Registered Respiratory Therapist - Main Hospital
MUSC Health
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
MUSC Health in Charleston, SC is seeking a Registered Respiratory Therapist for the Main Hospital. This full-time role (40 hrs/week) delivers diagnostic and therapeutic respiratory care as prescribed by physicians, with exposure to a dynamic academic medical center.
You will manage ventilators, perform pulmonary function testing, supervise technicians, and collaborate with a top-tier medical team to support acutely ill patients in a Level I trauma setting.
Qualifications
- Graduate of a CoARC-accredited respiratory therapy program.
- Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential by NBRC.
- Licensed by the SC Department of Labor, Licensing & Regulation Board of Medical Examiners.
- Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification (AHA or equivalent).
- ACLS, PALS and NRP required (as applicable).
Responsibilities
- Provide life-changing respiratory care and diagnostic testing.
- Manage ventilators and deliver physician-prescribed therapies.
- Perform advanced pulmonary function measures and sample collection.
- Supervise respiratory therapy technicians and coordinate with medical teams.
Skills
Education
Job description
Charleston, SC | Full-time (36 hours/week)
Sign-on bonus: $15,000 for experienced therapist and $10,000 for new grads!
Relocation assistance: $3,200
Free dental insurance | Low-cost medical | Robust pension plan (fully vested after 8 years!)
Career ladders and professional growth at South Carolina’s #1 hospital!
Shift differential pay – earn more for evenings, nights, and weekend shifts! (Up to $5.30 added to your hourly rate!)
The Registered Respiratory Therapist 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.
Medical University Hospital Authority (MUHA)
Employee
Regular
CC000707 CHS - Therapy - Respiratory (Main)
Hourly
Health-28
40
At MUSC Health, we’re not just hiring Respiratory Therapists — we’re welcoming teammates who want to make an impact, grow their careers, and thrive in an environment built on collaboration, innovation, and compassion.
- Provide life-changing respiratory care and diagnostic testing
- Manage ventilators and deliver physician-prescribed therapies
- Perform advanced pulmonary function measures and sample collection
- Supervise respiratory therapy technicians and partner with world-class medical teams
- Work in Charleston’s premier Level I trauma, Magnet-recognized hospital, part of a top-ranked academic medical center
- $15,000 sign-on bonus for experienced therapist and $10,000 for new grads to kickstart your journey!
- $3,200 relocation assistance to help you settle into beautiful Charleston
- Pension plan: fully vested after 8 years = guaranteed monthly income for life at retirement age
- Free dental insurance & affordable medical plans
- Clear career ladders and ongoing educational opportunities
- Team culture built around collaboration, respect, and patient-first care
- Location: Charleston, SC — historic charm, coastal beauty, vibrant food scene
- Graduate of a CoARC-accredited respiratory therapy program
- Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential by the NBRC
- Licensed by the SC Department of Labor, Licensing & Regulation Board of Medical Examiners
- Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification (AHA or equivalent)
- Physical ability to lift, bend, walk, and perform required patient care activities
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 Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) 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. 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.
Education: Graduate of an NRBC approved Respiratory Therapy program. Associate degree in Respiratory Care from a CoARC accredited program required. Experience: A minimum of 1 year of acute respiratory therapy experience required. Licensure/Certification: Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), South Carolina Respiratory Care License. Current American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) certification or American Red Cross BLS for Healthcare Providers certification is required. ACLS required (Adult), PALS and NRP required (Pediatrics), AARC membership preferred.
- Mobility & Posture
- Standing: Continuous
- Sitting: Continuous
- Walking: Continuous
- Climbing stairs: Infrequent
- Working indoors: Continuous
- Working outdoors (temperature extremes): Infrequent
- Working from elevated areas: Frequent
- Working in confined/cramped spaces: Frequent
- Kneeling: Infrequent
- Bending at the waist: Continuous
- Twisting at the waist: Frequent
- Squatting: Frequent
- Manual Dexterity & Strength
- Pinching operations: Frequent
- Gross motor use (fingers/hands): Continuous
- Firm grasping (fingers/hands): Continuous
- Fine manipulation (fingers/hands): Continuous
- Reaching overhead: Frequent
- Reaching in all directions: Continuous
- Repetitive motion (hands/wrists/elbows/shoulders): Continuous
- Full use of both legs: Continuous
- Balance & coordination (lower extremities): Frequent
- Lifting & Force Requirements
- Lift/carry 50 lbs. unassisted: Infrequent
- Lift/lower 50 lbs. from floor to 36”: Infrequent
- Lift up to 25 lbs. overhead: Infrequent
- Exert up to 50 lbs. of force: Frequent
- Examples:
- Transfer 100 lb. non-ambulatory patient = 50 lbs. force
- Push 400 lb. patient in wheelchair on carpet = 20 lbs. force
- Push patient stretcher one-handed = 25 lbs. force
- Vision & Sensory
- Maintain corrected vision 20/40 (one or both eyes): Continuous
- Recognize objects (near/far): Continuous
- Color discrimination: Continuous
- Depth perception: Continuous
- Peripheral vision: Continuous
- Hearing acuity (with correction): Continuous
- Tactile sensory function: Continuous
- Gross motor with fine motor coordination: Continuous
- Selected Positions:
- Olfactory (smell) function: Continuous
- Respirator use qualification: Continuous
- Work Environment & Conditions
- Effective stress management: Continuous
- Rotating shifts: Frequent
- Overtime as required: Frequent
- Latex-safe environment: Continuous
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.
Medical University of South Carolina participates in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees. For further information about the E-Verify program, please click here: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify/employees
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