Pediatric Respiratory Therapist Career Guide
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Overview
Pediatric Respiratory Therapists are healthcare professionals specialized in treating children with breathing and lung disorders. They play a crucial role in helping infants and children with conditions such as asthma, cystic fibrosis and pneumonia breathe more easily and effectively.
Essential Job Functions:
Pediatric Respiratory Therapists assess, diagnose and treat respiratory conditions in children. They administer breathing treatments, manage mechanical ventilation,
Education
To become a Pediatric Respiratory Therapist, individuals typically need to complete an Associate's degree in Respiratory Therapy. Some may opt for a Bachelor's degree for enhanced career prospects. Accredited respiratory therapy programs include both classroom education and clinical rotations.
Qualifications
Skills
Staff and Travel Pediatric Respiratory Therapists need strong communication skills to interact effectively with young patients and their families. They also require excellent critical thinking abilities to assess and manage complex respiratory cases in children.
Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of Pediatric Respiratory Therapists include assessing and treating children with breathing difficulties, administering medications, monitoring patients on ventilators and educating families about home care and disease management.
Salary Insights
The average salary for a Pediatric Respiratory Therapist is $2,227.72 per week.
Last updated on November 17, 2024. Based on active jobs on Vivian.com.
Pros & Cons
Becoming a Pediatric Respiratory Therapist offers the rewarding opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of young patients by improving their respiratory health. It's a specialized field that allows professionals to focus exclusively on pediatric care.
However, the role can be emotionally demanding, especially when dealing with critically ill children. The job may involve irregular hours and high-pressure situations.
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