Everything You Need to Know
Anyone that has ever researched healthcare career options knows that there are multiple paths that can be pursued. While the demand for clinicians of all kinds continues to grow year-over-year, the respiratory therapy field is projected to grow the fastest over the next ten years (more on that later). So, what can you expect from a career as a respiratory therapist? Keep reading to find out more about this rewarding career path and to discover if respiratory therapy is the right field for you.
What is a respiratory therapist?
Simply put, a respiratory therapist is a certified medical professional that works with patients of all ages that are suffering from sudden or chronic breathing problems. Due to the nature of their work, respiratory therapists closely collaborate with doctors and other healthcare professionals to ensure patients receive a correct diagnosis, an effective treatment plan and an appropriate level of care. In addition to knowing/understanding human anatomy and physiology, respiratory therapists must have a broad knowledge of the pathophysiology of the cardiopulmonary systems (i.e. diseased or injured cardiovascular organs).
Are you ready to find a more rewarding career in healthcare? Consider bringing your nursing skills to a long-term care environment that will affect the patients and other nurses in a positive way? They will benefit from your experience, patience, ideas, and mentorship. As a contract nurse, you can provide a new set of skills and experiences in a long-term care facility which can improve the facility’s practices and patient care.
Correctional healthcare is a hidden gem. If you want to widen your scope of practice as a nurse and you are confident in your assessment skills, this may be a specialty you would enjoy. I would suggest knowing the difference between jails and prisons is essential to understanding which culture is the best fit for you.
Merriam-Webster defines Communication as “the act or process of using words, sounds, signs or behaviors to express or exchange information or to express your ideas, thoughts, feelings, etc. to someone else.”
I want to start out by asking one simple question: What?
When I interview local nurses, I ask them if they would consider travel nursing and most of them fear job security and the unknown. Fear is a reality to all of us. It’s overcoming your fear that makes life worthwhile. Don’t get me wrong, some nurses don’t want to travel; they prefer permanent positions where they can establish a lifestyle around their career. Either way being a nurse is awesome whether you’re a traveler or not.
Compassion Fatigue is an occupational hazard in the field of healthcare. Taking constant inventory on your personal self-care to promote a healthy, sustainable career in your field of study is more important than ever as responsibilities and workload continue to rise in the industry. It is seen as a cost of caring, within high care occupations where empathy, caring for others, and compassion are at the occupational core. Those who work in healthcare are aware, to some extent, of the high burnout rates that are go hand-in-hand with the industry.
