Chippewa
Valley Technical Colleges Respiratory Care
program.
Respiratory therapists, as members of a team of health care
professionals, work to evaluate, treat, and manage patients
of all ages with respiratory illnesses and other
cardiopulmonary disorders in a wide variety of clinical
settings.
Respiratory therapists must behave in a manner consistent
with the standards and ethics of all health care
professionals. In addition to performing respiratory care
procedures, respiratory therapists are involved in clinical
decision making (such as patient evaluation, treatment
selection, and assessment of treatment efficacy) and
patient education.
The scope of practice for respiratory therapy includes, but
is not limited to:
•
assessing
the cardiopulmonary status of patients
•
drawing
blood samples, performing blood gas analysis, and pulmonary
function testing
•
initiating
ordered respiratory care, evaluating and monitoring patient
responses to such care, modifying the prescribed
respiratory therapy and cardiopulmonary procedures and life
support endeavors to achieve desired therapeutic objectives
•
providing
patient, family, and community education
•
participating
in life support activities as required.