Respiratory therapist
They usually work in emergency rooms, intensive care units, pulmonary diagnostics laboratory, rehabilitation, or in general hospitals. Their job is to diagnose breathing problems and suggest treatment options to patients. They also talk with the patients, exam their chest, and analyze tissue from the respiratory system. Another important job for them is to manage ventilators or other airway devices for patients who do not breath normally. If there is a Code Blue or another urgent call, they will respond and help the other nurses and doctors
Respiratory therapist have many different responsibilities. They test patients breathing and determine if there is enough oxygen in their blood. They also may teach patients how to use devices that help them breathe, like ventilators, at home. Therapists will talk to physicians and make or adjust patient care plans. These therapists can treat patients from premature infants to older adults and the elderly. They preform tests on infants and adults that have many different diseases including cardiopulmonary diseases and sleep disorders. Respiratory therapists need at least an associates degree and a state license and certification. They make an average of $56,290 yearly. |
Pulmonologist
A pulmonologist is a person who is specialized in diagnosing and treating patients with lung problems and diseases. These problems and diseases include asthma, emphysema, lung cancer, lung transplant, tuberculosis, COPD, sleep disorders, and pulmonary vascular disease. They can work in emergency rooms, medical offices, and cardiothoracic surgery.
They have to have a medical degree, complete internal and residency training, and at least two years of fellowship training in pulmonology. They also have to pass a pulmonary medicine examination and if they pass, they officially become a pulmonologist. The average salary for a pulmonologist is $307,088. |
oncologist
An oncologist is a doctor who treats people with cancer. The three main oncologists are surgical, medical, and radiation. All three of these oncologists work together to help treat a patient with cancer. They explain the diagnosis, treatment, and stage of the cancer to the patient. They manage the patient's pain, symptoms, and treatment side affects like constipation, nausea, and fatigue with the best care they can provide.
Oncologists have to have a MD from a qualified four year medical school and then have proper training. Medical schools are very picky when it comes to the scores on the Medical College Admissions Test. Once they are accepted, they have to pass the first two stages of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) before they become a residence. After the MD, doctors have to pass the third stage of the USMLE and complete a residency program made by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. They start by working at clinics and hospitals, then, later in their careers, they open their own clinics or facilities. They make an average of $257,000 yearly. |
allergist
An allergist is a doctor specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with allergies. They look at the body's immune system and determine what needs to be fixed or improved. They work in private hospitals, government-owned hospitals, special laboratories, or in their own facilities.
Allergists have to complete medical school, as short as three years of residency in internal medicine or pediatrics. After that, they have to have at least two years of specialized training in immunology and allergy. Allergists have to have a license and be certified. They also have to pass the exam and do specific residency in their area. In order to be on the board, they have to pass a test made and given by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. Once you are on the board, you have to regularly attend medical education programs about allergies and immunology. Allergists' salaries are varied due to where they work. As of May 2007, they make $50,000 and up per year, but some allergists get up to the six figure range from $180,000 to $190,000. |
respiratory TECHNICIAN
Respiratory technicians are professionals in the career of respiratory medicine. They are supervised and work under a respiratory therapist. They take care of people who have asthma, chronic bronchitis, and pneumonia. They work closely with their patients by keeping records of that person's therapy, making sure their treatment is being received or done correctly, and assessing how the patient is responding to the treatment. Respiratory technicians work in hospitals, nursing homes, and therapy centers.
To have a career in respiratory therapy, you have to have a two-year degree in the field of respiratory therapy. As of 2013, every state, except Alaska, requires a technician to have a license. They make an average of $47,510 annually. |