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RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS
 
Occupation Description:
 
  Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment.
 
Career Video:
  Video Icon  Respiratory Therapists
  Open-captioning or video transcript included for the hearing impaired. Career videos brought to you by CareerOneStop. Copyright © 2017 All Rights Reserved.
 
Typical Tasks:
 
 
  • Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
  • Monitor patient's physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, or blood chemistry changes, and consult with physician if adverse reactions occur.
  • Set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
  • Work as part of a team of physicians, nurses, or other healthcare professionals to manage patient care by assisting with medical procedures or related duties.
  • Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.
  • Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.
  • Relay blood analysis results to a physician.
 
Knowledge:
 
 
  • Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction..
  • Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures..
  • English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar..
  • Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects..
  • Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders..
  • Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment..
  • Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming..
 
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Education & Training:
 
  Associate degree
 
      View Related Programs on Connecticut's Education & Training ConneCTion site
 
Wage Information:
 
 
Region Average Annual Average Hourly Entry Level (hourly) Mid-Range  (hourly)
Statewide $87,887.00 $42.25 $34.57 $36.88 - $43.73
Bridgeport/Stamford $92,554.00 $44.49 $36.65 $38.67 - $48.70
Hartford $88,113.00 $42.36 $34.35 $36.88 - $43.45
New Haven $86,661.00 $41.66 $35.62 $39.64 - $46.22
New London/Norwich $87,145.00 $41.90 $31.40 $33.17 - $49.44
Waterbury $86,805.00 $41.73 $34.35 $36.25 - $43.05
      
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Occupation Outlook:
 
 
Region Employment Average Annual Growth Rate Average Annual Job Openings
2022 2032
State of Connecticut 1,400 1,660 0.1% 100
 
 
Chart of Growth Rate and Annual Openings   Employment in this occupation is expected to grow more slowly than average, and the number of annual openings will offer limited job opportunities.
Key:
  N/A = Not Applicable, ***** = Over $60.00 per hour, ##### = Over $124,821
 
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