Respiratory Therapy Technicians

• Keep records of patients' therapy, completing all necessary forms.
• Work with patients in areas such as the emergency rooms, neonatal or pediatric intensive care, or surgical intensive care, treating conditions such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma, cystic fibrosis, or pneumonia.
• Use ventilators or various oxygen devices or aerosol and breathing treatments in the provision of respiratory therapy.
• Follow and enforce safety rules applying to equipment.
• Set equipment controls to regulate the flow of oxygen, gases, mists, or aerosols.
• Collect and analyze arterial blood gas samples.
• Read and evaluate physicians' orders and patients' chart information to determine patients' condition and treatment protocols.
• Prepare or test devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, aerosol generators, or electrocardiogram (EKG) machines.
• Administer breathing or oxygen procedures, such as intermittent positive pressure breathing treatments, ultrasonic nebulizer treatments, or incentive spirometer treatments.
• Assess patients' response to treatments and modify treatments according to protocol if necessary.
• Explain treatment procedures to patients.
• Interview or examine patients to collect clinical data.
• Provide respiratory care involving the application of well-defined therapeutic techniques under the supervision of a respiratory therapist and a physician.
• Perform diagnostic procedures to assess the severity of respiratory dysfunction in patients.
• Clean, sterilize, check, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment.
• Teach patients how to use respiratory equipment at home.
• Recommend or review bedside procedures, x-rays, or laboratory tests.
• Teach or oversee other workers who provide respiratory care services.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Respiratory Therapy Technicians.

• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Respiratory Therapy Technicians.