What is a Certified Respiratory Therapist?

A certified respiratory therapist treats people who have difficulty breathing, such as infants who are born prematurely or people who suffer from asthma. Respiratory therapists usually work in hospitals, though some may work in private doctor's offices, in nursing homes, or for individual clients. To become a certified respiratory therapist in the United States, a person needs to attend college and pass an exam.

An associates degree is the minimum degree needed for a person to become a certified respiratory therapist. Therapists who receive a bachelor's degree or higher may have more opportunity to advance in their field. After completing a degree program, most therapists in the United States take a test in order to become certified. Certification is a requirement in order to practice in 48 states. If a certified respiratory therapist takes an additional exam, she is eligible to become a registered respiratory therapist, meaning she will be able to work in intensive care and in supervisory roles.

Respiratory therapists generally work under a physician and consult the physician regarding a patient's care and treatment. A certified respiratory therapist is able to run diagnostic tests on patients. She can take blood samples and evaluate them to determine the amount of oxygen in a patient's blood as well as the pH of the sample. The therapist then passes the information on to the doctor, who makes the final decision regarding the patient's care.

She can also measure the lung capacity of a patient by measuring the amount of oxygen he takes in while inhaling. The therapist then compares the patient's measurement to standard measurements by age, sex, and size and determines whether or not the patient's lungs are functioning properly. After consulting with a doctor, a respiratory therapist may give the patient an oxygen mask or an aerosol spray containing oxygen. If necessary, a certified respiratory therapist will connect a patient to a ventilator by threading a tube down the patient's windpipe.

Another responsibility of a certified respiratory therapist is to drain mucus from a patient's lungs. Patients who suffer from cystic fibrosis or who have recently had heart or lung surgery may need to have mucus manually removed from their lungs in order to breathe without difficulty. Before removing mucus, the therapist claps on the patient's back and instructs him to cough. The vibrations caused by the clapping help to loosen the mucus.

In addition to treating patients for specific lung problems, therapists may work to educate patients on issues of lung health. Some therapists are involved in "quit smoking" programs while others help to develop rehabilitation exercises for patients with lifelong breathing problems. Other therapists may work on preventing lung diseases or study specific breathing disorders.