Skip to navigation Menu

Become a Respiratory Therapist

 

Close up of female hands holding medical respiratory equipment. Man lying on hospital bed and doctor arm on blurred backgroundA respiratory therapist helps patients who are having trouble breathing. Respiratory therapists work under the direction of doctors and treat a range of patients, from premature infants whose lungs are not fully developed to elderly people with lung disease. They give patients oxygen, manage ventilators, and administer drugs to the lungs.

Scope of practice

Respiratory therapists work with doctors and nurses to treat patients of all ages, from infants to the elderly. In a typical day, respiratory therapists may:

  • Assist with diagnosing lung or breathing disorders
  • Evaluate patients and performing tests and studies
  • Determine appropriate therapy and treatment options with physicians
  • Analyze blood and sputum in the lab
  • Manage equipment and devices needed to help people that can’t breathe normally on their own
  • Educate patients and families about lung diseases and breathing disorders

Specializations

There are many different areas that respiratory therapists can specialize in. Some areas require extra certification or experience.

Work environment

Respiratory therapists work in hospitals, cardiopulmonary diagnostic labs, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, and home health agencies; however, about 75% of respiratory therapists are employed by hospitals. They typically work 35-40 hour weeks. Depending on where they work, they may work nights, weekends, and holidays, especially if they do direct patient care in hospitals or nursing homes. Shifts can be long, and respiratory therapists typically spend most of their shift on their feet.

Becoming a respiratory therapist

Individuals interested in becoming a respiratory therapist, should be detail oriented and well organized. It’s important to have strong problem solving and interpersonal skills, and the ability to work well under pressure. High school students can prepare for the role by taking advantage of science, math, and health courses.

Higher education requirements

Respiratory therapists can choose to get a two-year associate degree. Mandl School’s Respiratory Therapist degree program is one of the only programs of its kind in the New York Metro area.  Contact us to learn more!

3 Unique Professions in Health Care

Mandl School prepares students for successful careers in the booming health care industry.

By Sarah Lozanova, for Mandl School, The College of Allied Health

 

Mandl school students

Health care professionals are in demand across the United States. It’s predicted to be one of the fastest-growing fields over the next decade.
A career is more than just a job. It’s something many people dedicate 40 hours a week — or more — to for decades. A rewarding career can be an essential component of a fulfilling life and provide financial security. Workers tend to be drawn to the health care industry because they want to help people and contribute to patients’ well-being while earning a living.

With unemployment rates at record highs, it’s important to choose a career path carefully, keeping future demand upon graduation in mind. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the health care industry will be one of the fastest-growing fields over the next decade. That’s good news for people joining the industry, as growth can lead to abundant career opportunities, more-lucrative positions and greater job security.

Health care professionals are in demand across the United States, so workers can choose from a wide selection of locations and settings. And because the industry is so varied, there are many specialties to learn about and explore.

Mandl School: The College of Allied Health in New York City offers programs in numerous medical specialties. The programs combine classroom learning in midtown Manhattan with real-world experience to prepare students for specific career paths in the medical field. The school offers associate degree and certificate programs that range from 42 to 85 credits.

Here are three unique programs at Mandl School that train students for in-demand, highly sought-after careers.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Ultrasounds are commonly used by health care professionals to diagnose and treat a variety of health conditions. Because ultrasounds are a noninvasive way to identify ailments, their use is widespread. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the demand for trained sonographers will grow much faster than average.

Mandl School offers a 90-week, 85-credit associate degree to help technicians launch their careers. Students gain extensive knowledge in physics, disease processes, physiology, cross-sectional anatomy and sonographic techniques that are necessary to create ultrasound images. Students can then sit for the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography certification examination.

Surgical Technologist

These technicians assist doctors and medical staff before, during and after surgeries. As critical members of surgical teams, they help sterilize equipment, transfer patients, clean and dress incision sites, and prepare operating rooms for patients. The job outlook is strong for surgical technologists, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

At Mandl School, the 75-week surgical technologist program consists of 62 credits. Students take coursework in anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, pharmacology, pathophysiology and microbiology. Students then gain specialized skills in logging patients’ vital signs, handling surgical instruments, performing wound care, assisting surgeons and responding to emergencies. Students are then eligible to take the certified surgical technologist exam.

