Respiratory Therapist job description.
A Respiratory Therapist evaluates and treats patients with breathing or cardiopulmonary disorders under physician direction. They administer oxygen and aerosol treatments, manage ventilators, and monitor patient response to therapy across settings such as hospitals, emergency departments, and long-term care facilities.
The Respiratory Therapist job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 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 Director of Nursing
A Respiratory Therapist evaluates and treats patients with breathing or cardiopulmonary disorders under physician direction. They administer oxygen and aerosol treatments, manage ventilators, and monitor patient response to therapy across settings such as hospitals, emergency departments, and long-term care facilities.
- Assess patients' cardiopulmonary status and treatment needs
- Administer oxygen therapy, aerosol treatments, and breathing exercises
- Set up, monitor, and adjust mechanical ventilators per physician orders
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
8 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.
5 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Respiratory Care Manager or Director of Nursing
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.
- Assess patients' cardiopulmonary status and treatment needs
- Administer oxygen therapy, aerosol treatments, and breathing exercises
- Set up, monitor, and adjust mechanical ventilators per physician orders
- Perform diagnostic tests such as arterial blood gas sampling and pulmonary function tests
- Respond to emergency codes to provide airway management and resuscitation support
- Educate patients and families on managing respiratory conditions and home equipment
- Document treatments, patient responses, and progress in the medical record
- Maintain and clean respiratory equipment per infection-control protocols
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Associate or bachelor's degree in respiratory therapy
- Current licensure/board certification as required by state and employer
- CPR/BLS certification (ACLS often required)
- Strong clinical assessment and critical-thinking skills
- Experience in critical care, NICU, or emergency settings
- Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential
- Experience with neonatal or pediatric ventilator management
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 Director of Nursing) 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 licensure does a Respiratory Therapist need?
- Requirements vary by state and employer; candidates should hold current licensure/board certification as required in the jurisdiction where they practice.
- Do Respiratory Therapists work only in hospitals?
- Most work in hospitals, but the role also exists in outpatient clinics, home care, long-term care, and sleep centers.
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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.