What is the role of a respiratory care practitioner (RCP)?
Respiratory care is a dynamic, high-tech, high-touch field involving direct patient care. RCPs work under the direction of a physician and assist in the diagnosis, treatment and management of patients with pulmonary disorders. RCPs work with patients of all ages – from premature infants to the elderly – and commonly treat such diseases as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema. In disease diagnosis, RCPs measure the capacity of a patient’s lungs to determine if there is impaired function. After diagnosis, the RCP is responsible for administering therapeutic gases, aerosols and medications using highly technical, industry standard equipment. In emergency and critical care settings, the RCP provides basic and advanced life support for critically ill patients. These RCPs must be skilled in ventilator and airway management, arterial blood gas sampling and analysis, hemodynamic monitoring, and assisting with special procedures such as bronchoscopy. Today’s health care is rapidly changing and evol
