What does a pulmonary nurse do?
A pulmonary (respiratory) nurse is a registered nurse who cares for patients with asthma, COPD, pneumonia, cystic fibrosis and other lung conditions, in hospitals, clinics and pulmonary rehabilitation.
Nurse or respiratory therapist?
Respiratory therapists specialize in breathing treatments and ventilators. Pulmonary nurses provide overall nursing care, medication, teaching and monitoring. The two work together, and the BLS reports respiratory therapists in a separate category.
Certification
There is no certification limited to pulmonary nursing that most employers expect. Nurses in this field often hold critical care or medical-surgical certification: see critical care nurse.
Pay
The median RN earned $97,550 in May 2025. RN jobs are projected to grow 5.6% from 2025 to 2035.
Pay and projections: Bureau of Labor Statistics. NCLEX figures: NCSBN. Enrollment: AACN. Sources and years are ondata sources.