Respiratory Therapy | University of Akron Main Campus

Skills & Competencies

Skills developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom O*NET via SOC 29-1126.00

Skills

Active ListeningCritical ThinkingMonitoringSpeakingActive LearningSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationReading Comprehension

Knowledge

Customer and Personal ServiceMedicine and DentistryEnglish LanguageEducation and TrainingPsychology

Abilities

Oral ExpressionProblem SensitivityInductive ReasoningOral ComprehensionDeductive ReasoningInformation OrderingWritten ComprehensionNear VisionWritten ExpressionSpeech Clarity

Tasks

Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with
Monitor patient's physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, or
Set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus
Attend high-risk and caesarian section infant deliveries to provide neonatal respiratory care as needed.

Technology

Calendar and scheduling softwareData base user interface and query softwareMedical softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite software

Tools

Aerosol masksAir compressorsAmbu bagsApnea monitorsBedside spirometersBilevel positive airway pressure BiPAP ventilatorsBlood collection syringesBlood gas kitsBlood gas machinesBronchoscopesCannulasCapillary cathetersCell saversChristmas tree adaptersContinuous positive airway pressure CPAP ventilators

Work Values

RelationshipsSupportRecognitionWorking ConditionsAchievementIndependence

Career Pathways

Occupations this program prepares you for

Auto-populatedfrom O*NET + BLS

Occupations matched to this program, with median wage, top wage, growth, and openings
SOC	Occupation	Method	Wage	Growth	Openings
Match confidence: high29-1126.00	Respiratory Therapists	title_inference	$80,450 median$108,820 top	+12.03%	1,680

Program Pathways

Credentials this program stacks toward

No program pathways.

What You'll Learn

Key competencies developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom NSX Competency Framework

Mastery: proficient (Level 3)(based on Bachelor's Degree)

Complex ventilator management — autonomously optimize mode, pressure, volume, and weaning parameters for critically ill patients across ICU and emergency department environments.
Comprehensive patient assessments — integrate prescription data, arterial blood gas analysis, chest imaging context, and clinical observations to formulate and execute individualized respiratory care plans.
Non-routine physiological events — apply inductive and deductive reasoning to identify atypical patient responses and implement evidence-based interventions without physician prompting.
Advanced emergency interventions — lead or fully participate in resuscitation efforts, including coordinating CPR, airway management, and cardiac support within a rapid-response team.
Environmental control and specialty aerosol therapy systems — operate and troubleshoot across diverse clinical settings including neonatal, pediatric, and adult populations.
Clinical judgment and decision-making — independently evaluate risk-benefit tradeoffs when standard protocols do not clearly apply, escalating appropriately and documenting clinical rationale.
Interdisciplinary collaboration — take a primary role in care-coordination discussions, translating respiratory data into actionable clinical recommendations for physicians, nurses, and allied health colleagues.
Equipment safety programs — oversee the full lifecycle of respiratory devices, identifying systemic maintenance issues and recommending procurement or process changes to department leadership.
Complex problem solving — diagnose multifactorial causes of treatment failure (patient, equipment, and protocol factors) and implement corrective plans with measurable outcomes.
Patient and family education — design and deliver clear, empathetic explanations of respiratory conditions and home therapy devices, adapting communication style to health literacy level.

Program Details

Detailed information about this program

No detailed information available.

Requirements

What you need to earn this credential

No requirements listed.

Financial Aid

Eligible funding programs

No funding information available.

Scholarships

No scholarships listed.