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Respiratory therapists, also known as respiratory care practitioners; evaluate, treat, and care for patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders. Respiratory therapists, practicing under physician direction, assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care therapeutic treatments and diagnostic procedures. They treat all types of patients, ranging from premature infants whose lungs are not fully developed to elderly people whose lungs are diseased.

Employment of respiratory therapists is expected to increase faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2012, because of substantial growth in numbers of the middle-aged and elderly population—a development that will heighten the incidence of cardiopulmonary disease. Career opportunities are therefore very good, especially for respiratory therapists with cardiopulmonary care skills or experience working with infants. Salaries are excellent with the average being $40,220 in 2002.

Although hospitals will continue to employ the vast majority of therapists, you can also expect to work outside of hospitals in home healthcare services, offices of physicians or other health practitioners, or consumer goods rental firms.

East Tennessee State University offers a bachelor of science degree in cardiopulmonary science (respiratory therapy). The program, only one of 40 programs nationally that offers a baccalaureate degree, is an exciting fast paced program of study that you to participate in classroom and clinical experiences giving you the skills you need for this exciting and expanding health field.

For more information, visit our website at http://www.etsu.edu/CPAH/DAHS/Cardiopulmonary_Science/.

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