Respiratory Therapy

Respiratory Therapy


For most people, breathing is as easy and natural as blinking. But for
thousands of Canadians, breathing is a struggle. They might be accident victims, premature babies with immature lungs, heart attack and stroke patients, or people who live with asthma and emphysema. When it comes to their care, a respiratory therapist will likely play a
vital role on the healthcare team.
Is Respiratory Therapy the right choice for you?
Are you strong in math and sciences?
Do you have an interest in health and wellness?
Does a hands-on role as a front line health care professional sound
exciting and challenging?
What do Respiratory Therapists do?

• Maintain an open airway for trauma, intensive care, and surgery
patients
• Assisting in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and support
• Providing life support for patients who can’t breath on their own
• Assisting in high risk births
• Stabilizing high-risk patients being moved by air or ground
ambulance
• Administering inhaled drugs and medical gases such as asthma
medication and oxygen
• Conducting tests to measure lung function
• Teaching people to mange their asthma or to quit smoking
Where do Respiratory Therapists work?
Most Respiratory Therapists work in hospitals. Respiratory Therapists
also work in the community bringing their expertise to:
• Home care
• Asthma, emphysema, cystic fibrosis and other clinics
• Teaching
• Research
• Rehabilitation
• Diagnostic clinics and sleep disorder labs
• Medical equipment sales and services
Career Prospects
While the number of Respiratory Therapists in Ontario continues to
grow, the demand for Respiratory Therapists is also expected to
increase as our population ages. Salary ranges from approximately
$47, 000 to $66,000 per year.
Schools that have Respiratory Therapy programs in Ontario
• Algonquin College, Nepean, ON www.algonquincollge.com
• Canadore Collge, North Bay, ON www.canadorc.on.ca
• Conestoga College, Kitchener, ON www.conestogac.on.ca
• Fanshawe College, London, ON www.fanshawec.on.ca
• La Cite Collegial, Ottawa, ON www.lacitec.on.ca
• The Michener Institute of Applied www.michener.ca

Health Sciences, Toronto, ON
For more information contact:
Vince Ruberto, Charge Therapist
Cardio-Respiratory Department
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre
Rubertov@tbh.net
References: CRTO crto@crto.on.ca
RTSO office@rtso.org