Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)

Quick Facts

• Role: Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)

• Setting: ICU and Step-Down units

Description

Provide respiratory care to critically ill and/or high-risk patients, including oxygen, aerosol, humidity, and positive pressure breathing therapies. Administer and manage adult artificial ventilation per physician orders, monitor ventilated patients, and adjust therapy based on blood gas analysis with physician approval. Perform arterial blood gas analysis, pulmonary function tests, emergency respiratory treatments, and document patient response and tolerance.

Responsibilities

• Provide respiratory care in ICU and Step-Down units

• Administer oxygen, aerosol, humidity, and positive pressure breathing therapy

• Position patients and perform chest physiotherapy and drainage

• Implement adult artificial ventilation and maintain/monitor ventilated patients

• Administer prescribed respiratory medications; note contraindications and/or adverse reactions and notify the physician

• Perform and interpret arterial blood gas analysis; consult physician and recommend corrective therapy

• Maintain, calibrate, repair, and perform quality control of blood gas analyzers

• Provide emergency respiratory therapy treatments to critically ill patients

• Monitor therapy response using pulse oximetry

• Perform pulmonary function tests (spirometry, lung volumes, exercise testing)

• Document progress notes and all relevant information on patient response and tolerance

• Participate in research projects under the Medical Director of Respiratory Therapy

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship

• Proficient in written and spoken English

• Pass pre-employment physical evaluation

• Subject to background/security investigation

• Complete required online onboarding and pre-employment requirements

• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program

• Selective Service registration (for males born after 12/31/1959)

• Education: respiratory care program accredited by CoARC (or successor)

• Licensure: full, current, unrestricted state license to practice as an RRT (for RRT positions)

• Credential: valid, current, unrestricted RRT credential (for RRT positions)

• Ability to meet essential physical requirements; may require PPE and TB screening

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government includes a comprehensive benefits package. Eligibility depends on the type of position held (full-time, part-time, or intermittent).