The role of the respiratory therapist in the NICU.

Abstract

Neonatal respiratory therapy has emerged as a new specialization in recent years, owing to advances in medical knowledge such as those which have increased the survival rate for premature infants. Various factors define the scope of the neonatal respiratory therapist's role, which varies from one facility to another but can include involvement in delivery, transport, education, and research as well as ventilatory assistance and monitoring.