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Certified Respiratory Therapist Job Descriptions, Average Salary, Interview Questions

What Does a Certified Respiratory Therapist Do?

Respiratory therapists evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients who have difficulty breathing. They might work with infants who have undeveloped lungs, the elderly with lung disease, or anyone suffering from asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, chronic respiratory disease, COPD, chest trauma, or heart disease. Respiratory therapists work closely with doctors and nurses to develop treatment plans designed to help restore as much natural breathing function in patients as possible.

The role of a respiratory therapist includes interviewing patients, examining them, treating them, and teaching them how to administer treatments on their own. Respiratory therapists are a crucial part of caring for people living with cardio-pulmonary disease and disorders.

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National Average Salary

Certified respiratory therapist salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. To explore salary ranges by local market, please visit our sister site zengig.com.

The average U.S. salary for a Certified Respiratory Therapist is:

$71,270

Certified Respiratory Therapist Job Descriptions

It’s important to include the right content in your job description when hiring a certified respiratory therapist. The following examples can serve as templates for attracting the best available talent for your team.

Candidate Certifications to Look For

  • Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT). This certification is awarded based on graduation from an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or master’s degree program in respiratory therapy education that is supported or accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). After graduation, candidates must sit for the Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) Examination to earn certification.
  • Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRT). Professionals who have earned a CRT credential are awarded the RRT certification after they pass the Clinical Simulation (CSE) Examination, which involves testing real-life situations. The RRT credential is nationally recognized as the standard of excellence for respiratory care professionals.
  • Specialty Certifications. The CRT credential is generally for entry-level professionals. The RRT credential demonstrates that candidates are advanced-level therapists. To advance in their career beyond that, they’ll need a specialty credential depending on the area of respiratory therapy they want to pursue. Some of the certifications available include Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care Specialist (CRT-NPS or RRT-NPS), Sleep Disorders Specialist (CRT-SDS or RRT-SDS), Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist (CPFT), and Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist (RPFT). 

Sample Interview Questions

  • How do you provide emotional support to patients undergoing treatment?
  • How do you ensure patients receive the appropriate treatment and medication on time?
  • How do you minimize errors in your work?
  • How would you rate your problem-solving skills? 
  • Can you give an example of how you evaluated a patients’ symptoms and consulted with other healthcare professionals?
  • How would you motivate an uncooperative patient?
  • What was the most challenging respiratory condition you have treated? 
  • How would you explain a specific respiratory treatment to a scared or anxious patient?
  • Have you ever had to provide emergency assistance to a patient who was in a critical condition? What happened and what did you do?
  • What are the tools used by a respiratory therapist?
  • Explain why aerosol therapy is given.
  • What are important parts of the upper airway of the human respiratory system?
  • What is an anticholinergic?
  • What are the consequences of inadequate humidification?
  • What are five mechanisms for adding humidity to a gas artificially?
  • Why is humidity therapy necessary when supplemental oxygen is given to a patient?
  • What is bronchospasm?
  • What should a patient do if they are having an asthma attack and have no medication?
  • What is Emphysema? What is the treatment for it?
  • What are the typical symptoms of a respiratory system disorder?

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