RT 101 EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS &
ACCREDITATION OF RESPIRATORY
CARE PROGRAMS EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
Specialty Credentials - ANSWER-Long term care: Long term care RTs work in skilled
nursing facilities, subacute care centers, rehab hospitals, and other types of long-term
care facilities. RTs in this area work with post acute and chronic disease patients who
range in age from the very old to the very young.
What it takes: Most long term care RTs enter the area after having working in the
hospital first, and most facilities will require therapists to hold the CRT credentials. Many
will also expect therapists to have the advanced level RRT credential as well, and
therapists with the RRT are more likely to advance to managerial positions.
Neonatal-pediatrics - ANSWER-- Neonatal-pediatric RTs work in children's hospitals
and general hospital with neonatal-pediatric wards. Neonatal respiratory care involves
treating and monitoring newborns for breathing disorders. A neonatal RT might monitor
the breathing of premature babies, treat infants born with pulmonary diseases or
disorder, or respond to the unique respiratory care needs of an infant in an emergency.
- Pediatric RTs work with toddlers and older children, providing breathing treatments
and other care for children with asthma, cystic fibrosis, and a wide range of other
respiratory problems.
What it takes: Neonatal-pediatric therapists generally hold the CRT or RRT credentials,
and many have also earned the Neonatal-pediatric specialist credential, or RRT-NPS.
Increasingly, therapists who work with children with asthma are also earning the Asthma
Educator-Certified credential, or AE-C, which certifies they are competent to counsel
patients in asthma management.
Surface & Air Transport - ANSWER-Surface and air transport RTs are a vital part of
transport teams that treat critically ill patients in emergency transit to critical care units.
These Rts do their job huddled in the back of a helicopter, air ambulance, or ground
ambulance, working closely with nurses, physicians, and EMTs to keep patients alive
and well until they can reach a hospital where they can receive necessary care.
When they aren't actively participating in a transport, these therapists work in other
areas of their hospitals, from the ER to the ICU
, What it takes: Transport RTs earn the CRT or RRT credentials, and since many
specialize in newborn and pediatric transports, the RRT-NPS credential as well. In
addition, they may also be required to have one or more life support credentials.
Pulmonary Rehab - ANSWER-Pulmonary rehabilitation therapists help patients with
chronic lung diseases like asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and pulmonary
fibrosis cope with their conditions through education, treatment and exercise.
Most work in pulmonary rehab centers, where they provide care and education to
patients enrolled in their programs on an outpatient basis
But some also provide similar services to patients who are still in the hospital. Their
primary goal is to help patients with chronic lung ailments breathe more easily and
comfortably.
What it takes: pulmonary rehab therapists will hold the CRT or RRT credentials. Many
are also earning the AE-C, if asthma education is a part of their job responsibilities.
polysomnography - ANSWER-Over the past 30 years, sleep medicine technology has
grown in to a complex health care field, and respiratory therapists are increasingly being
called upon to specialize in this dynamic area of care.
RTs who work in sleep are generally employed by sleepy laboratories, and they often
work the night shift when sleep studies are conducted.
General respiratory therapists can transition well into polysomnography, but most will
need additional education and training to understand the 77 identified sleep disorders,
to learn the function and use of polysomnographic equipment, and to provide safe and
effective treatments to patients.
What it takes: RTs who go into sleep hold the CRT or RRT credentials, but may also
want to earn the registered polysomnographic technologist, or RPSGT credential, or the
NBRC's sleep disorders specialist (CRT-SDS or RRT-SDS) credential, which is
awarded to those who take a speciality exam in polysomnography.
Education - ANSWER-Respiratory therapy education involves not just educating future
practitioners, but also serving as an educational resource to practicing therapists.
Respiratory therapy education serve as professors and instructors in school programs,
including those at the CC and university levels, and they may also work as a continuing
education coordinators for hospital RT departments.
