Respiratory Therapist vs Nurse

A nurse can work in a hospital or at an ill patient's home. They have a number of different duties in these environments. They give care for a patient's physical needs by observing and monitoring the patient, and by recording any relevant information that helps to aid in the process of treatment decision-making.

These two roles are very different, mainly in that a respiratory therapist is a specialist in the medical area of lungs and breathing, and a nurse has a more general scope of assisting patients with their medical needs.

Here are the key differences between a respiratory therapist and a nurse:

• To become a respiratory therapist you need an associate's degree respiratory therapy

• A registered nurse needs at least an associate's degree in nursing, but can pursue more degrees to get higher paying nursing positions

• Respiratory therapists work in hospitals, pulmonary lab clinics, patient's homes, and specialized sleep disorder clinics

• Nurses typically work in hospitals, other medical facilities, schools, prisons, corporate company offices, community centers, and mental health centers

• Respiratory therapists often have more autonomy than registered nurses, especially as it pertains to their primary area of expertise

• Nurses work closely with many other healthcare professionals, often taking orders from doctors and specialists, and acting collaboratively with their fellow nurses

• Respiratory therapists on average have a lesser salary than a nurse, this also depends on the level of nurse