Respiratory Therapy CRT Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Guide to Master Your Certification!

The device used to deliver aerosolized medication directly to the lungs is called a nebulizer. A nebulizer works by converting liquid medication into a mist that can be easily inhaled into the lungs, making it an effective method for administering treatments for conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and other respiratory illnesses.

Nebulizers are particularly useful for patients who may have difficulty using other forms of inhalation devices, such as metered-dose inhalers, due to the need for coordination of breath and actuation. By providing a continuous mist, nebulizers allow patients to inhale the medication over a longer period, which can help ensure that the medication reaches the deeper parts of the lungs.

Inhalers, while also effective for delivering medication, do not aerosolize the drug in the same manner and require a specific technique for proper use. Oximeters are used to measure the oxygen saturation level in the blood and do not deliver medication. Ventilators, on the other hand, are used to assist or control breathing in patients who are unable to breathe adequately on their own, making them a different category of respiratory therapy equipment.