Registered Respiratory Therapist I

Medical University of South Carolina•Charleston, SC

43d•Onsite

About The Position

The Registered Respiratory Therapist I (RRT I) provides respiratory care to patients in a high-acuity inpatient hospital setting, including intensive care, emergency department, and step-down units. This role is responsible for managing patients with complex and rapidly changing cardiopulmonary conditions, requiring strong clinical judgment, critical thinking, and the ability to respond quickly in emergent situations. The RRT I reports directly to the Respiratory Therapy Manager and indirectly to the Respiratory Therapy Shift Lead (RTSL). The RRT I serves as a key member of the interdisciplinary critical care team, supporting patients requiring advanced life-support therapies such as mechanical ventilation, airway management, patient transport, and specialty respiratory interventions in a comprehensive academic medical center providing tertiary-level care. Weekend, holiday, and disaster response team coverage as required based on department needs.

Requirements

Graduate of an NBRC-approved Respiratory Therapy program
Associate degree in Respiratory Care from a CoARC-accredited program required
RRT (NBRC)
South Carolina Respiratory Care License
BLS required
0-2 years of work experience

Nice To Haves

ACLS preferred (Adult)
AARC membership preferred

Responsibilities

Delivers respiratory care across ICU, Emergency Department, step-down, and acute care settings in a fast-paced, high-acuity environment.
Routinely cares for critically ill patients in rapidly changing clinical conditions, including those with complex disease processes.
Maintains strict adherence to infection prevention standards and PPE use while working in close collaboration with interdisciplinary critical care teams to ensure timely, coordinated, and high-quality patient care.
Provides airway management, responds to emergent situations, including rapid response and code events, supports intubation, and ventilatory support.
Administers a full range of respiratory modalities.
Performs and interprets diagnostic studies, including arterial blood gases and bedside respiratory measurements, to guide clinical decision-making.
Safely manages high-acuity patients during transport and mobility.
Ensure accurate documentation, compliance with safety and quality standards.
Serves as an integral member of the care team through real-time communication and care planning.
Provides education to patients and families.
Maintains ongoing clinical competency in a critical care environment.