| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Allied Health |
| Level | Entry level |
| Reports to | Pulmonologist |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | 1 to 5 years in critical care or respiratory therapy |
Respiratory Therapist job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Respiratory Therapist
Department: Allied Health
Reports to: Pulmonologist
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Respiratory Therapist manages breathing support for patients with lung and airway problems, especially in intensive care. They set up and monitor ventilators and oxygen therapy, manage airways, give nebulisation and chest physiotherapy, and adjust support to blood gases and the patient's condition. The role reports to the Pulmonologist or ICU in-charge. A good respiratory therapist keeps ventilated patients safe and well supported, responds fast to deterioration, and helps wean patients off support at the right pace.
Key responsibilities
- Set up, check and monitor ventilators and oxygen delivery for patients.
- Manage airways, suctioning and tracheostomy care for ventilated patients.
- Adjust ventilator settings to blood gases and the patient's condition as ordered.
- Give nebulisation, chest physiotherapy and airway clearance techniques as the patient needs.
- Monitor oxygen saturation, blood gases and respiratory status closely.
- Support weaning patients off ventilation at a safe pace with the doctor.
- Respond quickly to respiratory emergencies and support resuscitation with the team.
- Maintain and check respiratory equipment and manage circuits and consumables.
- Follow infection control measures strictly to prevent ventilator associated infection.
- Record respiratory care, ventilator settings and patient response accurately every shift.
Requirements
- BSc or diploma in Respiratory Therapy or Critical Care
- BLS and ACLS certification
- ICU respiratory training
- 1 to 5 years in critical care or respiratory therapy
KRAs and KPIs for a Respiratory Therapist
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Patient safety | Ventilated patients managed without a preventable respiratory event each month |
| Ventilator management | Ventilator settings kept within ordered targets on monitoring checks |
| Weaning | Eligible patients weaned to plan without avoidable reintubation |
| Infection control | Ventilator care bundle followed to reduce ventilator associated infection |
| Equipment readiness | Ventilators and circuits checked and ready with no equipment lapse |
| Documentation | Respiratory care records complete and accurate for every patient |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Mechanical ventilator, Blood gas analyser, Pulse oximeter, Nebuliser, Suction and airway kit.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Senior Respiratory Therapist, Critical Care Specialist, ICU In-Charge
Interview questions for a Respiratory Therapist
- How do you set up a ventilator for a patient in respiratory failure?
- How do you use blood gas results to adjust ventilator settings?
- How do you carry out safe suctioning of a ventilated patient?
- How do you plan and support weaning off the ventilator?
- What steps reduce the risk of ventilator associated pneumonia?
- Tell me about a respiratory emergency and how you responded.
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What does a respiratory therapist do?
A respiratory therapist manages breathing support for patients with lung and airway problems, especially in intensive care. They set up and monitor ventilators and oxygen therapy, manage airways, give nebulisation and chest physiotherapy, and adjust support to blood gases and the patient's condition. They respond to respiratory emergencies and help wean patients off support safely.
Where do respiratory therapists work?
Respiratory therapists work mainly in intensive care units, emergency departments and pulmonology wards, and in some pulmonary function labs and sleep centres. Their skills in ventilator management and airway care are most needed where critically ill patients require breathing support, so the intensive care unit is their most common workplace.
What qualifications do you need to be a respiratory therapist?
Most respiratory therapists hold a BSc or diploma in respiratory therapy or critical care, with basic and advanced life support certification and ICU training. Employers look for skill in ventilator and airway management, blood gas interpretation, calm response to emergencies, and strict infection control to prevent ventilator associated infection.