Job description Respiratory Therapist in the Southeast Region

Find out what work is like for a respiratory therapist in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists (NOC 32103).

Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists

Description

Respiratory therapists assist physicians in the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with respiratory and cardiopulmonary disorders. Clinical perfusionists provide technical support to patients undergoing cardiac surgery and patients requiring cardio-respiratory support. Cardiopulmonary technologists assist physicians in the technical aspects of diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular and pulmonary disease. Respiratory therapists are employed in hospitals, extended care facilities, public health centres, sleep, private or dental clinics and respiratory home care companies. Clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists are primarily employed in hospitals. Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists who are supervisors or instructors are included in this unit group.

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • Respiratory therapists
  • Perform diagnostic tests, such as arterial blood gas analysis and cardiopulmonary functions tests
  • Operate and monitor respiratory equipment to administer treatments such as oxygen, oxygen-air mixtures, humidified air or specialty medical gases
  • Operate, monitor, maintain and test a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic equipment
  • Perform or assist with interventions such as airway maintenance, line insertions, inductions and intubations, and manage patients and associated equipment
  • Execute anesthesia assistance services
  • Perform artificial respiration and external cardiac massage
  • Evaluate and monitor patients’ cardiorespiratory conditions
  • Provide and optimize patients’ mechanical ventilation
  • Assist with transport of high-risk patients
  • May prepare and administer authorized medications
  • Supervise and train students and other respiratory therapists
  • Participate in home care programs for chronic respiratory patients and provide patient and family education
  • Participate in research related to cardiac and pulmonary disorders.
  • Clinical perfusionists
  • Assemble, maintain and operate extracorporeal circulation equipment, intra-aortic balloon pumps and other heart assist devices to support or temporarily replace patients' cardiopulmonary functions during open-heart surgery
  • Administer blood products, drugs and other substances through heart-lung machines and other devices as directed by cardiac surgeons and anaesthetists to maintain adequate flow of oxygenated blood to all organs of the body
  • Monitor vital signs to support and maintain patients' physiological functions and metabolic needs during cardiopulmonary surgery
  • Participate in routine maintenance, calibration and inspection of all perfusion related equipment
  • Supervise and train student clinical perfusionists and other clinical perfusionists.
  • Cardiopulmonary technologists
  • Perform diagnostic tests, such as pulmonary function and asthma stress, or assist physicians with cardiac and cardiopulmonary stress tests and bronchoscopies
  • Determine patients' blood characteristics such as activated clotting time and oxygen saturation
  • Operate, monitor, maintain, calibrate and test diagnostic and therapeutic equipment
  • Monitor patients and advise physician of any changes in patients' condition
  • Prepare medications and administer inhaler and other treatments under supervision of cardiologist
  • Provide information and care for patients during tests
  • Assist with the preparation of cardiac catheterization room, prepare specialized catheters and assist cardiologists during catheterization
  • Perform analysis, programming and monitoring of implanted devices such as pacemakers and defibrillators during surgery
  • Supervise and train students and other cardiopulmonary technologists
  • Provide technical support for research.

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 32103), and a list of similar occupations:

  • anesthesia assistant
  • cardiopulmonary technologist
  • cardiovascular perfusion supervisor
  • cardiovascular perfusionist
  • certified clinical perfusionist (CCP)
  • chief respiratory technologist
  • clinical perfusionist
  • perfusionist
  • registered respiratory therapist (RRT)
  • respiratory therapist
  • respiratory therapy chief
  • respiratory therapy clinical instructor

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
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