Respiratory Therapist

From premature infants to elderly patients with lung disease, a wide range of people have breathing problems. Medical professionals use several different treatment methods for such issues, including chest physiotherapy and aerosol medications. Trained respiratory therapists care for patients with breathing issues, sleep abnormalities and cardiopulmonary disorders, and job opportunities are available in many settings. Demand for trained respiratory therapists is expected to climb over the next decade.

Mandl School’s respiratory therapy program spans 75 weeks and requires 68 credits. Students first take classes in microbiology, psychology, anatomy and physiology. After that, coursework includes learning about cardiopulmonary diseases and respiratory therapies. Graduates of this associate degree program are eligible to take the test to obtain the registered respiratory therapist credential.

Mandl’s programs, which also include Medical Assisting, Dental Assisting, Health and Human Services, and Healthcare Administration are professionally oriented to help ensure student success. Small classes and experiential learning help open career doors in a variety of settings. Now is an excellent time to explore a career with a strong job outlook upon graduation.

For more information about health care-related programs at Mandl School: The College of Allied Health, visit mandl.edu.

 

See the full article in:

THE USA TODAY

Healthcare Career Degree

Interested in a Healthcare Career? Overall, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects 5 million new jobs in the sector through 2022. January 2021 is the best time to start at Mandl.

Why? Because NYC needs Healthcare Workers now. There are more opportunities in the medical industry than ever before and Mandl School can help you get started right away. Call 212-247-3434 today to learn more. We will answer all questions about class schedules, career services, program requirements, Financial Aid and our many programs including:

HEALTHCARE CAREER DEGREES

Our programs prepare you for career building internships, license exams, career placement and more.  Doctors and Dentists need Medical and Dental Assistants, hospitals require Respiratory Therapists, labs are looking for Health Care Administrators, and there is a growing demand for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, and Surgical Technologists. These positions are part of a healthcare team focused on overall wellness and disease treatment and prevention. Our January 2021 class is going to be a fantastic opportunity for you to begin the new year right and quickly get you started on a growing career track. Call today or fill out a short form and we’ll get right back to you!

Smiling medical professional

VITAL CAREERS START AT MANDL! 

You don’t need to be a physician to have a high paying job in the healthcare field. Non-physicians fill some of the highest paid jobs in the healthcare industry! Now is challenging time in all of our lives yet one filled with great opportunities for those like you who want to work for it. The entire Mandl staff is working hard everyday to ensure you have the best health care education and career services assistance in NYC. Classes are starting – contact us today!

Health Care Careers Top the List

 

 

Ultrasound patient with medical professional

Of the top 15 jobs as reported by USNews.com Health Care related careers occupy 11 slots. 11 of the top careers in the US for 2020 and beyond are in the medical field and Mandl School offers a wide range of these top careers.

The healthcare sector is booming, due to a growing population that will require increasing care with age.

Baby Boomers—those born between 1946 and 1964—are retiring at the rate of thousands per day. In contrast, Pew Research Center (2018) reports that Millennials—ages 23 to 38—currently make up the largest portion of the US labor force, having surpassed Generation X in 2017. This means that about 35 percent of the American workforce carries the burden of the economy during their prime childbearing years.

With large segments of the population entering their senior years and another with growing families, health professionals will be in demand to meet these increasing needs.

Respiratory Therapy Mandl SchoolThere is no shortage of promising healthcare careers in 2020.

Whether you’re heading to school for the first time or you’re taking the leap and switching careers, you’re probably looking for an option that can get you in the field quickly. And that makes perfect sense—a good-paying medical field job that requires relatively little schooling is an ideal combo.

But do these jobs actually exist? The good news is that there actually are several in-demand, medical field jobs that require only a “two-year” Associate’s degree or less.

It’s clear that pursuing a career in healthcare doesn’t have to equate to spending several years in school. There are several options when it comes to medical field jobs you can land with an Associate’s degree. All of these different choices may make your career search overwhelming, but the variety of options also means you’re bound to find a position that’s the perfect fit for you.

Contact Mandl School for more information.

If you need more information and career services guidance about the potential roles an education from Mandl School can offer, contact us at 212-247-3434. We’re here to help you right away!

HAVE A QUESTION?

  • Hidden