There is a group of professionals who often go unnoticed, yet their contributions to health care are monumental. These are the respiratory therapists, the unsung heroes who play a critical role in supporting patients with a wide range of respiratory conditions.

Respiratory therapists are specialized health care providers who focus on the assessment, treatment, and management of patients with respiratory issues. From newborns struggling with underdeveloped lungs to elderly individuals battling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), respiratory therapists are there to treat and stabilize them.

Diverse Responsibilities of Respiratory Therapists

Respiratory therapists wear many hats in the health care:

Diagnostic Testing: Respiratory therapists perform various tests to assess a patient’s lung function, such as spirometry, arterial blood gas analysis, and lung volume measurements. These tests help identify respiratory problems and guide treatment plans.

Ventilator, CPAP Management: For patients who require mechanical ventilation, noninvasive ventilation, or CPAP, respiratory therapists are responsible for constantly monitoring and adjusting the devices to respond to changing and evolving conditions of patients.

Emergency Care: In intensive care units and emergency departments, respiratory therapists are often the first responders for patients experiencing respiratory distress. They provide immediate interventions, such as administering oxygen therapy or assisting with intubation, to stabilize the patient’s condition.

Interviewing Patients and Conducting Exams: Respiratory therapists evaluate patients’ respiratory conditions. They interview patients, gather medical history, interpret X-rays, and perform physical examinations of the chest and lungs to determine the appropriate course of treatment.

Consulting with Physicians: Based on their evaluation of the patient, respiratory therapists collaborate with physicians to recommend changes in therapy or adjustments to the treatment plan. Their expertise and observations are invaluable in guiding the patient’s care.

Analyzing Specimens: Respiratory therapists analyze breath, tissue, and blood gas samples to measure oxygen levels and other important gases. This data helps them monitor the patient’s condition and make informed decisions about their care.

Patient and Family Education: Respiratory therapists play a crucial role in educating patients and their families about lung diseases and respiratory conditions. They teach patients self-care techniques, medication management, and strategies to maximize their recovery and quality of life.

Being a Respiratory Therapist

University of Missouri Health put together the following introduction to what respiratory therapists do and where they work. The university was among the first to establish a baccalaureate degree in respiratory therapy and runs one of the most successful RT programs in the United States.

Widespread Impact Across Health Care Settings

Respiratory therapists are a versatile and essential part of the health care team, working in diverse settings—from emergency air transportation and ICUs to home and long-term care facilities.

In hospitals, respiratory therapists are on the frontlines, administering breathing treatments to individuals with asthma, COPD, and other respiratory illnesses. In ICUs, respiratory therapists keep critically ill patients alive by sampling blood gas, monitoring oxygen saturation and ventilation, and stabilizing patients. Those patients may also suffer from various heart conditions and/or be in isolation rooms due to highly pathogenic infections.

During emergency situations, respiratory therapists are often the first responders, rushing to provide stabilizing, life-saving treatments to patients in acute respiratory distress. Their skills are equally invaluable in operating rooms, where they work hand-in-hand with anesthesiologists to monitor and maintain patient breathing throughout procedures.

Beyond the hospital walls, respiratory therapists bring their specialized knowledge and care to patients in their own homes. They conduct regular checkups, ensure patients have the necessary equipment and resources, and work to prevent costly and traumatic hospital readmissions.

The scope of a respiratory therapist’s practice also extends into specialty areas. In sleep laboratories, they assist in diagnosing disorders like sleep apnea, while in skilled nursing facilities and pulmonary rehabilitation programs, they help older adults breathe easier and reclaim their quality of life.

Respiratory therapists are also integral members of outpatient care teams, performing pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and providing patient education in doctors’ offices. Their expertise is equally sought after in asthma management programs, where they educate children and adults strategies for controlling chronic conditions.

For those looking to improve their respiratory health, respiratory therapists can be found guiding smoking cessation efforts and supporting individuals through that challenging process. And in the realm of emergency response, these clinicians ride alongside first responders in air transport and ambulance programs, delivering immediate care to those in crisis.

Respiratory therapists also play a crucial role in long-term care planning, working as part of case management teams to develop comprehensive strategies for managing patients’ respiratory needs.

Acute Shortage of Respiratory Therapists

The United States faces a critical shortage of respiratory therapists, a specialized health care profession that plays a vital role in caring for patients with respiratory illnesses and conditions. This shortage has significant implications for the health care system’s ability to provide timely and effective care.

According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for respiratory therapists is projected to grow by 13 percent between 2023 and 2033–significantly outpacing the average growth rate for all occupations. In 2033, there will be 151,400 positions for respiratory therapists.

However, the supply of new respiratory therapists entering the workforce has failed to keep pace. A 2022 AARC survey found that 88% of respiratory therapy departments had vacancies, with an average of 4.8 openings per department. This shortage is particularly acute in certain regions, such as the Midwest and South, where some hospitals have had to turn away patients due to a lack of available respiratory therapists.

By 2030, more than 92,000 respiratory therapists are projected to leave the profession (including retirement), according to the NBRC. Enrollment in respiratory therapy education has also fallen by 27 percent since 2010, the NBRC adds.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the respiratory therapist shortage, as these health care workers have been in high demand to care for patients with severe respiratory complications. Between 2019 and 2020, vacancies for RTs increased by 31 percent.

The pandemic also took an unprecedented toll on health care workers. Emotional exhaustion and burnout in health care workers were significant even before the pandemic. They worsened during the pandemic, according to a three-year study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Respiratory therapists were no exceptions. In a survey by the Journal of Respiratory Care, 79 percent reported varying levels of burnout during the pandemic. Staffing shortage was one of the reasons for the burnout, creating a cycle of attrition that persists today.

To address this critical shortage, health care networks and educational institutions are joining forces to implement comprehensive strategies to attract, train, and retain respiratory therapists. Indiana University Health was able to double their new hires by carefully tweaking their recruitment strategies as well as offering incentives.

Other health care networks are also offering combinations of incentives, including $40,000 in scholarship or sponsorship. Sign-on bonuses have also become a trend with Lehigh Valley Health Network, in Pennsylvania, offering $30,000 for qualified candidates. Screenshots of various health systems below show Northwestern Medicine offering $20,000, Carilion Clinic $20,000, Ochsner Health $25,000, and Lehigh Valley Health $30,000.

The Essential Role of Respiratory Therapists

Respiratory therapists play a critical yet often overlooked role in health care. Despite their vital contributions to patient care, they are sometimes overshadowed by other medical professionals. Yet their impact is undeniable.

Respiratory therapists are essential members of the health care team, collaborating closely with physicians, nurses, and others to provide specialized respiratory care. Their expertise in managing respiratory distress can mean the difference between life and death for critically ill patients. And by helping patients with chronic respiratory conditions effectively manage their symptoms, respiratory therapists dramatically improve quality of life while also reducing the burden on the health care system.

Celebrating the Unsung Heroes

As our health care landscape continues to evolve, it’s more important than ever that we recognize and celebrate the invaluable work of respiratory therapists. These dedicated professionals are the unsung heroes who tirelessly advocate for their patients, delivering compassionate and highly skilled care day in and day out. They deserve our utmost appreciation.

Let’s take a moment to honor and recognize the respiratory therapists in our communities and acknowledge the vital role they play in supporting the health and wellbeing of patients across the spectrum of care.