HealthcareISCO 3259

Respiratory therapy technician

Respiratory therapy technicians assist doctors and surgeons to treat respiratory problems. They work in hospitals and medical facilities where they operate medical equipment to test patients' respiratory conditions and aid in their treatment. Respiratory therapy technicians also tend to breathing equipment and machines during surgery.

Check yourself in a minute: respiratory therapy technician

Rate 5 of the 14 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

operate breathing equipment

comply with quality standards related to healthcare practice

comply with legislation related to health care

apply context specific clinical competences

hygiene in a health care setting

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (14)

hygiene in a health care settinghygiene in a health care settingThe procedures related to maintaining a hygienic environment within a health care setting such as hospitals and clinics. It can range from hand washing to cleaning and disinfection of medical equipmen...health care legislationhealth care legislationThe patients` rights and responsibilities of health practitioners and the possible repercussions and prosecutions in relation to medical treatment negligence or malpractice.medical terminologymedical terminologyThe meaning of medical terms and abbreviations, of medical prescriptions and various medical specialties and when to use it correctly.clinical perfusionclinical perfusionThe health science related to the artificial pumping of blood and oxygen in a person's body, also known as extra-corporeal circulation.human anatomyhuman anatomyThe dynamic relationship of human structure and function and the muscosceletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, urinary, reproductive, integumentary and nervous systems; normal and ...respiratory medicinerespiratory medicineRespiratory medicine is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.respiratory therapyrespiratory therapyTreatment focused on the management of the airways in various medical conditions or situations such as emergency or trauma.operate breathing equipmentoperate breathing equipmentOperate breathing equipment and machines to ensure the patient is administred oxygen during surgery.communicate in healthcarecommunicate in healthcareCommunicate effectively with patients, families and other caregivers, health care professionals, and community partners.comply with quality standards related to healthcare practicecomply with quality standards related to healthcare practiceApply quality standards related to risk management, safety procedures, patients feedback, screening and medical devices in daily practice, as they are recognized by the national professional associati...comply with legislation related to health carecomply with legislation related to health careComply with the regional and national health legislation which regulates relations between suppliers, payers, vendors of the healthcare industry and patients, and the delivery of healthcare services.ensure safety of healthcare usersensure safety of healthcare usersMake sure that healthcare users are being treated professionally, effectively and safe from harm, adapting techniques and procedures according to the person's needs, abilities or the prevailing condit...apply context specific clinical competencesapply context specific clinical competencesApply professional and evidence based assessment, goal setting, delivery of intervention and evaluation of clients, taking into account the developmental and contextual history of the clients, within ...work in multidisciplinary health teamswork in multidisciplinary health teamsParticipate in the delivery of multidisciplinary health care, and understand the rules and competences of other healthcare related professions.
Optional (14) — show
emergency surgeryemergency surgeryThe characteristics and methods of a surgical intervention performed in emergency cases.surgerysurgeryThe essential procedures in surgical practice such as the principle of safe surgery, the pathophysiology of wound healing, knot tying, tissue handling, retraction and any other instruments and procedu...rehabilitation of all organ systemsrehabilitation of all organ systemsThe principles of physical medicine and rehabilitation of all organ systems as related to physiotherapy.medical informaticsmedical informaticsThe processes and tools used for the analysis and dissemination of medical data through computerized systems.clinical imaging techniquesclinical imaging techniquesThe techniques to evaluate image information for clinical manifestations and technical accuracy.first aidfirst aidThe emergency treatment given to a sick or injured person in the case of circulatory and/or respiratory failure, unconsciousness, wounds, bleeding, shock or poisoning.respond to changing situations in health carerespond to changing situations in health careCope with pressure and respond appropriately and in time to unexpected and rapidly changing situations in healthcare.provide pre-treatment informationprovide pre-treatment informationExplain treatment options and possibilities, informing the patients in order to help them make well-balanced decisions.use e-health and mobile health technologiesuse e-health and mobile health technologiesUse mobile health technologies and e-health (online applications and services) in order to enhance the provided healthcare.interpret medical imagesinterpret medical imagesAnalyse medical images in order to diagnose illnesses and injuries.manage healthcare users' datamanage healthcare users' dataKeep accurate client records which also satisfy legal and professional standards and ethical obligations in order to facilitate client management, ensuring that all clients' data (including verbal, wr...promote health and safetypromote health and safetyPromote the importance of a safe working environment. Coach and support staff to participate actively in the continuous development of a safe working environment.conduct polysomnographyconduct polysomnographyPerform a sleep study in order to diagnose sleep disorders, recording measures of the sleep cycles and stages, including air flow in and out of the lungs, the level of oxygen in the blood, brain waves...develop a collaborative therapeutic relationshipdevelop a collaborative therapeutic relationshipDevelop a mutually collaborative therapeutic relationship during treatment, fostering and gaining healthcare users' trust and cooperation.

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

Frequently asked questions

What does a respiratory therapy technician do?

Respiratory therapy technicians assist doctors and surgeons to treat respiratory problems. They work in hospitals and medical facilities where they operate medical equipment to test patients' respiratory conditions and aid in their treatment. Respiratory therapy technicians also tend to breathing equipment and machines during surgery.

What skills does a respiratory therapy technician need?

A respiratory therapy technician needs 14 essential skills, including hygiene in a health care setting, health care legislation, medical terminology, clinical perfusion, human anatomy.

Will AI replace respiratory therapy technician jobs?

The AI disruption score for respiratory therapy technician is 15/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: medical terminology, manage healthcare users' data, comply with legislation related to health care. Most resilient: develop a collaborative therapeutic relationship, human anatomy, first aid.

Quick Facts

ISCO GroupHealth associate professionals
Essential Skills14

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