Jobs / Healthcare / 29-1126.00
Respiratory Therapists
Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment.
- US jobs
- 139,790
- Median wage
- $82,280 a year
- Job family
- Healthcare
Can agents do the work of respiratory therapists?
We read the evidence for the whole job family, Healthcare: Some tasks (no change in 12 months)
Agents complete 20% or more of the tasks (or projects) on a direct benchmark.
Evidence: MedAgentBench, 69.7% of tasks completed.
0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark.
- 13%Train others on health or medical topicsNot measured
- 10%Confer with healthcare or other professionals about patient careNot measured
- 8%Administer emergency medical treatmentNot measured
- 8%Administer diagnostic tests to assess patient healthNot measured
- 6%Monitor health conditions of humans or animalsNot measured
- 6%Maintain medical equipment or instrumentsNot measured
- 5%Assist healthcare practitioners during medical proceduresNot measured
- 5%Collect information about patients or clientsNot measured
Benchmarks for the job family
These cover work in healthcare, not always this occupation's tasks.
Direct evidence
Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.
Also relevant
These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.
Context only
These benchmarks span many occupations, or they test how agents behave. They give context but do not set the step.
Typical tasks
From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.
- Set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
- Monitor patient's physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, or blood chemistry changes, and consult with physician if adverse reactions occur.
- Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.
- Relay blood analysis results to a physician.
- Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
- Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders.
- Work as part of a team of physicians, nurses, or other healthcare professionals to manage patient care by assisting with medical procedures or related duties.
- Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.
- Make emergency visits to resolve equipment problems.
- Determine requirements for treatment, such as type, method and duration of therapy, precautions to be taken, or medication and dosages, compatible with physicians' orders.
- Inspect, clean, test, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, ordering repairs when necessary.
- Explain treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.
Other job titles for this occupation (16)
CRRT (Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Respiratory Therapist) · CRT (Certified Respiratory Therapist) · Diagnostics RRT (Diagnostics Registered Respiratory Therapist) · Infant RT (Infant Respiratory Therapist) · Licensed CRT (Licensed Certified Respiratory Therapist) · Licensed RT (Licensed Respiratory Therapist) · Registered Respiratory Care Practitioner (Registered RCP) · Registered Respiratory Practitioner · Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) · RRT (Registered Respiratory Therapist) · Hospital RT (Hospital Respiratory Therapist) · Inhalation Therapist · NICU RT (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Respiratory Therapist) · Oxygen Therapist · Travel RRT (Travel Registered Respiratory Therapist) · Travel RT (Travel Respiratory Therapist)