Most respiratory therapists work in hospitals, treating patients with lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which includes asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis and bronchiectasis. They also treat patients who have pneumonia and other chronic but rarer diseases such as cystic fibrosis and pulmonary fibrosis.
But their work isn't limited to hospitals or one particular patient population. They may also work in pulmonary function laboratories, sleep disorder clinics, nursing homes, for home medical equipment companies and in the military. In addition to administering treatments, respiratory therapists teach patients and their families about the disease, how to use equipment and medication.
One job, many settings
Curt Merriman has been a respiratory therapist for 29 years and has worked in a variety of settings. Currently with CORE Respiratory Services, Lakeville, Merriman divides his time among acute-care hospitals in pulmonary function laboratories, pediatric and general care as well as pediatric intensive care, adult general care and adult critical care.
"One of the things that is a draw to the profession is that there is a wide variety of things you can do and types of patients you can take care of," he says. "It doesn't have to be the same thing each and every day."
Even in the same setting, every day can be different, according to Esther Herbert, a respiratory therapist who has worked for 20 years at Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare in St. Paul. In addition to working with children who have disabilities at Gillette, Herbert also works with pediatric trauma patients who are first taken to Regions Hospital's Emergency Department before transfer to Gillette.
"I really like working with little kids," she says. "You get kind of close to the families because you see them often and there's a lot of teaching involved."
New equipment, more education
