Respiratory Therapy Programs

What do you learn in campus and online respiratory therapy programs? Respiratory therapists, or respiratory therapy technicians who have completed proper training can diagnose and administer respiratory care to patients with breathing and cardiopulmonary conditions.

Respiratory therapists also learn about working with pressurized gases, and students learn about safety precautions for hazardous materials and equipment. Learn more about different accredited degree programs such as BS in Respiratory Care at Grand Canyon University. Depending on the course track, respiratory therapy programs train students to become respiratory therapists, neonatal-pediatric specialists, respiratory therapy technicians, pulmonary function technologists in addition to health care management with additional training and experience. Students in an accredited online respiratory therapy degree programs learn various therapeutic and diagnostic procedures, implementation of various tests, and care of equipment. They study patient assessment and care, and cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, CPR, and first aid techniques.

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Selected Respiratory Therapy Programs

Grand Canyon University

• BS in Respiratory Care

Stevens-Henager College

• AS in Respiratory Therapy
• BS in Respiratory Therapy

Selected Campus Respiratory Therapy Programs

Grand Canyon University

Apollo College

San Joaquin Valley College

Concorde Career College

Kaplan College

Respiratory Therapy Education and Training

Respiratory therapists are required to complete either 2-year associate's degree or 4-year bachelor's degree in most respiratory therapy programs. Upon graduation, you would take a national exam to become a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT). After passing this exam, you can choose to take two additional tests to become a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).

Respiratory therapy courses include the sciences, for example human anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, physics, mathematics, chemistry, microbiology, and pharmacology. Respiratory therapy courses also include patient assessment and diagnostic procedures.

Respiratory Therapy Careers

Respiratory therapists work with all patients, young and old, with a variety of breathing complications. This includes working with premature babies born with lungs that are not fully developed and elderly patients who have various lung and heart conditions. They work with patients who have conditions such s asthma, emphysema, pneumonia, bronchitis, smoke or chemical inhalation, drowning, cardiac arrest, stroke, and shock. A primary goal is to ensure that their patients maintain sufficient oxygen levels. Respiratory therapists generally work under supervision of a physician who may charge them with responsibilities like therapeutic treatments and diagnostic procedures.

Most respiratory therapists work in hospitals, nursing homes, home care agencies and respiratory therapy clinics. They are relied upon in emergency centers where people are in need of immediate care. Respiratory therapists tasks include:

• Testing patients for lung abnormalities
• Setting up and monitoring ventilator equipment
• Assisting patients with rehabilitative exercises
• Measuring patients' lung capacity

Expected Salary and Projected Career Growth

The annual respiratory therapy salary ranges from $32,000 to $58,000 in the United States. The median annual income is around $47,000 annually.

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics propose that the career prospects in respiratory therapy are favorable, and the job market for respiratory therapy technician is expected to grow. This growth is facilitated by the rapidly increasing middle-aged, baby-boomer, and elderly population and resulting increase in cardio-pulmonary diseases. In addition, improved neo-natal care for respiratory therapists to work with with infants with heart and lung complications.