[hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Respiratory registered nurses (RNs) are in high demand because of the vital role they play in healthcare. They help patients who are having trouble breathing because of illness or injuries. Respiratory nurses perform tests, provide medication and manage respiratory equipment, and carry out treatment plans.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Find out more about a career as a respiratory nurse in this guide.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]What Does Respiratory Nurse Do?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Respiratory nurses help patients who are experiencing breathing problems. Their responsibilities include:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-grid columns-md=”3″ gap=”md”] [/hen-ui-grid][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Where Do Respiratory Nurses Work?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]While the BLS does not provide data on respiratory nurses specifically, they do have information on RNs. Most (61%) work in hospitals, while 18% work in ambulatory services. Six percent are employed in residential care facilities.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Respiratory nurses’ duties may vary according to setting.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”ordered” bullet-style=”check”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h4″]Hospitals[/hen-ui-heading]Respiratory nurses monitor patients in emergency departments, neonatal intensive care units, recovery, and other inpatient or outpatient settings. They educate patients and family and help ensure that respiratory equipment is working correctly.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h4″]Skilled Nursing Facilities[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Respiratory RNs check ventilators and ensure they function correctly, assist patients with breathing exercises, and perform standard respiratory tests.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h4″]Physicians’ Offices[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Respiratory RNs educate patients who have asthma or other respiratory conditions, perform diagnostic tests, update health records, and teach patients how to use equipment such as continuous positive airway pressure machines or oxygen tanks.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Why Become a Respiratory Nurse?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Respiratory nurses are in high demand, especially during the COVID pandemic. Most find the work very rewarding, but there are some downsides.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How to Become a Respiratory Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-article-card title=”Learn More About How to Become a Respiratory Nurse” href=”/careers/respiratory-nurse/” size=”compact” border=”stroke”][/hen-ui-article-card][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How Much Do Respiratory Nurses Make?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The median [hen-ui-link href=”/careers/respiratory-nurse/”]salary for RNs[/hen-ui-link], according to the BLS, is $75,330. Respiratory nurses can make more. BLS projects 9% growth for nurses (not just respiratory nurses) over the same period. During COVID, respiratory nurses can generally expect good signing bonuses.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-article-card title=”Find State-Specific Salary Data Here” href=”/registered-nursing/” size=”compact” border=”stroke”][/hen-ui-article-card][hen-ui-table][hen-ui-table-caption]Top-Paying States[/hen-ui-table-caption][hen-ui-table-header][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head]States[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-head]Average Salary[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-head]Total Number of RNs[/hen-ui-table-head][/hen-ui-table-row][/hen-ui-table-header][hen-ui-table-body][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-cell]California[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell]$120,560[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell]307,060[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-cell]Hawaii[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell]$104,830[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell]11,260[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-cell]Massachusetts[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell]$96,250[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell]84,030[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-cell]Oregon[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell]$96,230[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell]6,240[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-cell]Alaska[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell]$95,270[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell]6,430[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][/hen-ui-table-body][/hen-ui-table][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ align=”right”]Source:BLS[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-table][hen-ui-table-caption]Top-Paying Metropolitan Areas for RNs[/hen-ui-table-caption][hen-ui-table-header][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head]Top-Paying Metropolitan Areas[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-head]Average Salary[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-head]Total Number of RNs[/hen-ui-table-head][/hen-ui-table-row][/hen-ui-table-header][hen-ui-table-body][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-cell]San Francisco — Oakland — Hayward, CA[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell]$149,200[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell]40,600[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-cell]San Jose — Sunnyvale — Santa Clara, CA[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell]$146,870[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell]17,750[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-cell]Vallejo — Fairfield, CA[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell]$142,140[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell]3,690[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-cell]Sacramento-Roseville-Arden — Arcade, CA[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell]$134,350[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell]21,920[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-cell]Salinas, CA[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell]$132,160[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell]2,910[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][/hen-ui-table-body][/hen-ui-table][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ align=”right”]Source:BLS[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-table][hen-ui-table-caption]Top-Paying Industries for RNs[/hen-ui-table-caption][hen-ui-table-header][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head]Industry[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-head]Average Salary[/hen-ui-table-head][/hen-ui-table-row][/hen-ui-table-header][hen-ui-table-body][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-cell]Business Support Services[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell]$106,670[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-cell]Federal Executive Branch[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell]$96,230[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-cell]Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell]$92,110[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-cell]Other Investment Pools and Funds[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell]$91,990[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-cell]Office Administrative Services[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell]$89,490[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][/hen-ui-table-body][/hen-ui-table][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ align=”right”]Source:BLS[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Respiratory Nursing: FAQ[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-separator /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Respiratory therapists and respiratory nurses work within hospital settings and other medical facilities to assist patients that are undergoing treatment for respiratory problems. They may also help in the diagnosis of patients who are having breathing problems, but who have no current respiratory diagnosis or treatment under way. Asthma, emphysema, and other chronic illnesses may be treated, along with symptoms displayed by newborns with under-developedlungs, or elderly patients who have other forms of lung disease or weakness in their lungs. Respiratory nurses perform emergency procedures on patients who have suffered from heart attacks or shock. They may also treat patients who are victims of drowning.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]What does a respiratory nurse do?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Respiratory nurses help patients who are having breathing problems due to illness, injuries, or chemical or smoke inhalation. They monitor patients’ conditions, adjust equipment as needed, and educate patients on breathing exercises and how to use respiratory equipment. They work closely with physicians and other clinicians.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]What skills are needed to be a respiratory nurse?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Respiratory nurses must, like all nurses, understand anatomy and how the respiratory system works. They must understand how to conduct breathing tests, monitor patients for breathing difficulties, and use medical equipment such as ventilators, humidifiers, nebulizers, and oxygen delivery systems. They should communicate well with patients and loved ones.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Who makes more RNs or respiratory therapists?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]RNs make a median of $75,330, according to the BLS, compared to respiratory therapists who make a median of $62,810. However, location and experience make a difference, as do degrees. An experienced respiratory therapist with a bachelor’s or advanced degree can make more than an RN with an associate degree.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Can an RN become a respiratory therapist?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]RNs can return to school to earn a respiratory therapy degree, but because RTs generally earn less and have limited career choices, it’s rare. Respiratory therapists are more likely to become RNs, so some RN programs have RT-to-RN bridge programs.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Resources for Respiratory Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Related Careers[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Page last reviewed March 14, 2022[/hen-ui-text]