Respiratory Therapist

1
Respiratory Therapist
Its Your Choice...
Choose to care!
Promoting Health Careers in Mississippi A
division of Mississippi Hospital Association
2
Position Responsibilities

• Respiratory therapists evaluate, treat, and care
  for patients with breathing disorders. They test
  the capacity of patients lungs and analyze
  oxygen carbon dioxide concentration.
• They also measure the patient's potential for
  hydrogen which indicates the acidity or
  alkalinity levels of the blood. Lung capacity is
  measured by having the patient breathe into an
  instrument that gauges the volume and flow of
  oxygen during inhalation and exhalation.
• By comparing the readings with the norms for the
  patient's age, height, weight and sex, a
  respiratory therapist can determine whether lung
  deficiencies exist.
• They are also responsible for drawing blood
  samples to test patients' carbon dioxide and pH
  levels.

3
Work Environment
Five out of every six respiratory therapists work
in a hospital setting. However, you will also
find respiratory therapists in physician offices,
nursing homes, home use respiratory equipment
suppliers and in respiratory clinics.
4
High School Preparation
High school students interested in a career in
respiratory therapy should take courses in
biology, health, mathematics, chemistry physics,
English, computer skills, geometry, emergency
medical technology and health occupations/
medical professions education.
5
College Requirements
There are two credentialing levels for
respiratory practitioners. They include
certified respiratory therapy technician and
registered respiratory therapist. The certified
respiratory therapy technician generally
graduates after a one-year certificate program.
This classification administers general
respiratory care and may assume clinical
responsibilities or specific treatments. The
registered respiratory therapist generally
graduates from a two-year Associate Degree
program. They must then take a national
examination to become registered. Students
interested in respiratory technology should
contact schools for information on admission and
course of study.
6
Educational Institutions
Copiah-Lincoln CC Natchez Campus 30 Campus Drive
Natchez, MS 39120 Phone [phone] Hinds
CC Nursing/ Allied Health Center 1750 Chadwick
Dr. Jackson, MS 39204 Phone (601)
372-6507 Itawamba CC Fulton Campus 602 West Hill
St. Fulton, MS 38843 Phone (662)
862-3101 Meridian CC Meridian Campus 910 Hwy. 19
North Meridian, MS 39307 Phone [phone]
MS Gulf Coast CC Jackson County Campus P.O. Box
100 Gautier, MS 39553 Phone (228)
497-9602 Northeast MS CC Booneville Campus 101
Cunningham Blvd. Booneville, MS 38829 Phone
[phone] Northwest MS CC DeSoto
Campus 5197 WE Ross Parkway Southaven, MS
38671 Phone [phone] Pearl River
CC Forrest County Vo-Tech 5448 US Hwy 49 South
Hattiesburg, MS 39401 Phone [phone]
7
Salary Range
Average Annual Salary--36,960 Salary
Range--22,360 to 61,300
8
Career Outlook

• Job opportunities for respiratory therapists are
  expected to grow between 21 - 35 over the next
  10 years.
• They will experience job growth faster than the
  average for all occupations in the United States.
  
• This job growth is due in part to the aging of
  the baby boomer generation, which has increased
  the number of individuals in the middle age to
  elderly portion of the population. This age
  group is more likely to suffer illnesses that
  affect heart and lung functions.

9
Professional Organizations
American Association of Respiratory Care 11030
Ables Lane Dallas, TX 75229 Phone (972)
243-2272 Fax [phone] or Fax (972)
484-6010 E-mail info_at_aarc.org Web
www.aarc.org The National Board of Respiratory
Care 8310 Nieman Road Lenexa, KS
66214-1579 Phone [phone] Fax (913)
541-0156 E-mail nbrc-info_at_nbrc.org Web
www.nbrc.org
Mississippi Society for Respiratory Care P.O. Box
5152 Jackson, MS 39296 E-mail
feedback_at_msrcweb.com Web www.msrcweb.com
10
MHA Health Careers Center 6425 Lakeover Road
(39213) P.O. Box 16444 Jackson, MS
39236-6444 Phone [phone] Fax (601)
368-3200 www.mshealthcareers.com
A division of Mississippi Hospital Association