Major: Respiratory Therapy
CDC/Dr. Thomas Hooten
Like to feel needed? Respiratory therapy may be for you. Think about it: If your lungs stop working for just a minute or so, your life is in danger. And if they’re not up to par, your activity becomes very limited. Respiratory therapists always feel needed.
Respiratory therapy majors learn how the heart and lungs work and how to evaluate them. They learn to use equipment and give drugs to improve oxygen delivery to these vital organs. This training prepares them for work that covers the whole human life span, from newborns to the elderly.
Students of respiratory therapy learn to evaluate and treat people who have heart, circulation, and lung disorders and injuries.
Did You Know?
- Starting in 2006, only students who complete a two-year degree program will be qualified to take the certification exam.
Are You Ready To...?
- Study the effects of disease on the lungs, heart, and circulation
- Learn how to help a variety of patients, from asthma patients to those with life-threatening conditions
- Devote yourself full-time to course work and long shifts interning at a health care facility
It Helps to Be...
A skillful communicator who is organized, analytical, and good with numbers. If you want to help people and you enjoy technology and science, this major could be for you.
College Checklist
- Is the program accredited by the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care?
- As a graduate, can you take the National Registration Exam offered by the National Board for Respiratory Care? What is the first-time pass rate for recent grads?
- Can you choose a concentration such as infant and child care, adult critical care, home care, cardiovascular technology, or pulmonary-function testing?
- How many hospitals does the school use for clinical training, and where are they located?
Did You Know?
- Respiratory therapists use the latest medical equipment, so their work changes as the technology changes.
Course Spotlight
In the clinical practice part of your training, you’ll take care of patients under the supervision of health care professionals. Get ready for a hectic schedule: You’ll spend stressful twelve-hour shifts packed with hands-on experience. You’ll evaluate patients, give medications and oxygen, operate life-support machines, and make sure that patients have open breathing passages.
