Specialty Areas in Respiratory Care that Offer a Slower Pace

Nearly everyone in respiratory care starts out craving the fast-paced environment of the acute care hospital. The more emergencies, the more codes, the more high-tech action, the better.

But if you are getting to a point in your career where you wouldn’t mind slowing down a little, then respiratory care is the right place for you, too. Here are five specialty areas in the profession that offer less drama but just as much employee satisfaction:

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Anyone who has treated a COPD or other chronic respiratory patient during an acute exacerbation knows they are likely to see that patient back in a hospital bed again soon. Pulmonary rehabilitation offers the opportunity to improve that situation. Therapists who staff these programs get the chance to see these patients after they have recovered and to work with them to extend that recovery even further through exercise, patient education, and opportunities to socialize with others going through the same disease process. If you’d like to really get to know your patients and be there to witness what are very often remarkable turnarounds, PR may be for you.

Diagnostics

Pulmonary function laboratories offer the vital testing patients need to diagnose and monitor their conditions, and RTs play a critical role in that process. Appointments are most often scheduled in advance, so the workload is fairly predictable, and staff generally know ahead of time what their workday will look like. It’s not for everyone, though. Therapists who enjoy working in this setting are those who are meticulous by nature — because testing requires careful attention to detail — and who have the ability to coach sometimes reluctant patients through maneuvers that are often difficult to perform.

Sleep

Like PFT labs, sleep labs schedule appointments in advance, and emergency situations are kept to the bare minimum. Again, attention to detail is critical, and importantly, most of the work will take place during the night shift. However, most labs also offer patient education services that give therapists the opportunity to assist patients as they adapt to CPAP or other treatments for their sleep disorder.

Home Care

Working for a home care company is a great option for anyone who enjoys getting out into the community to see patients in their homes. Like PR, it gives RTs the chance to really get to know their patients and follow them over the long term. Since care mainly takes place in the patient’s home, therapists must be able to adapt quickly to any and all situations — even the occasional emergency — without immediate backup. That takes the ability to think on your feet and make decisions on your own.

Skilled Nursing

Working in a skilled nursing facility combines elements of many other specialty areas mentioned in this article. Therapists in this setting will deliver treatments and sometimes perform testing, just as they would working on the hospital floors, but they will also provide patient and family education and become a vital part of the overall community.

If you’re interested in learning more about these specialty areas or networking with RTs already working in them, consider joining one or more of the AARC’s Specialty Sections.