The fundamentals of respiratory care involve a wide range of topics that respiratory therapists must be familiar with. Some examples include the diagnosis, treatment, and management of patients with respiratory disorders. In this study guide, we’ve listed several...
What does ABG stand for? How about SIMV? What is an HME? If you haven’t noticed, hundreds of abbreviations, acronyms, symbols, and medical terms are used in respiratory care. And respiratory therapists (and students) need to know what they all mean. That is why...
Knowing and understanding the different normal values is essential for making informed clinical decisions as a respiratory therapist. Because if a patient’s results fall outside of the normal range, it may be indicative of a problem or disease that needs to be...
Normal breathing is a physiological process that occurs unconsciously and automatically, thanks to the autonomic nervous system. It is essential for life and is vital for exchanging gases between the atmosphere and the body’s cells. Respiration is the process of...
A respiratory care plan outlines the specific steps that will be taken to manage a patient’s condition. It takes into account the individual’s unique medical history and current health status in order to determine the best course of treatment. Respiratory...
Respiratory care is a relatively new discipline in the medical field, however, its practices date back throughout the history of civilization. Respiratory therapists treat patients with acute and chronic conditions of the heart and lungs. The job title hasn’t...
A breathing cycle is an activity that occurs automatically without conscious effort thanks to complex mechanisms in the brain. The regulation of breathing is a broad term used to describe this process. It’s a topic that must be understood by all respiratory...
Respiratory therapists are well-known for working and treating patients in the hospital setting. With that said, people often forget that respiratory care can be provided in alternative settings as well. This guide covers the basics of this topic. It provides an...
Respiratory therapists serve as vital members of the healthcare team. This means that they play an important role in emergency cardiovascular life support. When providing emergency care, first and foremost, RT’s are responsible for establishing and maintaining...
When it comes to breathing, the lungs are vital organs that allow us to take in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide. The process of respiration starts with the diaphragm, a large muscle located at the base of the lungs. When we inhale, the diaphragm contracts and moves...