Caring. Compassionate. Skillful. Hard-working. Patient-focused. Detail-oriented. Essential to the health of others. These are all ways you can describe both respiratory therapists (RTs) and registered nurses (RNs).

When exploring rewarding careers in healthcare, people often decide between a career as a respiratory therapist or a registered nurse. Respiratory therapists and RNs have a lot in common, as you can see above, but their roles and responsibilities are very distinct. Below we unpack the differences between a respiratory therapist and registered nursing career—helping you decide the best pathway for you.

What is a respiratory therapist?

A respiratory therapist (RT) is a healthcare professional who specializes in assessing, treating, and caring for patients with breathing or cardiopulmonary disorders. They perform diagnostic tests, manage equipment like ventilators, administer respiratory treatments, and provide patient education on various respiratory conditions. Working in settings such as hospitals, clinics, and home care, respiratory therapists collaborate with doctors and other healthcare providers to develop and implement individualized care plans, ensuring patients receive the treatment and care they need to breathe.

Download our Guide to Becoming a Respiratory Therapist!

What is a registered nurse?

A registered nurse (RN) is a licensed healthcare professional that provides direct patient care and collaborates with doctors and other practitioners to treat patients in need. RNs spend their days coordinating treatment plans, administering medications, and educating patients and their families about health conditions and care. RNs work in a diversity of settings, including hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and home health care, and play a critical role in each medical setting, ensuring comprehensive and compassionate care for patients.

Download our Guide to Becoming a Registered Nurse!

Respiratory Therapist vs. Registered Nurse (RN) Career Comparison

Respiratory Therapist vs. RN Job Duties

Respiratory therapists are healthcare providers who offer specialized care relating to respiratory function. Specifically, these providers care for patients who have trouble breathing due to injury, illness, or conditions like asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

While their specific job duties will depend on the work environment and role, respiratory therapists can typically be found carrying out the following tasks to support patients in need:

• Examining patients with breathing difficulties or cardiopulmonary disorders
• Performing diagnostic tests (e.g. to measure lung capacity) and analyzing results
• Consulting with physicians about a patient’s symptoms, condition, and possible treatment plan
• Administering treatment to patients in need, which might include clearing a patient’s airways or delivering oxygen via a ventilator
• Monitoring and recording patients’ progress
• Teaching patients about respiratory conditions, treatments, and at-home equipment

Registered nurses (RNs) are also healthcare providers who spend their days helping patients in need. However, while respiratory therapists treat patients with cardiopulmonary issues, registered nurses have a more widespread reach, treating patients with a variety of conditions and needs.

Registered nurses’ main responsibilities are to provide patient care and to support patients and their families. On a daily basis, registered nurses can be found:

• Evaluating patients and their symptoms/needs
• Listening to patients’ concerns
• Coordinating treatment plans in collaboration with other medical providers
• Administering medications and treatments to patients, as needed
• Operating medical equipment
• Monitoring patient conditions and progress
• Performing diagnostic tests and analyzing results
• Recording patients’ medical information, treatment summaries, and histories
• Educating patients and their families about conditions, preventive care, and treatment

For both respiratory therapists and registered nurses, the specific job duties will vary depending on where they work and the populations with which they work. For example, the job responsibilities in a critical care setting or emergency department can vary significantly from those required in a physician’s office or nursing home.

Respiratory Therapist vs. Registered Nurse Requirements

Both respiratory therapists and registered nurses must fulfill accredited degree programs in their field of choice. Both types of professionals must also have a license to practice in most (if not all) states.

Respiratory therapists must complete an associate degree in Respiratory Care, at the minimum. This degree must be earned from a program that is approved by the American Medical Association.

RNs, on the other hand, must complete an associate degree in Nursing at minimum, though some aspiring nurses will complete a bachelor’s degree. Typically, the nursing degree must be obtained from an accredited or state-approved program, though requirements vary by state.

After completing the necessary education, respiratory therapists and registered nurses must go on to complete their license to practice.

