Respiratory Therapist job description.
A respiratory care practitioner evaluates and treats patients with breathing and cardiopulmonary disorders. They administer oxygen therapy and other respiratory treatments, operate ventilators and airway equipment, and monitor patient response, working alongside physicians and nursing staff across inpatient, outpatient, and emergency settings.
The Respiratory Therapist job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 9 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Respiratory Therapist Reports to: Respiratory Care Manager or Clinical Director
A respiratory care practitioner evaluates and treats patients with breathing and cardiopulmonary disorders. They administer oxygen therapy and other respiratory treatments, operate ventilators and airway equipment, and monitor patient response, working alongside physicians and nursing staff across inpatient, outpatient, and emergency settings.
- Evaluate patients with breathing or cardiopulmonary disorders and recommend treatment plans
- Administer oxygen therapy, nebulizer treatments, and other respiratory interventions
- Operate and maintain ventilators, oxygen delivery devices, and airway management equipment
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
9 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
3 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
6 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Respiratory Care Manager or Clinical Director
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Evaluate patients with breathing or cardiopulmonary disorders and recommend treatment plans
- Administer oxygen therapy, nebulizer treatments, and other respiratory interventions
- Operate and maintain ventilators, oxygen delivery devices, and airway management equipment
- Monitor patient vital signs and respond promptly to changes in respiratory status
- Perform diagnostic tests such as pulmonary function and arterial blood gas analysis
- Educate patients and families on breathing techniques and home respiratory equipment
- Document treatments, patient response, and progress accurately in the medical record
- Collaborate with physicians, nurses, and other care team members on treatment plans
- Respond to emergency respiratory events, including resuscitation efforts
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Associate or bachelor's degree in respiratory therapy from an accredited program
- Current licensure/board certification as required by state and employer
- CPR/BLS certification (ACLS preferred for acute care settings)
- Strong understanding of cardiopulmonary anatomy and physiology
- Neonatal or pediatric respiratory care experience
- Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential
- Experience with mechanical ventilation in critical care
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Respiratory Therapist job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Respiratory Therapist job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The mid band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Respiratory Care Manager or Clinical Director) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- What credentials should a respiratory care hire have?
- Look for graduation from an accredited respiratory therapy program and current state licensure/board certification; the RRT credential is a plus for acute care roles.
- Is respiratory care an entry-level role?
- No. It requires formal clinical training and certification, so candidates typically already hold an associate or bachelor's degree before applying.
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This Respiratory Therapist job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.