Respiratory Therapists, Clinical Perfusionists, and Cardiopulmonary Technologists
(NOC 3214)
in All HealthRespiratory therapists assist physicians in the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with respiratory and cardiopulmonary disorders. They are employed in hospitals, extended care facilities, public health centres and respiratory home care companies. Clinical perfusionists provide technical support to patients undergoing cardiac surgery and patients requiring cardio-respiratory support. Cardiopulmonary technologists assist physicians in the technical aspects of diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular and pulmonary disease. Clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists are primarily employed in hospitals. Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists who are supervisors or instructors are included in this group. Respiratory therapists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, critical care, pediatrics, cardiopulmonary diagnostics and respiratory home care.
Job Outlook
Average
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Compared to: All Health
The employment outlook over the next few years for this occupational group is “average”, which indicates the chances of a qualified individual finding work is comparable to the average for all occupations in Nova Scotia. This is not a large occupation in Nova Scotia, with employment around 275. The number employed in this occupation is expected to grow slightly over the next few years, which should provide some additional opportunities for employment. With a large percent of workers being 55 years of age and older, retirements are expected to be a key contributor to employment opportunities over the coming years. Respiratory Therapists, Clinical Perfusionists, and Cardiopulmonary Technologists most commonly work full-time hours. Furthermore, the jobs are typically permanent positions. Also, a large percentage of the workforce is self-employed which should be an important consideration for those thinking about employment in the occupation.
The median employment income for 59% of Respiratory Therapists, Clinical Perfusionists, and Cardiopulmonary Technologists who worked full-time, year-round in 2015 was $68,939. Across all occupations in Nova Scotia, 59% of those who worked full-time year round had a median employment income of $43,600.
(Source: 2016 Census)
Hourly Pay
$24.04
Minimum$31.75
Median$37.00
MaximumAnnual Pay
$17,805
Minimum$58,457
Median$78,937
MaximumCompared to: All Health
Hourly Pay
$16.38
Minimum$25.50
Median$41.00
MaximumAnnual Pay
$10,740
Minimum$43,853
Median$88,944
MaximumAbout the job
Nature of work
Respiratory therapists assist physicians in the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with respiratory and cardiopulmonary disorders. They are employed in hospitals, extended care facilities, public health centres and respiratory home care companies.
Clinical perfusionists provide technical support to patients undergoing cardiac surgery and patients requiring cardio-respiratory support. Cardiopulmonary technologists assist physicians in the technical aspects of diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular and pulmonary disease. Clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists are primarily employed in hospitals.
Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists who are supervisors or instructors are included in this group. Respiratory therapists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, critical care, pediatrics, cardiopulmonary diagnostics and respiratory home care.
Job duties
Respiratory therapists perform some or all of the following duties:
- Perform diagnostic tests, such as arterial blood gas analysis and cardiopulmonary functions tests.
- Operate and monitor respiratory equipment to administer treatments such as oxygen, oxygen-air mixtures, humidified air or medications.
- Operate, monitor, maintain and test a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic equipment.
- Assess patients and perform or assist with interventions such as airway maintenance, line insertions, inductions and intubations.
- Perform artificial respiration and external cardiac massage.
- Assist with transport of high-risk patients.
- Supervise and train students and other respiratory therapists.
- Participate in home care programs for chronic respiratory patients and provide patient and family education.
- Participate in research related to cardiac and pulmonary disorders.
Clinical perfusionists perform some or all of the following duties:
- Assemble, maintain and operate extracorporeal circulation equipment, intra-aortic balloon pumps and other heart assist devices to support or temporarily replace patients' cardiopulmonary functions during open-heart surgery.
- Administer blood products, drugs and other substances through heart-lung machines and other devices as directed by cardiac surgeons and anesthetists to maintain adequate flow of oxygenated blood to all organs of the body.
- Monitor vital signs to support and maintain patients' physiological functions and metabolic needs during cardiopulmonary surgery.
- Participate in routine maintenance, calibration and inspection of all perfusion related equipment.
- Supervise and train student clinical perfusionists and other clinical perfusionists.
Cardiopulmonary technologists perform some or all of the following duties:
- Perform diagnostic tests, such as pulmonary function and asthma stress, or assist physicians with cardiac and cardiopulmonary stress tests and bronchoscopies.
