Respiratory care practitioners work to promote optimal lung and heart health. They care for newborns, children, and elderly patients with cardiopulmonary issues. Respiratory care practitioners apply scientific principles to prevent, identify, and treat acute or chronic lung and heart conditions. They perform procedures like oxygen therapy and ventilator operation to evaluate, treat, and manage patients with respiratory disorders in various healthcare settings like hospitals and patients' homes. The field is growing due to an aging population and advances in treatment for lung diseases.

1. Introduction to the Course:
What is Respiratory Care?

2. What is Respiratory Care?
Respiratory Care is the health
profession that specializes in the
promotion of optimum cardiopulmonary
function and health.

3. What is Respiratory Care? cont.
Respiratory care practitioners care
for newborns, children, and elderly
with heart and lung problems.

4. What is Respiratory Care? cont.
Respiratory Care Practitioners (RCP)
apply scientific principles to prevent,
identify, and treat acute or chronic
dysfunction of the cardiopulmonary
system.

5. What Do Respiratory Therapists
Do?
 Respiratory therapists:
 Apply critical thinking
 Apply patient/environment assessment skills
 Apply evidence-based clinical practice skills
 Develop and implement effective care plans
 Apply patient-driven protocols and clinical pathways
 Implement disease management programs
 Perform therapeutic and diagnostic procedures

6. Respiratory therapists have an in
depth knowledge of:
 Cardiopulmonary physiology and pathophysiology
 Patient assessment and cardiopulmonary diagnostics
 Pulmonary disease
Advanced life support and critical care
 Pharmacology

7. Respiratory Care is focused on:
 Prevention
 Assessment
 Treatment
Management
 Control
 Diagnostic evaluation
Education and care for patients with heart and lung problems

8. What Do Respiratory Therapists
Do?
In summary:
Respiratory Therapists work to
evaluate, treat, and care for patients with
lung and heart disorders.

9. What Breathing Disorders Do
Respiratory Therapists Treat?
 Asthma
 Bronchitis
 Emphysema
 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
 Cystic Fibrosis
 Chest Trauma
 Pneumonia
 Neonatal diseases
 Respiratory distress syndrome

10. What Kinds of Patients Do
Respiratory Therapists Treat?
 Lung disease patients
 Heart patients
 Neuromuscular patients
 Accident victims
 Premature babies
 Children
Adults
 The elderly

11. Where Do Respiratory Therapists
Work?
Acute care hospitals
Diagnostic laboratories
Rehabilitation and skilled
nursing facilities
Patient’s homes

12. Where Do Respiratory Therapists
Work?
 Patient transport services
 Physician offices
 Convalescent and retirement centers
 Educational institutions, including colleges and universities

13. Scope of Practice
 Evaluate :--- Diagnose
 Arterial blood gas analysis (ABG)
 Pulmonary function testing (PFT)
 Clinical assessment
 Sleep disorders ----- such as (Sleep Apnea)
 Ventilation measurements: (Tidal Volume, Pressure, and O2 )
 EKGs and cardiac tests
 Sputum specimens
 Stress and exercise testing

14. Treatment
 Give Oxygen and other gases
 Operate mechanical ventilators
 Give aerosol treatments
 Participate in rehabilitation program
 Artificial airways: Intubation
Smoking cessation programs
 Chest physiotherapy (CPT)

15. Respiratory Therapists Perform
Therapeutic Procedures
 Oxygen administration
 Medication administration
 Secretion management
 Chest physiotherapy
 Lung expansion therapy
 Pulmonary rehabilitation and
disease management
 Smoking cessation

16. Respiratory Therapists Perform
Patient Assessment
Patient Interview:
Cough and sputum
Breathlessness and wheezing
Chest illness
Smoking
Occupational history

17. Respiratory Therapists Perform
Patient Assessment
 Physical Assessment
 General appearance
 Vital signs
 Chest inspection
 Breath sounds
 Percussion / palpation
 Bedside assessment of cardiopulmonary function
(SpO2, Peak Flow, FEV1, VC, IC)
 Respiratory Care Plan Development & Implementation

18. Where to work
 RT students gain experience in a variety of areas:
 Medical and surgical areas of the hospital
 Intensive care units (adult, pediatric, neonatal)
 Emergency room
 Patient transport
 Pulmonary rehabilitation and disease management
 Cardiopulmonary diagnostics (pulmonary function testing,
sleep lab, exercise testing, invasive and non-invasive
cardiology)
 Outpatient clinics and physician’s offices
 Home care

19. Working Conditions
 Numbers of hours: 35-45 hrs./week
 Shifts: am ---- pm , pm ---- am
 12 hrs. shift 7 ---- 7 , 7 ---- 7
 8 hrs. shift 7 ---- 3 , 3 ---- 11
11 ---- 7

20. Working Conditions
 Would I work in the weekends!!?
YES
 Patients come to hospital at any time. They need your care.

21. How Does the Job Market Look
for Respiratory Therapists?
There is a steady increase in
demand for respiratory therapists all
over the country.

22. How Does the Job Market Look
for Respiratory Therapists?
The need for RTs is growing due to:
 Large increase in the elderly population
 Environmental impact on diseases such as asthma
 Smoking and COPD
 Technological advances in treatment of cardiopulmonary
disease
 Advances in treatment of premature babies

23. How Much Do
Respiratory Therapists Make?
Salary varies with educational degree and years of
experience.
Supervisors, clinical specialists, and department
managers tend to have higher salaries.

24. Is Respiratory Care For Me?
A career as a respiratory therapist can
provide:
a great job at a good salary
job security
the opportunity to help others
recognition, respect, and appreciation
a sense of accomplishment
A rewarding career for life

25. Is Respiratory Care For Me?
A career as a respiratory therapist can provide:
 The ability to make a difference in peoples lives
 Interesting and meaningful work
 A high tech and exciting career
 the opportunity to become a respected member of the
health professions
A life and breath career for you!

26. Respiratory Care…a Career for
Life
Jazan University