Respiratory therapists

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

• 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.

• Respiratory therapists may work in specific areas of practice such as anesthesia, critical care, neonatal and pediatrics, cardiopulmonary diagnostics, respiratory home and community care, research and private health industry.

• 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.

• Respiratory therapists require the completion of a three-year college or university degree program in respiratory therapy, both including clinical training.

• Licensing is required for respiratory therapists in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

• A national certification for respiratory therapists is available for therapists working in Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

• Supervisory and instructor positions in this unit group require experience in their respective fields as a respiratory therapist, clinical perfusionist or cardiopulmonary technologist.