- Determine patients' blood characteristics such as activated clotting time and oxygen saturation.
- Operate, monitor, maintain, calibrate and test diagnostic and therapeutic equipment.
- Monitor patients and advise physician of any changes in patients' condition.
- Prepare medications and administer inhaler and other treatments under supervision of cardiologist.
- Provide information and care for patients during tests.
- Assist with the preparation of cardiac catheterization room, prepare specialized catheters and assist cardiologists during catheterization.
- Perform analysis, programming and monitoring of implanted devices such as pacemakers and defibrillators during surgery.
- Supervise and train students and other cardiopulmonary technologists.
- Provide technical support for research.
Sample job titles
- anesthesia technologist
- cardiopulmonary technician
- certified clinical perfusionist (CCP)
- perfusionist
- pulmonary function technologist
- registered respiratory therapist (RRT)
- respiratory care practitioner
- respiratory technician
- respiratory technologist
- respiratory therapy clinical instructor
Skills
To work in these fields, you should be interested in medicine and health. Manual dexterity and good coordination are necessary. You must be able to deal with people in a mature, tactful, and professional way. You should also be comfortable working with instruments, apparatus, and technology. A background in science would be helpful.
Job requirements
- Respiratory therapists require the completion of a three-year college, hospital or university degree program in respiratory therapy, including clinical training.
- Registration with a provincial regulatory body is required for respiratory therapists.
- Clinical perfusionists require the completion of a respiratory therapy or registered nursing program with a minimum of one year of work experience as a respiratory therapist or registered nurse and completion of a college or university program in clinical perfusion, including clinical training.
- Certification with the Canadian Society of Clinical Perfusion is required for clinical perfusionists.
- Cardiopulmonary technologists require a two-year college diploma in an allied health discipline such as respiratory therapy, nursing diploma, or a university degree in a related science and completion of a college post-diploma program in cardiovascular technology and additional training in pulmonary technology through courses or supervised on-the-job clinical training.
- Registration with the Canadian Association of Cardio-pulmonary Technologists (CACPT) may be required.
Other considerations
Although the majority of people in these jobs are employed full-time, part-time and casual work arrangements are common. Shift-work is common in these jobs. Supervisory and instructor positions in this group require experience in their respective fields as a respiratory therapist, clinical perfusionist or cardiopulmonary technologist.
By the numbers
Quick look
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Compared to: All Health
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Where will I likely work?
Halifax
Cape Breton
Annapolis Valley
Southern
North Shore
Compared to: All NS Occupations
Halifax
North Shore
Annapolis Valley
Cape Breton
Southern
Top Industries of Employment
Health Care and Social Assistance
Other Industries
What is the age of Employment?
35-44
25-34
45-54
15-24
Compared to: All Health
45-54
35-44
55-64
25-34
65+
Top levels of education
Bachelor's degree
$25,907 median annual incomeCollege certificate or diploma
$28,283 median annual incomeUniversity advanced certificate or diploma
N/AUniversity certificate or diploma
$15,847 median annual incomeHigh school
N/ACompared to: All Health
College certificate or diploma
$36,693 median annual incomeBachelor's degree
$57,186 median annual incomeMedicine, dentistry, veterinary, optometry
$83,000 median annual incomeHigh school
$24,119 median annual incomeMaster's degree
$87,808 median annual incomeEducation & training
Respiratory care therapy/therapist
This program may be offered at the college, trades, or university level.This instructional program class includes any program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of physicians, to assist in developing respiratory care plans, administer respiratory care procedures, supervise personnel and equipment operation, maintain records, and consult with other health care team members. These programs include courses in the applied basic biomedical sciences; anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the respiratory system; clinical medicine; therapeutic procedures; clinical expressions; data collection and record-keeping; patient communication; equipment operation and maintenance; personnel supervision; and procedures for special population groups.
Institutions providing this program
Office of the Registrar
Halifax, NS B3H 4R2
(902) 494-2450
Employment requirements & contacts
Regulations
Right to Title and Practice: This job is regulated, and the job title is protected in Nova Scotia (you may not use this job title without holding a provincial licence). A licence shows that the holder has met provincial requirements and is required to work in this job.