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What Does a Pulmonary Nurse Do?

Pulmonary nurses, also called respiratory nurses, care for patients with respiratory disorders, such as asthma, tuberculosis, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, and emphysema. Pulmonary nurses have diverse job duties, including hands-on medical care, educating the public, and counseling.

Counseling can be a key part of pulmonary nurses' jobs, given the difficulty and sadness that goes hand-in-hand with serious respiratory illnesses like cystic fibrosis and lung cancer.

Education & Training Required to Become a Pulmonary Nurse

To become a pulmonary nurse, you must complete a registered nursing (RN) education program and become certified in pulmonary nursing, which can be accomplished through degree programs in pulmonary nursing. You can become an RN by earning a diploma, associate's degree, or bachelor's degree, although job opportunities are best for bachelor's degree holders. Online RN to BSN degree program can help working nurses earn their bachelor of science in nursing.

To become a pulmonary nurse, you also must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) and a critical-care certification exam offered through the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.

Typical Characteristics of a Pulmonary Nurse

Pulmonary nurses must be responsible, caring, and detail-oriented. Because respiratory illnesses are often serious, pulmonary nurses need exceptional tact and compassion. Children with cystic fibrosis, for instance, are in and out of hospitals and, if they reach adulthood, live to an average age of 35. Given the emotional trauma associated with the disease, the pulmonary nurse plays a vital support role to families.

Pulmonary nurses can also serve as inspiration, as cystic fibrosis sufferer Casey Flaherty attests in the Club CF 20+ blog. At 26-years-old, Flaherty is a full-time nursing student who "decided to pursue nursing after meeting so many wonderful nurses during my experience in and out of the hospital."

High Demand for Pulmonary Nurses

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes excellent job prospects--an anticipated 22 percent increase between 2008 and 2018--for all registered nurses, including pulmonary nurses. Nursing specialization, such as pulmonary nursing, is becoming widely recognized for its ability to best manage specific diseases.

The Respiratory Nursing Society (RNS) was created in 1990; since pulmonary nursing has grown more specialized, as evidenced through the forming of the Cystic Fibrosis International Nurse Specialist Group and the rise of the Lung Cancer Nurse Specialist. According to the BLS, RNs earned a median annual salary in 2008 of $62,450. Those with advanced degrees in pulmonary nursing often face the best job prospects.