Respiratory Therapist

What does a Respiratory Therapist do?

The Respiratory Therapist is a specialized healthcare professional trained in working with seriously ill patients. They help care for the heart and lungs, also known as cardio-pulmonary medicine. The Respiratory Therapist performs or reviews lab analyses and makes sure these are accurate. They also stay current on new developments and conduct training and orientation programs for nurses and staff. As required, they may perform the duties of a Respiratory Therapy Technician. These duties can include attaching and monitoring breathing equipment that is on a patient, providing medications, and participating in a care plan according to physicians’ orders.

Discover what it’s like to be a Respiratory Therapy Technician by viewing a short video.

Note: This video has been provided by the U.S. Department of Labor careeronestop website and the actual duties of this role at the University of Rochester may vary.

Minimum education and experience

Associate Degree in Respiratory Care.

Certification upon hire required – either:

• New York State license as a Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician (CRTT) with current registrations;  CRT required within 6 months, or
• certified by the National Board of Respiratory Care as a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT)

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

Knowledge of how to use all respiratory therapy equipment.

Days/hours

For inpatients: hours include days, evenings, overnight, weekends, and holidays. For ambulatory: hours include Monday – Friday and no holidays.

Position locations

Inpatient position include work throughout the entire hospital, such as Cardiology, Medical Surgery, Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, and the Children’s Tower. The Inpatient Respiratory Therapist also supports children and adult transport teams that may need to travel within and outside of New York State. Individuals would not be required to do transport, but could apply to participate on this team.

Ambulatory positions include assignments to a particular area within an ambulatory clinic.

Work environment

Patient interaction in a clinical setting.

• Interdisciplinary Team Collaboration: RTs are integral members of the healthcare team, working closely with physicians, nurses, physical therapists, and other specialists to develop and implement patient care plans.
• Emergency Response: They are often key responders in medical emergencies, such as cardiac arrests, respiratory arrests, and trauma cases, providing immediate airway management and ventilatory support.
• Physically and Emotionally Demanding: The work can be physically demanding, requiring standing, lifting, and moving equipment. Emotionally, RTs often deal with critically ill patients and their families, necessitating strong empathy and resilience.
• Dynamic and Fast-Paced: Especially in critical care or emergency settings, the environment is often fast-paced and requires quick decision-making, adaptability, and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Strict Infection Control: Adherence to rigorous infection control practices, including proper hand hygiene and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), is crucial due to the nature of respiratory care and potential exposure to airborne pathogens.

Pay range

Use the code URC 213 to find the pay range in the General and Clinical University pay ranges section of the University’s Compensation page.

The referenced pay range represents the minimum and maximum compensation for this job. Individual annual salaries/hourly rates will be set within the job’s compensation range, and will be determined by considering factors including, but not limited to, market data, education, experience, qualifications, expertise of the individual, and internal benchmarking considerations.

Possible career pathway

An example of a pathway within this job family at the University of Rochester:

Respiratory Therapist > Respiratory Therapist II > Respiratory Therapist III > Respiratory Therapist IV

URCP Education Partner

• Genesee Community College