Respiratory Therapy: A Patient Care Career Path

Becoming a PA is a great goal, but it is not the only allied health career that gives you real one-on-one time with patients. The PA Platform has always aimed to expose people to different healthcare paths, and respiratory therapy is a wonderful option for anyone who wants to make a meaningful impact.

A respiratory therapist (RT) is a healthcare practitioner with advanced knowledge of the cardiopulmonary system: how it works, the diseases that affect it, and how to treat them. If you have ever been in the hospital, you have probably seen an RT at work without realizing it. RTs provide oxygen and aerosol therapy (breathing treatments), perform physical exams, and manage mechanical ventilators and other life support machines. The word intubation got a lot of attention in recent years, and in many cases RTs are the ones performing those critical procedures. The role demands strong critical thinking, communication, and clinical assessment, often in high-pressure situations.

RTs work in a wide range of settings. On the outpatient side, that includes home care, physician offices, clinical research facilities, pulmonary rehab, and sleep labs (polysomnography). In the hospital you will find them in the emergency department, on the floors, in intensive care units, in pre-operative and post-operative units, and in neonatal and pediatric units.

When I had my daughter, I remember the RTs standing ready in the corner in case of an emergency during my C-section. There was a respiratory therapist for both me and my daughter, and I spotted the tiniest endotracheal tube for babies, not much bigger than a straw, that thankfully we did not need. RTs can also become travel or transport therapists, and an advanced degree opens doors to academic, leadership, simulation education, and ventilation specialist roles. A graduate degree lets your options reach well beyond the ER and critical care.

Much like PAs, RTs are in high demand, with the profession projected to grow 23% by 2030 per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. While associate and bachelor's level RT programs exist, a graduate degree is becoming the future hiring standard, and Jacksonville University runs one of only nine graduate respiratory care programs in the country.

The MSRC program at Jacksonville University shares admissions requirements similar to PA school given how competitive it is. You will need a completed bachelor's degree, a statement of intent, a letter of recommendation, and an interview. As with PA school, your bachelor's can be in any area that fulfills the prerequisites, many of which overlap with PA prerequisites: algebra, chemistry, human anatomy and physiology, microbiology, physics, psychology, and statistics. The two-year program splits into didactic and clinical phases. Year one covers the fundamentals of identifying, preventing, and treating cardiopulmonary dysfunction in depth, while year two focuses on clinical skills and prepares graduates for board exams and state licensure.

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Respiratory therapy is a meaningful, hands-on patient care career that deserves a spot on your list of options, whether as a path of its own or a way to gain experience. If breathing and acute care fascinate you, it is well worth a look. Reach out to programs like Jacksonville University with your questions, and keep exploring the path that fits you best.