Many Career Paths for Respiratory Therapists
Before I get into the meat and potatoes of this post I want to make it clear to those reading, especially those who may or may not be my co-workers and or my boss (Hey Nancy!): I love my job. I am dedicated to the hospital I work at and to the small town in which my hospital resides. My wife and I just purchased a new home in this small town and are entwining our roots into the community. So I have no plans or ambitions that we will be leaving any time soon...but still, every now and then it's nice to see what all is out there.
Sometimes it is fun to see what I could be doing, even if the chance is slim to none that I will ever do it: be a flight RT, in home health or senior living. I've even heard of RTs working for insurance companies giving education about asthma and COPD. One RT I work with was recently in contact with an insurance company about doing home blood draws. If an RT were so inclined, he or she could get out of patient care entirely and sell vents or other medical equipment; someone once told me this is where the money is at. There are a lot of career paths out there for Respiratory Therapists and the opportunities seem to be growing by the day.
Again, I have no plans to leave the facility I am at in the immediate future, but it is good to know that if I ever decide to, I have options.
Editor's Note: Looking to make a switch in your career? Check out the job listings on the ADVANCE for Healthcare Careers site or https://twitter.com/#!/advanceRTjobs. And don't forget to check out our career resources to build a interview-getting resume and get tips on what to do once you score the interview.