Open AccessExploring the professionalization of respiratory therapy in Canada
Author(s) -
Marco Zaccagnini,
André Bussières,
Peter Nugus,
Andrew West,
Aliki Thomas
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
canadian journal of respiratory therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.207
H-Index - 9
eISSN - 2368-6820
pISSN - 1205-9838
DOI - 10.29390/cjrt-2021-046
Subject(s) - professionalization , legitimacy , autonomy , political science , sociology , engineering ethics , public relations , psychology , medical education , medicine , law , politics , engineering
A recurrent challenge facing respiratory therapists (RTs) is their legitimacy as professionals. RTs are often referred to as technologists, vocationalists, or technicians and must often justify their status as full professionals rather than "professional technicians". There is currently little exploration of what it means to be a profession and the process of professionalization in respiratory therapy.