Respiratory Care Programs

About the Profession

Respiratory care is a profession that promotes cardiopulmonary health and function in people with heart and lung abnormalities or disease. Newborn, pediatric, adult, and elderly patients are treated for a wide range of problems. They range from infant respiratory distress syndrome, trauma and cardiopulmonary arrest to conditions brought on by shock or post-operative surgical complications. They also include respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, asthma, cystic fibrosis, chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

The respiratory care practitioner is a member of the patient's healthcare team. This may be in medical centers, skilled nursing facilities, outpatient rehabilitation programs, physician offices or in-home care

Many are involved in research and development of innovative care and equipment. They are effective communicators and compassionate caregivers possessing an awareness of cultural sensitivity and diversity. They have leadership roles in patient education, wellness intervention, and development of respiratory care plans. Respiratory care professionals apply critical thinking skills in cardiopulmonary diagnostics. They also perform patient assessment to optimize decision making and delivery of patient care. Today, there is a greater demand for educated, skilled respiratory care practitioners. We are in a time of technology, a growing elderly population, and patient increase in asthma and chronic lung disease. 

Advances in respiratory medicine, technology and healthcare have created a need for better educated respiratory care practitioners with diverse abilities. Research from the National Board for Respiratory Care reveals employers now expect higher skill levels from respiratory education program graduates. Graduates need better critical thinking and problem solving skills and stronger verbal and written communication skills as well as computer literacy.

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