Career Opportunities Abound in Respiratory Therapy Profession
For Immediate Release
IRVING, TX (October 12, 2004) – Everywhere we turn these days we’re confronted by dismal news about the job market. Jobs aren’t growing like they should, jobs are being outsourced to people in other countries, jobs are vanishing quicker than you can say “paycheck.”
In the midst of all this doom and gloom, however, lies a profession that's not only thriving, it’s projected to grow by 38 percent over the next five years, making it one of the fastest growing fields in the country according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The profession is respiratory therapy, and while it might not be as well known as nursing or other health careers, it’s one of the most respected allied health fields around, founded more than 50 years ago by physicians and oxygen technicians seeking to bring new technology to the bedsides of people suffering from respiratory diseases like pneumonia, tuberculosis, asthma, cystic fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
“You'll find respiratory therapists – also known as ‘RTs’ – working throughout health care,” says Bill Dubbs, MEd, MHA, RRT, FAARC, a registered respiratory therapist and director of management and education at the American Association for Respiratory Care. “We’re in emergency departments, ICUs, pulmonary function laboratories, skilled nursing facilities, and even in patients’ homes. Respiratory therapists also work in sleep laboratories.”
Dubbs says the variety of the work keeps things interesting as well. “For most RTs, no two days are alike – one minute you might be helping save a life during a Code Blue and the next you could be giving a child with asthma a breathing treatment or checking a patient on a ventilator.”
Our aging population and the continued prevalence of smoking in our society – two factors that are increasing the number of people with respiratory problems – mean the profession offers a secure future too. “Respiratory therapists are in big demand,” says Dubbs. “Most new graduates have their choice of offers, and opportunities for advancement are also excellent.”
What does it take to become an RT? Dubbs says people can prepare for the profession in as little as two years, although four year degree programs are also available. A good candidate is someone who enjoys science and math and likes working with people.
Many people enroll in RT educational programs right after high school, but increasingly the profession is home to older, career changers as well, who often see the field as a way to make a difference in their communities while ensuring a secure future for their families. Starting salaries in the profession average about $40,000, with senior therapists earning between $50,000 and $60,000 a year.
Where can you learn more about the opportunities available in respiratory therapy? The AARC sponsors a special career section on its web site (www.AARC.org). Visit the front page and click on the “Be an RT” icon to learn more about the field and find an RT educational program near you.
Respiratory Therapists (RTs) are specially trained and licensed respiratory health care professionals assisting physicians in diagnosis, treatment and management of respiratory diseases. RTs provide care in hospitals, outpatient centers, physicians’ offices, skilled nursing facilities, and patients’ homes.
The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) is a not-for-profit, professional organization, consisting of 35,000 respiratory therapists, physicians, and other health care professionals. AARC is dedicated to assisting persons with respiratory diseases receive safe and effective respiratory care.
Suggested Sidebar: So You Want to be a Respiratory Therapist . . .
When most people see someone in a white lab coat working in a hospital or other health care setting, they think they’re a doctor or a nurse. But there are lots of other health care professionals in these facilities as well – and one of the most respected is the respiratory therapist. Here’s a quick look at what it takes to join this dynamic health care field:
- Education: Complete either a two or four year program leading to either an Associate Degree or Bachelor's Degree in Respiratory Therapy.
- Credentialing: Entry-level practitioners earn the Certified Respiratory Therapist credential; advanced level practitioners earn the Registered Respiratory Therapy credential.
- Licensure: Respiratory therapists are licensed or are otherwise legal credentialed in 48 states.
Find out more about respiratory therapy and view a list of educational programs in your area on the American Association for Respiratory Care web site. Go to www.AARC.org and click on the “Be an RT” icon on the front page of the site.
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Contact:
Kris Williams
AARC Communications Manager
(972) 406-4690, Williams@aarc.org
