Respiratory Therapist

Registered nurses provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and families about health conditions, and provide emotional support during illness and recovery. The work encompasses assessing patient health through observation and physical examination; administering medications and treatments; developing care plans in collaboration with physicians and other healthcare team members; operating and monitoring medical equipment; recording patient histories and symptoms; and educating patients on managing chronic conditions and post-discharge care. RNs work in hospitals, clinics, physician offices, nursing homes, schools, correctional facilities, and patients' homes. Specializations include critical care, emergency, pediatrics, oncology, labor and delivery, psychiatric nursing, and public health. The profession demands clinical knowledge, critical thinking for rapid decision-making, physical stamina for 12-hour shifts, and emotional resilience for managing patient suffering and death while maintaining professional composure.

Paramedics and EMTs provide emergency medical care and transportation to patients in pre-hospital settings. The work involves responding to 911 calls, assessing patient conditions, administering emergency treatments including medications and advanced life support procedures, operating ambulance equipment, documenting care provided, and communicating with hospital staff. Paramedics perform advanced interventions like intubation, IV therapy, cardiac monitoring, and medication administration, while EMT-Basics focus on basic life support and transport. Work environments include ambulance services, fire departments, hospitals, industrial sites, and event medical teams. Every call presents different challenges—medical emergencies, traumatic injuries, psychiatric crises, or patients who called for non-emergent issues. The work demands physical stamina, emotional resilience for traumatic situations, and ability to function effectively under extreme stress while providing compassionate patient care.

Physician assistants practice medicine under the supervision of physicians, examining patients, diagnosing illnesses, developing treatment plans, prescribing medications, and performing procedures. The work encompasses taking patient histories, conducting physical examinations, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, counseling patients on preventive care and treatment options, assisting in surgery, and managing chronic disease care. PAs work across medical specialties including primary care, emergency medicine, surgery, psychiatry, dermatology, and orthopedics, often serving as the primary care provider for many patients. The role requires clinical decision-making skills to diagnose conditions based on symptoms and test results, communication skills to explain complex medical information to patients, and the judgment to recognize when cases require physician consultation. PAs in primary care settings often manage patient panels independently, providing continuity of care that builds long-term therapeutic relationships. In surgical settings, they assist with procedures and manage pre- and post-operative care. The profession requires graduate-level education and national certification.