A Day-In-The-Life of a Respiratory Therapist at HDGH
Oct 26, 2026 | Faces of HDGH, Road to Recovery – Restorative Rehabilitative Care
My name is Nick Poisson and I have been working full time as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) with Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare (HDGH) for 5 years. I attended St. Clair College as an RT student during the COVID-19 pandemic. Being a student in clinical placements during the pandemic provided me with the valuable skills I am able to use for the rest of my career as an RRT. For RT week this year, I was asked to share about the RRT profession and provide a day-in-the-life of what RRTs do here at HDGH!
A Day-In-The-Life of an RRT at HDGH
Respiratory Therapy became their own department at HDGH in 2016. Since then, our department has comprised of full time, part time, and casual employees all registered with the Canadian Respiratory Therapy College of Ontario (CRTO). As RRTs we are an essential part of the Allied Health Team, working on all floors of the hospital here at HDGH.
Registered Respiratory Therapists work together with all other healthcare professionals across the board. We are responsible for all things cardiopulmonary. This includes: Mechanical Ventilation and High Flow Oxygen Therapy device set up and maintenance, bronchopulmonary hygiene (such as suctioning and cough assist / insufflation-exsufflation devices), arterial blood gas sample collection and interpretation, tracheostomy tube care and routine changes, all electrocardiography test (ECG’s), incentive spirometry teaching for post op patients, responding to all code blues in the hospital with establishing advanced airways, and much more. Airway management and ventilation are critical parts of resuscitation!
A day as an RRT here at HDGH also entails being part of the Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) program here in the Toldo Neurobehavioural Institute (TNI). In ECT, RRTs are responsible for airway patency, ventilation, and assisting with a safe patient emergence/recovery phase throughout the ECT cases - working alongside RNs, Psychiatrists, and Anesthesiologists.
RRTs are also responsible for the Pulmonary Rehab Program in the Cardiac Wellness Gym on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Here, all patients who have a respiratory condition for multiple reasons come and learn about their disease process, how to manage exacerbations, and how to live with their condition to get the best quality of life.
As RRTs, we also work with Speech Language Pathologists (SLP) to help with swallow assessments at both the bedside and in the X-ray suite for all patients who require diagnostics for proper swallowing. This lets us see in real time what type of foods and fluids are appropriate for each patient requiring investigation in their swallowing to maintain safe, patent airways.
We are also responsible for assessing and setting up Home Oxygen Therapy for our patients who are able to be discharged into the community and now require oxygen in the home setting. We are able to assess with Arterial Blood Gases (ABGs) and get appropriate government funding with those results when appropriate. It is very rewarding to see and be part of many patients’ transition back to normalcy after being admitted to HDGH for whatever the reason may be!
Patient education is also an enormous part of being an RRT. Whether we are providing education on inhaler technique and the reasoning for the specific inhaled medication, airway clearance methods, breathing techniques, exacerbation prophylaxis, oxygen equipment maintenance and disease management, we are always there to provide information and clarification.
Fun Facts about Respiratory Therapy for RT Week
- RRTs don’t only work with people who have lung diseases. Respiratory problems can occur with trauma, neurological disorders, heart problems, infections, overdoses, surgeries, and many other conditions.
- RRTs can help people avoid intubation. Treatments such as high-flow nasal cannula and non-invasive ventilation (CPAP/BiPAP) can sometimes provide respiratory support without an invasive airway.
- RRTs have to think fast. Respiratory status can change within minutes, and it is important that we are experts in our equipment and how they work.
- Medical oxygen is a drug! It may seem like “just air”, but a prescription is needed in order to provide it to patients. This is why an Arterial Blood Gas and a physician's “O2 L/flow and SPO2 goal” script is needed to provide patients with Home Oxygen Therapy.
- RRTs play an important role in determining how much oxygen a patient needs and safely managing their oxygen therapy. Too much oxygen can become a concern, and “Oxygen Toxicity” is a real thing!
- We as RRTs work in all areas of hospitals and therefore work with an abundance of different issues!
- RRTs work with patients of all ages – from premature babies to older adults. We are found in all areas – ERs, ICUs, patient units, patient clinics, and in the community.
The Respiratory Therapy Department here at HDGH runs 24/7. For all your respiratory needs and concerns, you can reach us at any time!
Happy RT Week!