs.

Top Responsibilities

RTs have a wide range of responsibilities that span emergency care, record maintenance, explaining treatments, and more. The particular duties an RT performs on any given day will depend on the patient’s needs.

Here is a noncomprehensive list of RT job duties from Occupational Information Network (O*NET) website:

• Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Monitor patient's physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gasses, or blood chemistry changes.
• Set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators.
• Work as part of a team of physicians, nurses, or other healthcare professionals to manage patient care by assisting with medical procedures or related duties.
• Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.
• Read prescriptions, measure arterial blood gasses, and review patient information to assess patient condition.
• Relay blood analysis results to a physician.
• Inspect, clean, test, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment.
• Explain treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.

To succeed in their roles, RTs need to possess strong active listening, critical thinking, monitoring/assessment, and communication skills.

Types of Equipment RTs Use

Respiratory therapists need to know how to properly use a number of different tools and equipment, including:

• Arterial blood gas monitors
• Flow sensors or regulators or components
• Internal positive pressure breathing IPPB machines
• Oxygen tanks
• Medical nasal cannulas
• Nebulizers
• Pulse oximeter units
• Respiratory humidifiers or vaporizers
• Spirometers

How Do You Become a Respiratory Therapist?

If you’re excited by the possibility of working as an RT, check out the ACC career guide on how to become a respiratory therapist in California. Here’s a quick rundown on what’s required to become an RT in CA:

• Complete a Respiratory Therapist program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)
• Obtain your Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) license from the Respiratory Care Board (RCB) in California
• Earn your Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential by passing the two National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) exams

Start Your Journey With a Respiratory Therapist Program

Interested in pursuing a career as a respiratory therapist? ACC offers a Respiratory Therapy program that lets you earn your associate degree in as little as 20 months.

ACC’s RT program is offered at our three campuses in Los Angeles, Ontario, and Orange County (Anaheim). The program is blended, combining online coursework with in-person
instruction that provides greater flexibility for students. With 720 clinical hours required, you’ll hone your skill set with hands-on training and real-world experience.

Learn more about our Respiratory Therapy program and apply today!

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