A recent study (Mathews, Lira, and Neis, 1984) indicated that the reason that respiratory therapists leave or intend to leave their profession is the desire for jobs which offer more job satisfaction, better salary, opportunity for advancement, more status or recognition, better work schedules, and better benefits. Although the lack of these factors has been shown to contribute to job dissatisfaction, they cannot be solely responsible for the decision to leave the profession. The negative effects of job stressors must also play a part. A study was conducted to determine the contribution of potential stressors, measured by the Stress Index, and intrinsic/extrinsic job rewards, measured by the Job Dimension Survey, to job satisfaction and attrition of respiratory therapists (N=71) working in the critical care setting of three large metropolitan teaching/referral hospitals. While the results of the Mathew's study were replicated, it was found that therapists actually leave the work force for quite different reasons. Discriminant analysis revealed that the predictor variables contributing to the decision to leave the work force were dissatisfaction with supervision and people on the job, role stress, goal stress, and financial stress. Managers and educators in respiratory care should be aware of the stress and job reward factors responsible for job dissatisfaction and attrition, and work toward preventing their negative impact. (Author/NRB)