Becoming a respiratory therapist may be a great way to jump into the healthcare field. If you're passionate about helping people, caring for patients, and working with other physicians, the respiratory therapy field may be a great fit for you.

There are several skills needed to be a respiratory therapist as well as reasons why these traits are important. Some include:

Compassion: provide emotional support to patients undergoing treatment

Detail Oriented: ensure that patients are receiving appropriate care, treatments, and medication in a timely manner, as well as record information related to patient care

Interpersonal Skills: interact with patients and follow supervising physician's instructions

Patience: work for long periods of time with patients who need special attention

Problem-Solving Skills: evaluate symptoms, consult with other healthcare professionals, and recommend and administer treatments

Science Skills: understand anatomy, physiology, and other sciences to calculate the right doses of medicines

In addition to skills, it's important to know the common duties often expected of a respiratory therapist. Included may be:

• Examining patients with breathing or cardiopulmonary disorders
• Consulting with physicians to develop treatment plans for patients
• Performing diagnostic tests
• Treating patients using various methods
• Monitoring and recording progress in patients
• Teaching patients how to use equipment and take medications

At YTI Career Institute, students can graduate from the respiratory therapy program is as few as 20 months. Graduates earn an associate degree in Specialized Technology and complete the program 100% online with clinical rotations performed at approved sites near them. If you're interested in learning more, check out the program description page. If you're ready to get started, visit the online application portal to apply.