What it takes: Most RT educators enter the specialty after having worked as a
respiratory therapist in a hospital or other setting, and nearly all will have earned the
advanced level RRT credential. Many educators also hold masters and doctorate
ACCREDITATION OF RESPIRATORY
CARE PROGRAMS EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
Specialty Credentials - ANSWER-Long term care: Long term care RTs work in skilled
nursing facilities, subacute care centers, rehab hospitals, and other types of long-term
care facilities. RTs in this area work with post acute and chronic disease patients who
range in age from the very old to the very young.
What it takes: Most long term care RTs enter the area after having working in the
hospital first, and most facilities will require therapists to hold the CRT credentials. Many
will also expect therapists to have the advanced level RRT credential as well, and
therapists with the RRT are more likely to advance to managerial positions.
Neonatal-pediatrics - ANSWER-- Neonatal-pediatric RTs work in children's hospitals
and general hospital with neonatal-pediatric wards. Neonatal respiratory care involves
treating and monitoring newborns for breathing disorders. A neonatal RT might monitor
the breathing of premature babies, treat infants born with pulmonary diseases or
disorder, or respond to the unique respiratory care needs of an infant in an emergency.
- Pediatric RTs work with toddlers and older children, providing breathing treatments
and other care for children with asthma, cystic fibrosis, and a wide range of other
respiratory problems.
What it takes: Neonatal-pediatric therapists generally hold the CRT or RRT credentials,
and many have also earned the Neonatal-pediatric specialist credential, or RRT-NPS.
Increasingly, therapists who work with children with asthma are also earning the Asthma
Educator-Certified credential, or AE-C, which certifies they are competent to counsel
patients in asthma management.
Surface & Air Transport - ANSWER-Surface and air transport RTs are a vital part of
transport teams that treat critically ill patients in emergency transit to critical care units.
These Rts do their job huddled in the back of a helicopter, air ambulance, or ground
ambulance, working closely with nurses, physicians, and EMTs to keep patients alive
and well until they can reach a hospital where they can receive necessary care.
When they aren't actively participating in a transport, these therapists work in other
areas of their hospitals, from the ER to the ICU
, What it takes: Transport RTs earn the CRT or RRT credentials, and since many
specialize in newborn and pediatric transports, the RRT-NPS credential as well. In
addition, they may also be required to have one or more life support credentials.
Pulmonary Rehab - ANSWER-Pulmonary rehabilitation therapists help patients with
chronic lung diseases like asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and pulmonary
fibrosis cope with their conditions through education, treatment and exercise.
Most work in pulmonary rehab centers, where they provide care and education to
patients enrolled in their programs on an outpatient basis
But some also provide similar services to patients who are still in the hospital. Their
primary goal is to help patients with chronic lung ailments breathe more easily and
comfortably.
What it takes: pulmonary rehab therapists will hold the CRT or RRT credentials. Many
are also earning the AE-C, if asthma education is a part of their job responsibilities.
polysomnography - ANSWER-Over the past 30 years, sleep medicine technology has
grown in to a complex health care field, and respiratory therapists are increasingly being
called upon to specialize in this dynamic area of care.
RTs who work in sleep are generally employed by sleepy laboratories, and they often
work the night shift when sleep studies are conducted.
General respiratory therapists can transition well into polysomnography, but most will
need additional education and training to understand the 77 identified sleep disorders,
to learn the function and use of polysomnographic equipment, and to provide safe and
effective treatments to patients.
What it takes: RTs who go into sleep hold the CRT or RRT credentials, but may also
want to earn the registered polysomnographic technologist, or RPSGT credential, or the
NBRC's sleep disorders specialist (CRT-SDS or RRT-SDS) credential, which is
awarded to those who take a speciality exam in polysomnography.
Education - ANSWER-Respiratory therapy education involves not just educating future
practitioners, but also serving as an educational resource to practicing therapists.
Respiratory therapy education serve as professors and instructors in school programs,
including those at the CC and university levels, and they may also work as a continuing
education coordinators for hospital RT departments.
What it takes: Most RT educators enter the specialty after having worked as a
respiratory therapist in a hospital or other setting, and nearly all will have earned the
advanced level RRT credential. Many educators also hold masters and doctorate
