What is a Traveling Respiratory Therapist?

A traveling respiratory therapist is a health-care professional who monitors and treats patients who have breathing problems. He or she visits clients at their homes, assisted living facilities, or nursing homes to check their vital signs and ask about symptoms. In addition, a therapist makes sure that patients' medical equipment is working properly and makes adjustments if necessary. Most traveling respiratory therapists are employed by private home health agencies and hospice organizations, though some are employed by hospitals.

Respiratory therapists have expert knowledge of common cardiopulmonary disorders and the equipment that is used to diagnose and treat them. Professionals also spend time familiarizing themselves with their clients' specific needs to ensure they provide the best possible services. When a traveling respiratory therapist visits a home, he or she talks to the patient and caregivers to see if health conditions have improved, gotten worse, or stayed the same since the last visit. He or she might take vital signs, check blood oxygen levels with a pulse oximeter, and inspect the patient's breathing equipment.

A traveling respiratory therapist works with nebulizers, ventilators, aspirators, spirometers, and other common devices that monitor or control breathing. The therapist may need to change oxygen tanks, fit new hoses, or adjust gauges to keep equipment in proper working order. If a patient has just been fitted with a new device, the traveling respiratory therapist can show him or her how to use it properly and what to do if it malfunctions. Most therapists have regular clients that they visit weekly or even daily, so they generally get to know patients and their needs very well.

A person who wants to become a traveling respiratory therapist usually needs to hold at least an associate's degree in the specialty. Many community colleges and allied health programs offer two-year respiratory therapy training programs. Students learn about different types of cardiopulmonary disorders, diagnostic criteria, and treatment measures. In addition, they get the chance to practice working with the devices and equipment they will use daily in their eventual jobs. After earning a degree, a person can take a national or regional licensing test and apply for entry-level positions.

New traveling respiratory therapists typically work as assistants for several weeks to gain hands-on training. Successful workers can then start working independently with clients. Ongoing experience, continuing education, and an additional licensing exam can open many opportunities for advancement within the field. A professional may become an administrative worker within his or her company or decide to pursue a career in home health nursing.