How a Respiratory Therapist got her start on PEI and established her career 

by Stacy Dunn

Registered Respiratory Therapist Susan Andrews went to the Victoria General Hospital School of Respiratory Therapy, which is now a degree program offered at Dalhousie University, on a provincial government grant to students in healthcare careers in the early 1990s.  

“I was able to go through the program thanks to a grant from the provincial government,” she says. “The stipulation was I had to work in a hospital setting for two years upon graduation. I worked at the QEH for two years. The grant helped me a lot and I had a guaranteed job placement upon graduation.” 

Respiratory Therapy involves the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with respiratory and cardiopulmonary disorders. Respiratory Therapists, or RTs, work in hospitals, outpatient clinics, public health centres, sleep clinics, and respiratory home care companies.   

This profession is regulated under the College of Allied Health Professionals of Prince Edward Island.  All Registered Respiratory Therapists working in the province must be registered with the CAHPPEI. 

“Since COVID, the respiratory therapy profession has come to the forefront because RTs look after the ventilators, to keep patients breathing, at the hospital and then provide continual treatment afterwards. There is an increase in demand for RTs. The salary has been increasing and you can work in many areas.”  

The occupational profile of RTs on the Work PEI website shows the Canada wage range according to the Labour Force Survey for 2022 to be $27.40/hr to $50.00/hr.  

In hospitals, RTs work as part of a team with critically ill or seriously injured patients in ICUs, emergency rooms, operating rooms, and pediatric units. They usually do shiftwork or may be on call.  

Susan moved from QEH to a home care company in the late 1990s because she liked the work-life balance of working Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.  

“Home care is geared towards education and chronic disease management,” she says. “We deal with people with long-term disease and disability. It’s a little slower pace, but just as important.” 

In 2000, Susan and her husband, Kevin, who’s an accountant, opened their own business, Island Respiratory Specialists. They have locations in Charlottetown and Summerside. Three RTs are on staff and Susan would like to add a fourth RT in the future. The RTs travel across the Island meeting clients in their homes to offer respiratory treatment, equipment and management.  

“Our business delivers mainly home oxygen, sleep diagnostics, and sleep apnea therapy. On the home oxygen side, we help people with COPD and other lung conditions, who need supplemental oxygen for improved quality of life. We follow up with patients on a longer-term basis to support the use of the equipment and provide education on disease management.” 

“Island Respiratory Specialists supports the ALS Society, by managing their home ventilation equipment for ALS patients with respiratory insufficiencies. We provide heated humidity, suction therapy and cough assistance as well,” Susan says. “We assist hospital discharge planners for patients in hospital who are transitioning back to their homes, who may need respiratory equipment.” 

She says RT is a very rewarding career because there are so many options, and the technology is always changing.  

“Sleep diagnostics and treatment have grown immensely in the last decades. CPAP machines used to be huge and loud, and now they are small and quiet,” Susan says. “Awareness of sleep disorders has increased, and more people are calling to book an appointment to get tested.” 

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Education options 

To become an RT, a student must successfully complete a three- or four-year program, which includes in-class and clinical components. The clinical component involves extensive hands-on experience in a healthcare setting. 

Post-secondary education options closest to PEI  

Diploma in Respiratory Therapy New Brunswick Community College Saint John, NB 

Diploma in Health Science, Respiratory Therapy Dalhousie University Halifax, NS 

Diploma in Respiratory Therapy College of the North Atlantic St. John’s, NFLD 

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The Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists (CSRT) is a national professional association for RTs.  

Susan says CSRT holds an annual conference and regular webinars to help RTs keep up with their education. Manufacturers of RT equipment also offer webinars and in-person training on their new products.  

She welcomes anyone interested in a career in RT to reach out to her for an informational interview. “Volunteering in a healthcare setting, whether it be hospital, respiratory or homecare clinic, or long-term care facility, is a good way to learn more about working with people in a medical setting.” 

Susan says the Internet has a lot of reading materials and videos on the profession. However, when it comes to hiring an RT for her business, an ability to communicate and educate is a skill that’s top of mind for her.  

“In home care, developing relationships and customer service is required. We provide long-term care, often within patient’s personal home space, so I would ask potential job candidates about their skills in building relationships”.  

“Being a good communicator is important. I would want to see that that have a strong knowledge base to educate patients on using RT equipment for COPD, sleep apnea and our other therapies.”