What is Respiratory Therapy?

Get an Introduction to Respiratory Therapy at CVTC

As a respiratory therapist, you would work as a member of a team to evaluate, treat, and manage patients of all ages with respiratory illnesses and other cardiopulmonary disorders in a wide variety of clinical settings. In addition to performing respiratory care procedures, you would be involved in clinical decision making (such as patient evaluation, treatment selection, and assessment of treatment efficacy) and patient education.

A Day in the Life of a Respiratory Therapist

This video is a documentary of a Day in the Life of a Respiratory Therapist. This video has been done to give you an opportunity to have a glimpse of some of the events in the day of a life of a RT. The range of a Respiratory Therapists responsibilities include: 

• 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 care, and modifying the prescribed endeavors as required 
• Providing patient, family, and community education 
• Participating in life support activities as required

Student Testimonials

Check out what some of our recent graduates have said about our program.

Employers Comments

The RT students from Chippewa Valley TC came well prepared for their clinical rotation with us at the University of Minnesota Medical Center. Each one of them was eager to learn and engaged with RT staff, patients, physicians and other healthcare staff in a professional and caring manner. The RT staff had very positive feedback about this group of student RTs.
Denise Johnson, BS, RRT
Director, Cardiopulmonary Services
University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview
University of Minnesota Children's Hospital, Fairview 

CVTC Respiratory Care Practitioners are well prepared. They focus on the patients’ needs and they have excellent team skills which are two important aspects that I look at as I am hiring new employees.
Ann M. Johnson, R.R.T.
Director Respiratory Care/Pulmonology
Luther Midelfort