Respiratory therapists are required to be licensed in all states except Alaska (though certification is still recommended here). Licensing requirements will depend on each state’s board, but in general will require the successful completion of a board examination. The National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) is the primary licensing body for respiratory therapists, enabling respiratory therapists to earn credentials such as Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) and Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT). The CRT credential is most standard among respiratory therapists, though many will also take the additional exam to become an RRT. Employers may require one or both certifications.

Registered nurses are required to be licensed in every state across the U.S. To become licensed, RNs must graduate from an approved nursing program and pass the NCLEX-RN examination. The NCLEX-RN is a board examination issued by each state’s board of nursing, and provides nurses the credentials needed to practice in their state upon successful completion. You can learn more about the NCLEX-RN here.

Depending on the state of work and employer, registered nurses may also be required to complete additional certifications, like cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), basic life support (BLS), and advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) certification.

Respiratory Therapist vs. Registered Nurse Career Options

Typically when you become a respiratory therapist or RN, you have your sights set on specific careers. However, there is still some level of choice and variability within each field of study.

Respiratory therapists, for example, can work in hospitals, physician’s offices, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, ambulatory settings, and outpatient clinics providing patient care. They may also work behind the scenes in areas like sales, selling respiratory equipment, or research, conducting studies on sleep and breathing disorders. Respiratory therapists may also specialize in certain areas or demographics, like pediatric care, critical care, in-home care, sleep disorders, and more. You can learn about the many career options for respiratory therapists here.

Registered nurses also have a breadth of career options after obtaining licensure—perhaps even more so than respiratory therapists. RNs can work in an array of patient care settings, including hospitals, doctors’ offices, clinics, diagnostic labs, schools, public agencies, the military, and specialty care facilities (such as in oncology or OB/GYN). Nurses may also work behind the scenes in research labs, insurance companies, consulting agencies, education, technical writing, and administrative roles. Like respiratory therapists, RNs can also specialize in specific areas of nursing and patient care, delivering an even higher quality of care and expertise to their patients. RN specialties include, but are not limited to, trauma nursing, pain management, dialysis, neonatal nursing, oncology, critical care, and more.

Respiratory Therapist vs. Registered Nurse Salary and Job Outlook

Both respiratory therapists and registered nurses can expect a bright job outlook and high salary potential within their respective fields. Both professionals are in demand and well-valued by other providers, helping to solidify the growth potential.

Respiratory therapists can expect their job market to grow 13 percent between 2022 and 2032, with 8,600 jobs becoming available each year throughout the decade. This growth rate is more than four times the average for all occupations in the U.S.

Registered nursing employment is projected to see jobs grow six percent between 2022 and 2032, but the number of jobs opening up in the field is significant: about 193,100 jobs are expected to open each year throughout the decade. RNs work in the largest employment sector within healthcare, and demand is still high to fill important nursing roles.

Salary potential varies significantly by state and by employer or workplace. The BLS reports that respiratory therapists earn approximately $78,000 annually in the United States; registered nurses, on the other hand, can expect a median salary of $86,000 per year. In Connecticut, respiratory therapists earn closer to $85,000 annually, on average, while RNs can look forward to a six-figure salary of $101,000 per year, based on national data.

RN vs. respiratory therapists: Which career is right for you?

No matter the career choice, both fields offer a lucrative salary and boundless job opportunities. Once securing a position, you can also expect to see great benefits and upward growth within each field. Healthcare is one of the best industries to break into today, as the Baby Boomer population ages, and more medical care will be required to meet the growing demand.

As you consider a career caring for others in need, there is no wrong choice when considering a nursing or respiratory therapist profession. Both respiratory therapists and RNs provide valuable services and benefit from a meaningful, rewarding career.

No matter which path you choose, Goodwin University can help you reach your goals. We offer accredited Respiratory Therapy and Registered Nursing programs to aspiring professionals looking to work and practice in Connecticut. Learn more by visiting the links below.

Learn about our Respiratory Therapist program! Learn more about our Nursing programs!