(Career Asssessments, Exploration & Counselling)
Career: Respiratory Therapists
Job 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.
Job Tasks
Importance %age |
Task Description |
100
|
Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition. |
99
|
Set up and operate devices such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, and aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment. |
98
|
Monitor patient's physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, and blood chemistry changes, and consult with physician if adverse reactions occur. |
98
|
Work as part of a team of physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals to manage patient care by assisting with medical procedures and related duties. |
98
|
Inspect, clean, test and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, ordering repairs when necessary. |
97
|
Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders. |
96
|
Relay blood analysis results to a physician. |
96
|
Determine requirements for treatment, such as type, method and duration of therapy, precautions to be taken, and medication and dosages, compatible with physicians' orders. |
95
|
Provide emergency care, including artificial respiration, external cardiac massage and assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation. |
95
|
Explain treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears. |
95
|
Educate patients and their families about their conditions and teach appropriate disease management techniques, such as breathing exercises and the use of medications and respiratory equipment. |
93
|
Demonstrate respiratory care procedures to trainees and other health care personnel. |
92
|
Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information. |
92
|
Perform bronchopulmonary drainage and assist or instruct patients in performance of breathing exercises. |
88
|
Use a variety of testing techniques to assist doctors in cardiac and pulmonary research and to diagnose disorders. |
86
|
Conduct tests, such as electrocardiograms (EKGs), stress testing, and lung capacity tests, to evaluate patients' cardiopulmonary functions. |
83
|
Make emergency visits to resolve equipment problems. |
82
|
Teach, train, supervise, and utilize the assistance of students, respiratory therapy technicians, and assistants. |
79
|
Perform pulmonary function and adjust equipment to obtain optimum results in therapy. |
Work Activities
Importance %age |
Activity Description |
86
|
Assisting and Caring for Others
|
85
|
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
|
78
|
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
|
74
|
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
|
74
|
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
|
73
|
Documenting/Recording Information
|
70
|
Getting Information
|
70
|
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
|
68
|
Controlling Machines and Processes
|
68
|
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
|
68
|
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
|
67
|
Processing Information
|
67
|
Handling and Moving Objects
|
66
|
Analyzing Data or Information
|
66
|
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material
|
65
|
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
|
64
|
Training and Teaching Others
|
63
|
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People
|
62
|
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
|
60
|
Scheduling Work and Activities
|
59
|
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
|
55
|
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
|
55
|
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information
|
55
|
Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates
|
54
|
Coaching and Developing Others
|
53
|
Performing General Physical Activities
|
53
|
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
|
51
|
Provide Consultation and Advice to Others
|
51
|
Thinking Creatively
|
50
|
Developing Objectives and Strategies
|
50
|
Developing and Building Teams
|
48
|
Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
|
44
|
Performing Administrative Activities
|
44
|
Monitoring and Controlling Resources
|
43
|
Interacting With Computers
|
41
|
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization
|
41
|
Staffing Organizational Units
|
39
|
Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
|
38
|
Selling or Influencing Others
|
38
|
Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
|
37
|
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
|