Welcome to Saint Joseph Hospital, a 433-bed hospital founded in 1877 by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth as the first hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. Led by Sister Euphrasia Stafford, the mission to provide compassionate care to the underserved is still carried out today. Saint Joseph Hospital holds over two dozen national ranks and recognitions and is recognized as a 2024 Best Place to Work in Kentucky. Saint Joseph is part of CommonSpirit Health, a non-profit, Catholic health system dedicated to advancing health for all people. With approximately 175,000 team members and 25,000 physicians and advanced practice clinicians. Our commitment to serve the common good is delivered through the dedicated work of thousands of physicians, advanced practice clinicians, nurses, and staff; through clinical excellence delivered across a system of 140 hospitals and more than 2,200 care centers serving 24 states. Job Summary / Purpose The Respiratory Therapist possesses working knowledge of respiratory care and has displayed age-specific competence for all age groups serviced by the facility. The incumbent conducts himself/herself in a professional manner and is courteous to patients, physicians, visitors, members of the department and all other healthcare personnel. The incumbent supports and contributes to departmental productivity and organizational objectives by functioning as an integrated member of the respiratory care team and performs services consistent with his/her scope of licensure. The incumbent supports and exhibits behaviors consistent with the organization’s mission and values in offering hope and healing to all. Essential Key Job Responsibilities Plans and administers non-medicated aerosol and humidity therapy. Plans and administers oxygen therapy (including implementation of oxygen therapy protocol where appropriate. Plans and administers aerosolized medication and specialty gas therapy. Plans and administers COPD care program. Performs airway management. Plans and administers incentive spirometry. Cleans and reprocesses respiratory therapy equipment and stocks supplies for immediate use. Plans and administers bronchial hygiene and performs chest physiotherapy (including implementation of bronchial hygiene protocol where appropriate). Performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation and manual ventilation during resuscitation attempts and aides in rapid response calls when appropriate. Collects, analyzes and reports arterial blood samples. Operates mechanical ventilators (invasive and non-invasive) and manages ventilator settings and weaning per protocols and provider orders. Performs electrocardiography studies. Performs bedside pulmonary function testing. Performs overnight pulse oximetry. When called upon to do so, serves as a preceptor to newly hired employees and/or respiratory therapy students. When called upon to do so, serves in the charge respiratory therapist role. When called upon to do so, assists in research projects (as directed by departmental and facility leadership. Provides patient, family, hospital staff and physician education as appropriate. Attend staff or hospital meetings as required and participates on committees as directed. Licensed Respiratory Therapists are qualified to perform respiratory care procedures as evidenced by education, training, experience and competency assessments. Preceptor supervision will be required during onboarding and orientation. The therapist should be able to independently carry out all respiratory therapy procedures at completion of orientation. Critical care competencies may require additional education and training (i.e. intubation, arterial line insertions) Once these competencies are completed the employee is able to independently perform the procedures Performs other duties, within the scope of licensure, as assigned by management.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
Job Type
Full-time
Education Level
Associate degree
Number of Employees
5,001-10,000 employees