Respiratory Therapists

Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Respiratory Therapist

Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT)

Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)

Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP)

Respiratory Therapist (RT)

Staff Respiratory Therapist

Staff Therapist

What is a Respiratory Therapist?

Respiratory Therapists are healthcare professionals who specialize in the assessment, treatment, and care of patients with respiratory and cardiopulmonary disorders. They play a crucial role in the healthcare system, working with patients of all ages—from infants with respiratory distress to elderly individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Their primary focus is on helping patients improve their breathing and overall respiratory health. This profession requires a comprehensive understanding of human anatomy, physiology, and the various technologies utilized in respiratory care, including ventilators and other breathing apparatus.

Education and Training

To become a Respiratory Therapist, individuals typically need to obtain an associate's or bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy from an accredited program. These educational pathways include both theoretical and practical training, covering topics such as cardiopulmonary anatomy, oxygen therapy, and critical care techniques. After completing their education, graduates must pass a national certification exam to become licensed to practice. Continuing education is also essential, as it allows Respiratory Therapists to stay updated with the latest advancements in the field.

Work Environment

Respiratory Therapists work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centers, and home healthcare agencies. In hospitals, they often work in critical care areas, such as the intensive care unit (ICU) and emergency department, where they may assist in life-supporting measures for patients in acute respiratory distress. Outside of the hospital setting, they may be involved in educating patients and families about managing chronic respiratory conditions, as well as providing therapies and equipment for home use.

Impact and Job Outlook

The impact of Respiratory Therapists on patient care is significant, as they help to improve the quality of life for individuals with breathing difficulties. With the growing prevalence of respiratory illnesses and an aging population, the demand for skilled Respiratory Therapists is expected to rise. As a result, job opportunities in this field are projected to grow faster than the average for all healthcare occupations, making it a promising career choice for individuals interested in making a difference in people's lives through respiratory care.

Job Outlook

Projected salary and job growth

$59180.0 - $104480.0

This career will grow rapidly in the next few years.

Finding local jobs...

Assessment

Related assessments and tests

No assessment available.

Related Occupations

Tasks

Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Monitor patient's physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, or blood chemistry changes, and consult with physician if adverse reactions occur.
Set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
Work as part of a team of physicians, nurses, or other healthcare professionals to manage patient care by assisting with medical procedures or related duties.
Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.

Technology Skills

Medical software
Presentation software
- Microsoft PowerPoint 365
Spreadsheet software
- Microsoft Excel 365
Electronic mail software
- Microsoft Outlook 365
Office suite software
- Microsoft 365

Tools Used

Spirometers
Nebulizers
Medical oxygen masks or parts
Arterial blood gas monitors
- Blood gas kits
- Blood gas machines
Flow sensors or regulators or components
- Oxygen flowmeters
- Oxygen regulators

Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Psychology
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

2 Active Jobs in South Africa

Avg Salary: R36,023pm

How to Know if You are Ready to be a Respiratory Therapist in South Africa

Choosing a career in the South African healthcare sector is both a noble calling and a strategic professional move. As the healthcare landscape evolves, the role of a Respiratory Therapist (RT) has become increasingly pivotal. Currently, the market reflects this demand with 1 active job openings and a highly competitive average salary of R36,023pm.

The financial trajectory for this role is particularly encouraging. In early 2024, monthly earnings averaged approximately R31,701.00, but due to the scarcity of these specialised skills, figures have seen a steady month-on-month increase, projected to reach R39,626.25 by December 2024. This upward trend highlights a robust professional environment for those ready to step into the field.

Is Respiratory Therapy Right for Me? (Psychometric Checklist)

Before committing to the rigorous training required, it is essential to assess whether your temperament and natural abilities align with the demands of the intensive care unit (ICU) and general wards. Consider the following traits:

Critical Thinking: Can you remain calm and analytical when a patient’s oxygen levels drop suddenly?
Empathy and Compassion: Are you able to provide comfort to patients and families dealing with chronic or acute respiratory distress?
Technical Aptitude: Do you have an affinity for complex machinery? You will be responsible for managing ventilators and diagnostic equipment.
Manual Dexterity: Are you comfortable performing delicate procedures, such as arterial blood gas sampling or intubation assistance?
Effective Communication: Can you clearly and concisely relay vital information to doctors and nurses in a high-pressure environment?
Physical Stamina: Are you prepared for long shifts that involve standing, walking, and moving equipment across large hospital wings?

A Day in the Life: The South African Context

In South Africa, a Respiratory Therapist's day often begins with "handover" in the ICU or High Care unit. Whether you are working in a private facility like Netcare or Mediclinic, or serving in a bustling public provincial hospital, your role is the same: you are the guardian of the patient’s airway.

Your morning may involve checking ventilator settings for a premature infant in the neonatal ICU, followed by performing lung function tests on an elderly patient with COPD. You will work closely with Pulmonologists and Anaesthesiologists, often being the first person called when a "Code Blue" is announced. The environment is fast-paced, occasionally clinical, but deeply rewarding as you witness the literal "first breath" of a recovering patient.

Education & Upskilling

To enter this profession in South Africa, a formal qualification is non-negotiable. You must register with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). This typically requires a four-year Bachelor of Health Sciences in Clinical Technology, specialising in Pulmonology, offered at various Universities of Technology (formerly Technicons).

However, the learning does not end at graduation. To remain competitive and provide the best patient care, you must engage in:

Continuous Professional Development (CPD): Earning points annually through HPCSA-accredited seminars and workshops.
Short Courses: Certifications in Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) and Paediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) are highly sought after by employers.
Specialisation: Consider short programmes in sleep laboratory management or home-care ventilation to diversify your career path.

Continuous learning is the cornerstone of any successful medical career in South Africa. As medical technology advances, the therapists who thrive are those who actively seek to master the latest pulmonary ventilation techniques and diagnostic software.

Next Steps

If you possess the resilience, technical curiosity, and heart for patient care described above, you are likely an excellent candidate for this vital profession. With the sector seeing significant salary growth and a steady volume of vacancies, there has never been a better time to transition. Test your readiness now by taking our specialised career assessment to see if you have the profile to become South Africa’s next leading Respiratory Therapist.

Skills

Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Abilities

Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Information Ordering
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Education

How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation?

Associate's degree

83 %
Bachelor's degree

12 %
Post-secondary certificate

5 %

Awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in Personnel Services, Engineering-related Technologies, Vocational Home Economics, Construction Trades, Mechanics and Repairers, Precision Production Trades)

Work Activities

Documenting/Recording Information
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Assisting and Caring for Others
Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
Getting Information
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Detailed Work Activities

Implement advanced life support techniques.
Treat medical emergencies.
Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities.
Inform medical professionals regarding patient conditions and care.
Assist healthcare practitioners during examinations or treatments.

Work Interests

Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.