A<unk>  is a specialized healthcare practitioner trained in critical care and cardio-pulmonary medicine in order to work therapeutically with people suffering from acute critical conditions, cardiac and pulmonary disease.<unk> s graduate from a college or university with a degree in<unk>  therapy and have passed a national board certifying examination. The NBRC (National Board for<unk>  Care) is the not-for-profit organization responsible for credentialing the seven areas of<unk>  therapy in the United States. Those seven areas of<unk>  therapy include, as of December 2017: CRT (Certified<unk> , RRT (Registered<unk> , CPFT and RPFT (Certified or Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist), ACCS (Adult Critical Care Specialist), NPS (Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist), and SDS (Sleep Disorder Specialist).<unk> s work in hospitals in the intensive care units (Adult, Pediatric, and Neonatal), on hospital floors, in Emergency Departments, in Pulmonary Functioning laboratories (PFTs), are able to intubate patients, work in sleep labs (polysomnography) (PSG) labs, and in home care specifically DME (Durable Medical Equipment) and home oxygen.<unk> s are specialists and educators in many areas including cardiology, pulmonology, and sleep therapy.<unk> s are clinicians trained in advanced airway management; establishing and maintaining the airway during management of trauma, and intensive care.<unk> s initiate and manage life support for people in intensive care units and emergency departments, stabilizing, treating and managing pre-hospital and hospital-to-hospital patient transport by air or ground ambulance. In the outpatient setting<unk> s work as educators in asthma clinics, ancillary clinical staff in pediatric clinics, and sleep-disorder diagnosticians in sleep-clinics, they also serve as clinical providers in cardiology clinics and cath-labs, as well as working in pulmonary rehabilitation.
Respiratory therapist
Anesthetic technician
Pulmonary scientist
Radiographer
Psychologist
Dental therapist
Clinical biologist
Nutritionist