Registered Respiratory Therapist I

MUSC Health; Charleston (SC); On-site; USD 39,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC Health) is seeking a Registered Respiratory Therapist I to provide respiratory care in a high-acuity inpatient hospital setting including ICU, ED, and step-down units in Charleston, SC. You will work under supervision of the Respiratory Therapy Manager and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities include airway management, responding to emergent events, ventilatory support, diagnostic studies, and patient transport.

Qualifications

• Graduate of NBRC-approved respiratory therapy program.
• Associate degree in Respiratory Care from a CoARC-accredited program required.

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 complex disease processes.
• Maintains infection prevention standards and PPE use while collaborating with interdisciplinary critical care teams for timely, coordinated, high-quality patient care.
• Provides airway management, responds to emergent situations, supports intubation and ventilatory support.
• Administers a full range of respiratory modalities and performs arterial blood gases and bedside measurements to guide decisions.
• Safely manages high-acuity patients during transport and documentation is accurate and compliant with safety standards.
• Acts as a care-team member through real-time communication and care planning; educates patients and families; maintains ongoing critical care competency.

Education

NBRC-approved Respiratory Therapy program

CoARC-accredited Associate degree in Respiratory Care

Job description

Job Description Summary

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.

Job Description Summary

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.

Entity

Medical University Hospital Authority (MUHA)

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub‑Type

Regular

Cost Center

CC000710 CHS - Therapy - Respiratory Adult (ART)

Pay Rate Type

Hourly

Pay Grade

Health-26

Scheduled Weekly Hours

36

Work Shift

Nights (United States of America)

Job Description

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.

Ashley River Tower

• Heart and Vascular, Oncology, Digestive Health Acute Care Floors
• Heart and Lung Transplantation
• Cardiothoraic ICU, Medical Surgical ICU, Cardiac ICU
• Cath Lab, PACU, IR
• CT surgery stepdown, Medical Surgical Stepdown
• Specialty and Women’s Emergency Department
• Rapid and Code Response Team

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduate of an NBRC‑approved Respiratory Therapy program
• Associate degree in Respiratory Care from a CoARC‑accredited program required

Licensure / Certifications

• RRT (NBRC)
• South Carolina Respiratory Care License
• BLS required, ACLS preferred (Adult)
• AARC membership preferred

Work Experience: 0-2 years

If you like working with energetic enthusiastic individuals, you will enjoy your career with us!

The Medical University of South Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. MUSC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, age, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by state laws and/or federal regulations. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment based upon applicable qualifications, merit and business need.

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