Respiratory Therapist
Respiratory therapists are responsible for treating medical problems with the lungs and breathing. They are vital members of New Brunswick’s healthcare teams. They work with patients of all ages with breathing or airway issues that can stem from a wide variety of conditions such as heart and lung disorders (e.g., asthma, cystic fibrosis, COPD), sleep disorders, heart disease, trauma, high-risk deliveries, prematurity, or organ system failures (e.g., kidney disease, diabetes, neurological disorders). You may find them across New Brunswick’s healthcare networks in areas such as anaesthesia, critical care, pediatrics, cardiopulmonary diagnostics, community and primary care, long-term care, and research.
Respiratory therapists treat people from all walks of life, which means they must have excellent communication skills, a high degree of integrity, and compassion to effectively treat their patients. A patient’s condition can change rapidly, and respiratory therapists will need to perform resuscitation during critical emergencies. To do this, they must keep a level head under pressure and have strong problem-solving skills. In addition to the treatment and management of these medical issues, it is also beneficial to keep up to date with new advances in the science and practice of respiratory therapy. Respiratory therapists may spend most of their working hours on their feet and help lift immobile patients, so they must stay in good physical shape.