Respiratory Therapist Interview Questions

"I had a patient that would come to me every few months complaining of chest pain and difficulty breathing. I initially diagnosed her with asthma and prescribed an inhaler. Every time she came back, she complained of the same symptoms and told me she didn't want to take her inhaler. I explained we would need to admit her to a hospital soon if she didn't take her inhaler, and she agreed to. A few months later, I scheduled her for an appointment where she told me she was using her inhaler and feeling much better."

"When working with uncooperative patients, I try to be as patient as possible and look for the underlying cause. Patients may be dealing with side effects from new medicine, tyredness, pain or confusion, so it's important that I am understanding and talk to them. By talking to patients and building a trusting relationship, they tend to become more cooperative."

"I have always been interested in healthcare as I want to help as many people as I can. I knew pursuing a doctorate would take too long since I wanted to help people right away, so I looked into alternative career paths. Respiratory therapy stood out to me as a respiratory therapist helped my brother when he was younger, so I talked to a few and pursued the career myself."

"I once had a patient that was refusing a necessary pulmonary function test. They started shouting and trying to push me and the nurse away. As they weren't hurting themselves or other patients, we stepped out to let the patient calm down. When he was calm, I went back and explained the test and why he needed it. He told us the test scared him as he thought it required surgery, so he apologised and agreed to the spirometry."

"I previously worked at Toronto General Hospital as arespiratory therapistfor two years. There, I worked with the respiratory and pulmonary care team to treat patients with lung diseases and disorders. This consisted of several day-to-day activities such as administering tests, monitoring patients' progress and assisting patients with new respiratory devices."

"Treating patients with COVID-19 has been my biggest challenge to date. As there was so little information available about the disease, creating a treatment plan for new patients was difficult. I researched the disease and potential treatments as much as I could and was able to help patients with severe cases by keeping them on a ventilator until they could breathe on their own."

"Thankfully, I have never disagreed with a colleague's diagnosis. I worked with a great team of medical professionals at my previous hospital that always worked together and made thorough decisions regarding patient care."

"If I had to give a patient or their family bad news, I would ensure we were sitting down in a private place first. I would then be honest about their diagnosis and give them time to process it. When they had some time, I would ask if they had any questions or concerns about the next steps."

"If a patient or their family disagreed with my treatment plan or assessment, I would discuss the issue with them. It may just be a case of misunderstanding the diagnosis, or the proposed treatment may go against their ethics. If this is the case, I would discuss alternative options with the patient."

"Giving patients and their loved ones a diagnosis or treatment plan with too much medical jargon can scare them. When I talk to patients and their loved ones, I thoroughly explain their diagnosis or treatment as simply as I can without complicated medical terminology. Afterward, I always ask if they have questions for me to answer to ensure they understood everything."

"I am a very open communicator which helps me interact with my team members efficiently and build relationships with my patients. I also think critically, even under pressure, which helps me create tailored treatment plans for every patient."

"I have spent the last ten years working with a team of experienced medical professionals and enjoyed every minute of it. Working with a team gives me access to differing opinions and knowledge, which helps me better treat my patients. Having a team to rely on ensures that I am not overworked and stressed as well."

"I have only been a respiratory therapist for two years, but I love it. I really enjoy helping patients and working with a team of talented doctors and nurses. So, I do plan to continue as a respiratory therapist long-term and would prefer to stay with one company."

"If I need to visit a patient in their room, I always knock first to let them know I'm there. When they allow me to come in, I introduce myself if we've never met before. I will then ask how they're feeling or if they need anything before I diagnose or treat them."

"A physician asked me for a consult on a patient who recently had a severe asthma attack. When I went to see the patient and perform a spirometry test, a nurse told me they completed the test that morning so I wouldn't need to. I insisted I wanted to see the patient perform the test myself and the nurse argued with me, saying it wasn't necessary. The patient chimed in and said they were fine performing the test again, so we did. I approached the nurse afterward and told her I appreciated her concern for her patients, but I also have their best interests in mind. She apologised for interfering and arguing, especially in front of a patient."