Registered Respiratory Therapist II

Medical University of South Carolina; Charleston (SC); On-site; USD 55,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

Medical University of South Carolina, as part of the Medical University Hospital Authority, seeks a Registered Respiratory Therapist II to deliver high-acuity respiratory care in ICUs, EDs, and step-down units.

The role supports advanced life-support therapies, requires strong clinical judgment, and involves rotating shifts, weekends, and holidays as needed.

Qualifications

• Graduation from a CoArc-approved program or successor accrediting authority.
• Licensed as a respiratory care practitioner by the SC Board of Medical Examiners.
• Credentialed as a Credentialed Respiratory Therapist (CRT) by NBRC.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification (AHA BLS for Healthcare Providers or ARC CPR/PP).

Responsibilities

• Assist in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of pulmonary disorders.
• Collect and analyze sputum, blood, and breath specimens to determine oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other gas levels.
• Measure lung capacity to assess function and administer physician-prescribed treatments.
• Oversee respiratory care treatments and supervise respiratory therapy technicians.

Education

CoArc-accredited Respiratory Care program

Job description

Job Description Summary

The Registered Respiratory Therapist II (RRT II) 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 II reports directly to the Respiratory Therapy Manager and indirectly to the Respiratory Therapy Shift Lead (RTSL). The RRT 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.

Rotational shifts, weekends and holidays as required.

Entity

Medical University Hospital Authority (MUHA)

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type

PRN

Cost Center

CC000707 CHS - Therapy - Respiratory (Main)

Pay Rate Type

Hourly

Pay Grade

Health-27

Scheduled Weekly Hours

12

Job Description

Assists in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of patients with pulmonary disorders. Collects and analyzes sputum, blood, and breath specimens to determine levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other gases. Also measures the lung capacity of a patient to determine if there is impaired function. Administers treatment prescribed by a physician for the care of patients with abnormalities associated with the process of breathing. Assumes primary responsibility for respiratory care treatments, including oversight of respiratory therapy technicians.

Minimum Training and Education

Graduation from a program approved by CoArc (Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care) or a successor accrediting authority.

Required Licensure, Certifications, Registrations

Licensed as a respiratory care practitioner by the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulations Board of Medical Examiners. Credentialed as a Credentialed Respiratory Therapist (CRT) by the National Board for Respiratory Care. Current Basic Life Support (BLS) required, either a certification from an American Heart Association (AHA) BLS for Healthcare Providers (or AHA recognized equivalent) or an American Red Cross CPR/AED for Professional Rescuer and Healthcare Provider.

Physical Requirements

(C) Continuous - 6-8 hours per shift; (F) Frequent - 2-6 hours per shift; (I) Infrequent- 0-2 hours per shift Ability to perform job functions while standing. (C) Ability to perform job functions while sitting. (C) Ability to perform job functions while walking. (F) Ability to climb stairs. (I) Ability to work indoors. (C) Ability to work outside in temperature extremes. (I) Ability to work from elevated areas. (F) Ability to work in confined/cramped spaces. (F) Ability to perform job functions from kneeling positions. (I) Ability to bend at the waist. (F) Ability to twist at the waist. (F) Ability to squat and perform job functions. (F) Ability to perform "pinching" operations. (F) Ability to fully use both hands/arms. (C) Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders. (C) Ability to fully use both legs. (C) Ability to reach in all directions. (C) Possess good finger dexterity. (C) Ability to maintain tactile sensory functions. (C) Ability to maintain good olfactory sensory function. (C) Ability to lift and carry 50 lbs. unassisted. (I) Ability to lift/lower objects 50 lbs. from/to thirty-six inches unassisted. (I) Ability to lift from thirty-six" to overhead 25 lbs. (I) Ability to exert up to 50lbs. of force. (F) Ability to maintain vision 20/40 corrected. (C) Ability to see and recognize objects close at hand or at a distance. (C) Ability to match or discriminate between colors. (C) Ability to determine distance/relationship between objects; depth perception. (C) Good peripheral vision capabilities. (C) Ability to maintain hearing acuity, with correction. (C) Ability to perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements. (C) Ability to deal effectively with stressful situations. (C) Ability to work rotating shifts. (F) Ability to work overtime as required. (F) Ability to learn and use new processes, tools and equipment as required. (F) Ability to work in a latex safe environment. (C) Ability to be qualified physically (by medical personnel) for respirator use, initially and as required.

Additional Job Description

Graduation from a program approved by CoArc (Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care) or a successor accrediting authority. Licensed/Certified as a respiratory care practitioner by the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulations Board of Medical Examiners. Must be registry eligible for the Advanced_Practitioner Examination administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care and successfully obtain registration within the first eighteen months of employment Copy of academic degree or transcript required. Current American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) certification or American Red Cross BLS for Healthcare Providers certification is required.

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.