Bachelors of Respiratory Therapy

Respiratory Therapy Degrees

To become a respiratory therapist, you must hold an associates or bachelors of respiratory therapy. Respiratory therapy is a field in which licensed therapists work with patients who have lung ailments or diseases. Respiratory therapists help with the patient's care running respirators, moderating medicine use, and educating both the patient and family members into how to manage the lung problem and when to call for care. Only those holding a college degree, including bachelors of respiratory therapy degrees, can take the licensing exam and work in this field. It takes four years of college schooling to earn a bachelors of respiratory therapy and courses are heavily linked to math and science.

Biology, physics, and math courses are required to gain your bachelors of respiratory therapy. It is also essential that you complete a number of courses in respiratory therapy practices, ethics, patient relations, CPR, emergency care, children/infant CPR, drawing blood, testing blood for CO2, blood gases, and oxygen levels, using respiratory equipment, and medications that are commonly prescribed for lung ailments like asthma. Most bachelors of respiratory therapy programs require a total of sixty credit hours. You will also be required to pass the state license exam before you can begin working for any health care setting or hospital. An accredited bachelors of respiratory therapy program usually ends with all students taking the licensing exam before graduation.

Interacting with patients is a major portion of any respiratory therapist's job duties. A solid bachelors of respiratory therapy program will provide hands-on courses in dealing with difficult patients, learning to handle emotional family members, and learning to provide enough information without scaring a patient. While this may seem like a difficult skill to master, your bachelors of respiratory therapy program will train you to handle these situations quickly and efficiently. Once you’ve completed your bachelors of respiratory therapy and have your license you can start working immediately.