Looking for a Career in Health Care? Respiratory Therapy Could be the Perfect Choice
For Immediate Release
IRVING , TX (October 3, 2007) —So you want to go into health care. But with so many professions to chose from, which one is right for you?
Respiratory therapists (RTs) from the American Association for Respiratory Care believe their profession may be your best answer, because it combines many of the attributes anyone looking for a health care career would want: the chance to help people in need, work with high tech equipment, and be a valuable member of the patient care team.
“ Respiratory therapists play a huge role in diagnosing and treating patients with breathing problems,” says Ken Thigpen, BS, RRT, director of respiratory care services at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson, MS. “We examine patients, report our findings, and work with physicians in recommending the best course of therapy. We also manage life support systems, respond to emergency situations, and help educate patients and families on how to better care for themselves.”
You'll find RTs in most every health care setting, from hospitals to physicians' offices to patients' homes. Some therapists devote their careers to caring for premature infants and children, while others work with older people in pulmonary rehabilitation programs, or with people trying to quit smoking. Many are also getting into the growing area of sleep testing, working in sleep centers to find out why people are having trouble breathing at night.
Given all the places RTs work and all the responsibilities they have, it's not hard to understand why respiratory therapy is one of the fastest growing health care professions today. “There is a huge demand,” says Thigpen. “The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics noted a few short years ago that there would be a need for 38 percent more of us by the year 2012.”
Salaries reflect this need. Thigpen says the average RT makes about $56,000 per year, and many employers also pay extra for evening and night shift work, and incentives for earning specialty credentials or even for working weekends. “Respiratory therapy is both professionally and financially rewarding,” says the therapist.
How can you become an RT? Educational programs are available in colleges and universities all over the country, where students can work toward either a two year associate's or four year bachelor's degree. This flexible educational entry makes respiratory therapy a great choice for everyone from recent high school graduates to career changers looking to reinvent their work life.
“Many of our students are mature adults looking for a rewarding career where they can make a difference,” says Thigpen. “Whether this is the case, or you're just graduating high school, I would encourage you to go spend a few hours with a therapist at a local hospital and see if our profession is a good fit for you.”
To learn more about the respiratory therapy profession, visit www.aarc.org and click on “How to Be an RT.”
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 42,000 respiratory therapists, physicians, and other health care professionals. AARC is dedicated to assisting persons with respiratory diseases receive safe and effective respiratory care.
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Contact: Beth Binkley
Binkley@aarc.org
American Association For Respiratory Care
9425 N MacArthur Blvd, Suite 100 , Irving , TX 75063
972-406-4657, 927-243-2272
How to Be an RT
Ready to learn more about respiratory therapy and why it might be the right career choice for you? Then visit www.aarc.org and click on “How to Be an RT.” You'll find sections on:
What RTs Do
Where RTs Work
RTs Use High-Tech Equipment
Advancement Opportunities
Employment and Financial Outlook
How to Get Started
Get More Information
You'll also find a link to a list of accredited educational programs, as well as a link to the AARC's Life & Breath video, which provides an overview of the profession in general, plus segments on nine specialty areas in the field
