Nursing is often the first career that comes to mind as someone begins exploring jobs in healthcare. But did you know that there are over 250 healthcare jobs?
Healthcare is a vast field with many opportunities. It is worth considering other healthcare careers that may be a better fit for you.
Respiratory therapy, for example, is the healthcare field that helps to diagnose and treat cardiopulmonary system disorders.
Respiratory therapy has similar education requirements to nursing. However, respiratory therapists have different career advancement opportunities and job duties and have more autonomy than nurses.
You may be wondering if respiratory therapy is harder than nursing or if it is a career you would enjoy.
To help you compare a career as a respiratory therapist vs a nurse, read on as we take a side-by-side look at some of the differences and similarities between these two healthcare careers.
Respiratory Therapist |
Registered Nurse |
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The minimum education required is an associate’s degree, although many employers only hire respiratory therapists with a bachelor's degree. Jobs in management, healthcare administration, or higher education may require a master’s degree. Respiratory therapists can seek a doctorate in a related field if they want to work in the highest levels of research and education. |
The minimum education required is an associate’s degree, although many employers require a bachelor’s degree in nursing. A master’s degree can open the door to management, educator, or nurse practitioner positions. Top-level healthcare administration and educator positions usually require a doctorate degree. |
Respiratory Therapist |
Registered Nurse |
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Licensure is required by almost all states. Respiratory therapist (RT) candidates must pass the Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) examination to earn the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential. If the candidate scores above a threshold on the TMC exam, they can sit for the Clinical Simulation (CSE) examination. If they pass the CSE they have earned the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential. Many employers require a respiratory therapist to be an RRT or at least be working toward taking the RRT exam. |
Licensure is required by all states. The registered nurse (RN) candidate must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) to earn the RN credential. Experienced nurses may be eligible or required to earn specialty certifications related to their position. |
Respiratory Therapist |
Registered Nurse |
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The job duties of a respiratory therapist will vary depending on where they are employed but may include:
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The job duties of a nurse will vary depending on where they are employed but may include the following:
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Respiratory Therapist |
Registered Nurse |
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Respiratory therapists who seek higher degrees have more opportunities to advance their careers. Experienced hospital-based respiratory therapists often move into management roles. Gaining a master’s degree can help respiratory therapists qualify for jobs such as department manager. Because many patients receive respiratory therapy services at home, some respiratory therapists have successfully established home health equipment or respiratory care service companies. Experienced RTs may work for product companies, helping to develop, test, and market new equipment and therapies. RTs with experience and advanced degrees can pursue educator positions, working with respiratory therapy students and performing research. |
Nurses who pursue advanced degrees have more opportunities to advance their careers. Some nurses seek specialty certifications, such as certified medical-surgical or neonatal nurse. Nurses can continue their formal education to the master’s or doctoral level, choosing to become a nurse practitioner or nurse administrator. Advanced practice registered nurses and nurse practitioners can specialize in pediatrics, adults, psychiatry, neonatal care, women's health, anesthesia, or midwifery. RNs with advanced degrees can work in academia, pursue a research career, or move into upper management roles, such as chief nursing officer or facility director. |
Respiratory Therapist |
Registered Nurse |
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While most respiratory therapists work in hospitals, they can work in any location where patients are being treated for breathing problems, including provider offices, nursing homes, home health, sleep apnea clinics, or smoking cessation clinics. The job outlook for RTs is excellent. Employment of respiratory therapists is expected to expand by 13 percent from 2022 to 2032. Respiratory therapists earn a median salary of $78,000. RTs who work in hospitals earn slightly more than those who work in outpatient facilities and nursing homes. Higher salaries typically accompany higher-level positions, such as in management. |
Nurses can work in almost any location that provides care to patients. Hospitals, clinics, schools, and home health are just some employment options for nurses. The nursing job outlook is good. Nurses can expect a 6 percent job growth rate from 2022 to 2032. Registered nurses earn a median salary of $86,000, with those working for the government and in hospitals earning the most. Higher salaries typically accompany higher-level positions, such as management or advanced practice roles. |
After receiving a brief report on their assigned patients, a newborn intensive care respiratory therapist prioritizes patients and makes a tentative schedule for their shift.
Working with a team of nurses, providers, and other caregivers, the respiratory therapist moves between patients, managing ventilators and other oxygen delivery machines, providing or assisting with breathing treatments, and monitoring blood gases.
A new patient is on the way to the nursery: an infant born to a mother who had an infection during delivery. The baby has a blood infection and is having difficulty breathing. The respiratory therapist sets up a ventilator, assists the provider in intubating the infant, and manages the ventilator settings.
In the afternoon, the respiratory therapist helps the nurse teach a family how to manage an in-home ventilator for their 6-month-old baby who was born extremely prematurely.
Finally, at the end of their shift, the respiratory therapist provides a report to the oncoming therapist.
Like respiratory therapists, the nurse receives reports on their assigned patients at the start of their shifts.
This morning, a postpartum nurse was assigned to four patients who delivered their babies last night. The nurse rotates between their patients, giving medications, monitoring their vital signs, helping them manage their self-care, and watching for changes in their health.
One patient had a cesarean section and is having difficulty breastfeeding their new baby. The nurse contacts the breastfeeding specialist to work with the mom and baby.
Later, the nurse receives an order to remove the patient's urinary catheter. Once the catheter is removed, the nurse helps mom take a walk and teaches her how to care for herself after she goes home.
Another mom gave birth to a premature baby who was admitted to the special care nursery. The nurse provides emotional support, cares for the patient's physical needs, and transports her to the nursery to visit her baby.
The other patients are rooming in with their babies. The postpartum nurse is responsible for baby care as well as the care of the mom. Much of the nurse’s time is spent teaching mom and dad how to care for their baby and for mom during the postpartum period.
Throughout the day, the nurse documents all care given to moms and their babies. At the end of the shift, the nurse provides a report on her patients to the nurse who just arrived for the next shift.
If you think you would enjoy being a respiratory therapist vs a nurse, you would probably find the process easier than if you were to force yourself to go through nursing school. To help you decide if you would enjoy being a respiratory therapist vs a nurse, gather first-hand information from nurses and respiratory therapists.
Try contacting a local hospital or healthcare college. Ask if they could connect you with a nurse and a respiratory therapist. Many healthcare professionals are happy to share their educational background, daily job duties, and future goals.
Next, contact an admissions counselor at a healthcare college, like Labouré College of Healthcare. Request information on their nursing and respiratory care programs. The Nursing program has 3 start dates per year, while the Respiratory Care program starts professional course cohorts in either Spring or Fall.
Want to explore these career options further? Speak with a Labouré admissions counselor today to find out which career may be the best fit for you!
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