As a Registered Respiratory Therapist and Educator one of the questions I always asked my students was "Why do you want to be a Respiratory Therapist?" For me it was an easy choice. I always wanted to be a doctor but hated school. While in high school I was a candy striper and had a crush on one of the Respiratory Therapists and decided I wanted to do what he did. I loved my job but it did have some downsides.
Today's guest post is by Jillian Gile a writer for An Apple a Day
Respiratory therapy is a quickly growing position in the medical field. As baby boomers age, all areas of medicine are growing, and positions like respiratory therapy are in especially high demand since breathing problems like emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and pneumonia are all very common in the aging population.
If you’ve ever considered a job in the medical field, respiratory therapy might be perfect for you. You get to work one-on-one with patients, see immediate results from your assistance, and have a steady, well-paying job. On the other hand, it is the medical field, and there are certain things you should be prepared for. Here are six questions you should ask yourself before pursuing a respiratory therapy career.
Can You Stand the Sight of Blood?
You won’t be exposed to the blood and gore that a surgical technician deals with everyday, but you will be working in a hospital or clinic, and there will be blood. Some respiratory procedures include drawing blood to test blood pH, which would be indicative of a variety of diseases. If you normally faint at the sight of blood, you might want to think about a different career.
How Squeamish are You?
Again, this is a hospital. There will be blood – and more. Obviously, when dealing with breathing problems, mucous becomes an everyday issue. If you can learn to suppress your gag reflex, you probably will be able to succeed. It is also important that you be able to keep this under wraps, since a patient is not going to want to hear you saying Ewww! Gross!”
Are You Good With People?
Respiratory therapists deal with people, hands-on, all day long. You will be helping babies with breathing problems and elderly people with chronic diseases. You will be teaching individuals of all ages how to use nebulizers and inhalers, and working in the recovery room to help patients come out of anesthesia. This is not a position where you will be simply looking at lab tests, so be sure to practice your bed-side manner.
Can You Handle High Pressure Situations?
Respiratory therapists are often called to the emergency room to assist with heart attack, stroke, or even drowning victims. To put it bluntly, you will be staring in the face of death. Have a serious conversation with yourself about whether you can handle those situations, as this is the precise cause that makes many people drop out of the medical field.
Are You In Good Shape?
Working in a hospital or clinic means that you will be on your feet for long portions of the day – there’s a reason why nurse’s shoes are made to be so comfortable! And because respiratory therapists are often called in on emergency situations, you may have to run from unit to unit, and be quick on your feet. You will also be helping lift, turn, and position patients so that they can breathe easier. You don’t need to be a body-builder, but you might want to start hitting the gym while you’re still in school to make sure you can handle the day-to-day tasks.
Do You Want a Diverse Job?
Think about what kind of job appeals to your personality. If you like the idea of a desk job, where you do the same tasks every single day, respiratory therapy might not be for you. But if you’re looking for an exciting job, with flexible hours and a new challenge every day, it might be the perfect career. Especially if you work in a hospital, you will work different shifts (sometimes overnights and weekends), be on call, and meet tons of new patients every day. Respiratory therapy can be incredibly rewarding – if you’ve chosen the perfect career path to suit your needs.
Jillian Gile is a guest blogger for An Apple a Day and a writer on earning your nursing degree online for the Guide to Health Education.
Today's guest post is by Jillian Gile a writer for An Apple a Day
6 Questions You Should Ask Yourself Before Becoming a Respiratory Therapist
If you’ve ever considered a job in the medical field, respiratory therapy might be perfect for you. You get to work one-on-one with patients, see immediate results from your assistance, and have a steady, well-paying job. On the other hand, it is the medical field, and there are certain things you should be prepared for. Here are six questions you should ask yourself before pursuing a respiratory therapy career.
Can You Stand the Sight of Blood?
You won’t be exposed to the blood and gore that a surgical technician deals with everyday, but you will be working in a hospital or clinic, and there will be blood. Some respiratory procedures include drawing blood to test blood pH, which would be indicative of a variety of diseases. If you normally faint at the sight of blood, you might want to think about a different career.
How Squeamish are You?
Again, this is a hospital. There will be blood – and more. Obviously, when dealing with breathing problems, mucous becomes an everyday issue. If you can learn to suppress your gag reflex, you probably will be able to succeed. It is also important that you be able to keep this under wraps, since a patient is not going to want to hear you saying Ewww! Gross!”
Are You Good With People?
Respiratory therapists deal with people, hands-on, all day long. You will be helping babies with breathing problems and elderly people with chronic diseases. You will be teaching individuals of all ages how to use nebulizers and inhalers, and working in the recovery room to help patients come out of anesthesia. This is not a position where you will be simply looking at lab tests, so be sure to practice your bed-side manner.
Can You Handle High Pressure Situations?
Respiratory therapists are often called to the emergency room to assist with heart attack, stroke, or even drowning victims. To put it bluntly, you will be staring in the face of death. Have a serious conversation with yourself about whether you can handle those situations, as this is the precise cause that makes many people drop out of the medical field.
Are You In Good Shape?
Working in a hospital or clinic means that you will be on your feet for long portions of the day – there’s a reason why nurse’s shoes are made to be so comfortable! And because respiratory therapists are often called in on emergency situations, you may have to run from unit to unit, and be quick on your feet. You will also be helping lift, turn, and position patients so that they can breathe easier. You don’t need to be a body-builder, but you might want to start hitting the gym while you’re still in school to make sure you can handle the day-to-day tasks.
Do You Want a Diverse Job?
Think about what kind of job appeals to your personality. If you like the idea of a desk job, where you do the same tasks every single day, respiratory therapy might not be for you. But if you’re looking for an exciting job, with flexible hours and a new challenge every day, it might be the perfect career. Especially if you work in a hospital, you will work different shifts (sometimes overnights and weekends), be on call, and meet tons of new patients every day. Respiratory therapy can be incredibly rewarding – if you’ve chosen the perfect career path to suit your needs.
Jillian Gile is a guest blogger for An Apple a Day and a writer on earning your nursing degree online for the Guide to Health Education.
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