What are the skills of a respiratory therapist?

Additionally, respiratory therapists must often give the patient emotional support, adapt to stressful situations, and show appropriate compassion when communicating with patients. These duties are all critical parts of a respiratory therapist's position; therefore, the skill of emotional stability is important to include on a resume.

Analytical thinking is required because the respiratory therapist must process information, prioritize tasks, solve problems, evaluate outcomes, and transfer knowledge from one situation to another, all while using long and short-term memory.

Critical thinking skills allow a person to take all of the information in front of them, make a reasonable judgment, and take action. Critical thinking skills are needed for a respiratory therapist to evaluate priorities and different sources of diagnostic information to help arrive at the proper patient diagnosis and treatment plan.

Finally, good communication skills are needed to relay information to patients, families, doctors, nurses effectively, and other medical staff members to meet the goals set for the patient.

Additionally, like most jobs in the healthcare profession, respiratory therapists need to have a unique skill set that allows them to multitask while remaining hyper-focused on the needs and conditions of their patients.

All respiratory therapists should also have the following skills:

• Deep understanding of infectious control

• Ability to work with a medical team

• Good judgment and quick decision-making ability

• Time management skills

• Physiological knowledge

• Patience and ability to teach and train patients

• Detail-oriented

• Science and math skills