Respiratory Therapist Needed

Tufts Medicine•Lowell, MA

18d•$37 - $47•Onsite

About The Position

Tufts Medicine’s Lowell General Hospital is seeking a full-time Respiratory Therapist for a 36-hour-per-week evening/night position. The Respiratory Therapist provides respiratory care to patients of all age groups with cardiopulmonary dysfunction. The role sets up equipment to administer prescribed medicinal gases and aerosolized drugs, provides respiratory treatments and oxygen therapy, manages mechanical ventilation, performs diagnostic procedures, and works collaboratively with the department and other services to deliver quality care. The position includes rotating weekends (every other Saturday and Sunday), rotating holiday and on-call shifts as required by department operations, and a 7 p.m.–7 a.m. schedule. The role is based at Lowell General Hospital in Lowell, Massachusetts. The position is eligible for a sign-on bonus for candidates who meet the eligibility criteria. Tufts Medicine describes itself as an integrated health system with more than 15,000 employees and caregivers. Lowell General Hospital has served the Greater Lowell community for more than 125 years and has over 3,000 care providers. It received its fourth Magnet designation in March 2025. The pay range is $37.18–$47.41, based on full-time equivalent. Individual offers consider experience, certifications, education, skills, and internal equity. Benefits and other offerings include medical, dental, and vision coverage starting on day one, a 403(b) retirement plan with company match, tuition reimbursement, free on-site parking, and career growth opportunities.

Requirements

Associate degree from an accredited Respiratory Care program.
Massachusetts license to provide respiratory care.
Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) or Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT); employees at Tufts Medical Center must be RRTs.
One year of experience as a Registered Respiratory Therapist.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
Knowledge of medical terminology, cardiopulmonary physiology, and respiratory science.
Ability to communicate effectively with professional staff and patients.
Ability to assess patient status and develop treatment plans.
Ability to perform required duties in emergency and stressful situations.
Ability to walk and stand for approximately 90% of the work time.
Ability to transport respiratory therapy equipment weighing up to 100 pounds using carts or wheels.
Ability to communicate with and assess the needs of patients across different age groups.
Manual dexterity to operate a computer keyboard and respiratory equipment.
Ability to see computer screens and reports.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited Respiratory Care program.
Two years of experience as a Registered Respiratory Therapist.

Responsibilities

Initiate invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation; routinely check and maintain ventilator function in conjunction with physician orders.
Follow infection-control guidelines for invasive and non-invasive equipment and adjust ventilator parameters based on clinical assessment and blood gas analysis in accordance with physician orders.
Wean patients from mechanical ventilation and other therapies through assessment and adjustment of parameters within prescribed protocols.
Administer inhaled medications in accordance with institutional guidelines established by respiratory care and pharmacy.
Administer oxygen using low-flow, high-flow, open, and closed circuits.
Provide patient- and family-centered care and explain procedures to patients and families.
Analyze blood specimens for blood gases, glucose, and electrolytes in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units.
Administer positive-pressure breathing therapies such as CPAP and BiPAP.
Assist with transport of patients requiring life support to and from referral hospitals and provide in-house transport for mechanically ventilated and other high-risk patients.
Provide ordered non-traditional therapies, including nitric oxide gas administration.
Provide resuscitation and support services at high-risk deliveries.
Monitor therapy effectiveness using non-invasive techniques such as pulse oximetry, end-tidal CO2, and transcutaneous PO2/PCO2, as well as invasive techniques such as arterial blood gas sampling.
Analyze inspired oxygen concentration using oxygen analyzers.
Calibrate monitors and maintain transcutaneous oxygen, end-tidal CO2, and pulse oximetry monitors.
Assist with cardiopulmonary resuscitation as part of the Code Team, primarily providing airway management and manual resuscitation; administer drugs via the endotracheal tube during cardiopulmonary rescue as appropriate.
Document therapy, patient assessments, interventions, and test results accurately and thoroughly in medical record progress notes; transcribe detailed shift notes for patients cared for during the shift.
Verify proper assembly of respiratory therapy equipment before and during patient use.
Perform daily rounds, bill patients for services rendered, and attend intensive care unit rounds as an active participant in patient care.
Assist with developing in-service programs for departmental personnel.
Assist the Associate Director with new employee orientation, serve as a preceptor for new employees, and serve as a clinical instructor for students at local universities.
Complete adult critical care orientation and support patients in adult ICUs, the emergency department, and imaging areas.
Independently initiate inhaled epoprostenol and nitric oxide in the operating room or ICU setting.