10 Great Things About Being a Respiratory Therapist

Nearly every night I work I hear discussions along the lines of "Why don't respiratory therapists get more respect?" A great question, and I answered it here. I would like to counter that discussion by listing the 10 greatest things about being a respiratory therapist.

1. It's a good, clean job. We work inside where the air is fresh and clean. The air is warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
    
2. We work 12 hour shifts. This is nice because you get more days off to either spend with your family or, if you want, do a second job.
    
3. It's a fun job. When your work is done there's plenty of time to socialize, gossip, eat, play games, surf the net, pay your bills, or watch TV.
    
4. It's rewarding. It's simply a rewarding feeling when what you did, or said, made someone feel better. It's also rewarding knowing you did your part to save a life.
    
5. We bring joy to people. Sometimes just by you lending an ear to a sick patient, or having that discussion, is all it takes to make someone's day.
    
6. We are ubiquitous. Seemingly, we are everywhere in the hospital all at once. We have free reign. This beats being stuck in one spot all day, in one room, with one patient.
    
7. A great variety. We do all sorts of tasks, and offer a variety of skills. And every day offers a new challenge.
    
8. Teamwork is fun. Skills you've obtained through education and experience come in handy as you participate as part of a team to benefit a patient.
    
9. We are educators. We educate about lung diseases, and are trained to guide people through the changes they'll have to make in their lives to overcome their illness
    
10. You develop skills. Your expertise on managing the airway as a respiratory therapist is essential to saving a life, and keeping someone alive so the doctor has time to work his or her magic. 

Let's hear it from you, what do you like best about being a respiratory therapist?

About the Author: Rick Frea is a licensed and Registered Respiratory Therapist and author of the Respiratory Therapy Cave. He provides some wonderful content for those in the profession of respiratory therapy, or those seeking to learn more about the profession.

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