A lot of people have become interested in health care as a result of the experience of living through a public health emergency, but it can be difficult to know which part of the industry you’re best suited for. Though many people assume working in medicine requires an expensive education and years of training, that isn’t true for many careers, One field that’s gaining popularity with those who want to pursue a career in health care is respiratory therapy. If you’re interested in becoming a respiratory therapist, keep reading to find out how you can enroll in online classes for respiratory therapy.
How can you enroll in respiratory therapy classes online?
First, it’s important that you understand what exactly respiratory therapy is. Respiratory therapy is a discipline focused on working with patients who have diseases connected to the lungs or respiratory system, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, complications related to lung cancer, and many others. You can work in a number of settings, ranging from hospitals to providing home-based care, depending on your clinical interests.
If you’re interested in online respiratory therapy classes, it’s easier than ever to start your degree program. There are several application requirements that you should ensure you meet. You’ll need National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) credentials, a CoARC associate degree, a copy of your transcripts, and a minimum GPA requirement. The deadline for the current application period is March 15th, 2022, so make sure you apply now if you’re interested.
There are a lot of reasons that people are interested in the field of respiratory therapy. One reason is that the field is projected to grow significantly over the next decade, with the rate of employment projected to increase by over 19 percent by 2029. Respiratory therapists also make significantly more than the median wage in the United States, with estimated take-home pay of over $62,000 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What else should you know about working in health care?
Working in health care can be an immense privilege and a rewarding career, but it can also come with a lot of stress. Health care employees often talk about the role that stress plays in their lives. While it can occasionally be helpful in moments of crisis, it’s essential that you learn how to manage it and avoid taking your work home with you as much as you can. Taking care of your mental health will enable you to be a better employee since you can’t take good care of your patients if you aren’t taking care of yourself.
It would be difficult to discuss working in medicine right now without talking about the impact that COVID-19 is having on the industry. Respiratory therapists should be particularly concerned with developments related to COVID-19, as we have clinical evidence to suggest that the virus can cause long-term lung damage in some patients. It’s likely that health care workers in fields that deal with the lungs and respiratory system will be working with people who have been affected by the virus for years to come. It’s a good idea to stay up to date on recent studies and medical literature if you’re interested in becoming a respiratory therapist.
There’s a lot to learn about respiratory therapy, but continuing your education is more accessible than you might think. You can work toward obtaining your degree virtually, enabling you to hold a job and progress within your field while you’re completing your coursework. Becoming a respiratory therapist offers you the opportunity to do meaningful work in the health care field without taking on hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt to go to medical school. Your job prospects and ability to work your way up to achieve your current professional goals are just two of many reasons to consider a career in respiratory therapy, especially since it’s easier than ever to get your degree online.
