Deciding to pursue a career in healthcare is probably one of the most important decisions you can make as a person. Of the many roles in healthcare, being a respiratory therapist involves incredible dedication, and is a fulfilling opportunity. Respiratory therapists treat patients who have impaired breathing. This could involve individuals who have asthmatic or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, are in acute trauma, have some sort of infection, or are treating complications from surgery. Respiratory therapists are active members of the medical team in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and clinics; they treat people of all ages, from premature infants to frail elderly patients. Before taking on this role, students need to have a certain degree of schooling and training. Not only the schooling aspect trains the students with anatomy, physiology, and disease management as academic knowledge, but schools prepare students through clinical experience as well. While skilled health careers involve many years of university instruction, respiratory therapy offers an educational experience that has a timeline; systematically scheduled so students are still properly prepared for future credentials. With the right program, students can meet academic and clinical components to obtain qualifications in a health occupation that specializes in an area.
Educational pathway for respiratory therapists
A formal educational program is the foundation for becoming a respiratory therapist. The usual first step is an associate’s degree in respiratory therapy. To work in certain settings, one would need a bachelor’s or possibly a master’s degree before obtaining employment in health care, but respiratory therapy has the tradition of a two-year college education before working. Most graduates opt to start at a community college or technical school offering accredited programs in “respiratory care”. In a respiratory care program, students complete required coursework along with clinical preceptorships. The clinical part of the program is where the student learns how the theories are applied into practice.There has been a considerable push toward more education in the last decade. An associate’s degree is still the minimum requirement in many areas, but more employers are looking to hire candidates with a bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy or a health-related field. A bachelor’s degree program enhances this learning to include disciplines outside of pulmonary care like leadership, research, advanced care techniques, and healthcare management; thereby allowing an individual to potentially hear about advanced positions and learning opportunities. Thus, when considering what education is needed, it is important to weigh the value of short-term options with an associate’s degree compared to long-term career potential with a bachelor’s educational opportunity.
Core coursework in respiratory therapy programs
The educational curriculum of a respiratory therapy program is specifically structured for students to adequately prepare for patient care stresses. Every course whether it is classroom, lab, or clinical, provides students with a combination of practicality plus theoretical knowledge students need in respiratory care. Once students master the basic knowledge, the program will redirect to more specific topics. This structure of learning practical and theoretical knowledge ensures students will graduate with confidence in their technical skills and clinical decision-making.
Clinical training and hands-on experience
All accredited programs involve clinical experiences. Students participate in clinical practicums where they work under licensed respiratory therapists and other healthcare professionals in a real-world setting, such as a hospital, critical care unit, emergency department, or outpatient clinic. Clinical practicums provide students with hands-on experience and the ability to face-to-face care for patients of all ages with various medical issues. Clinical training exposes students to providing treatments with medications, providing mechanical ventilation, performing diagnostic tests, including arterial blood gases, and other similar life-saving methods in the event of an emergency. Clinical training also develops the importance of working relationships and teamwork as respiratory therapists work in very close association with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare members of the team. By the time students graduate, they will have completed hundreds of hours of clinical practice and are familiar with the pace of care required.
Personal skills developed through schooling
In addition to the technical training supplied, the education process provides additional personal skill development. Critical thinking, problem solving, and the ability to maintain composure in stressful situations are developed. Communication is also included, as therapists need to explain therapies to patients and families, and collaborate with physicians and nurses. Compassion and empathy are also learned, as aspiring therapists see firsthand the struggles of patients with severe respiratory issues. While these concepts would not be explicitly studied (as they may, actually, not appear on the syllabus) they develop as a part of the complex process of education through both theoretical / coursework knowledge and through the clinical practice ensuring a fully-fledged educational experience for the new respiratory therapists.
Conclusion
Becoming a respiratory therapist involves rigorous education, but the progression is set up to allow both educational study and clinical experience. Initially in an associate’s degree program, then sometimes a bachelor’s degree program, students master King Henry’s queues on topics such as human biology, advanced respiratory care and therapeutic techniques, and medical computer technology. Clinical practice allows students the opportunity to develop confidence and competence in their care of patients. Accreditation shows that the program holds educational credibility, licensure and certification show that the program is making sure graduates meet professional practice standards.