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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT)

💰 $48,000 - $85,000

HealthcareRespiratory TherapyAllied HealthClinical Services

🎯 Role Definition

A Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) provides comprehensive respiratory care services across acute, critical care, emergency, and outpatient settings. The CRT delivers evidence-based therapies and airway support, manages mechanical ventilation and oxygenation, performs diagnostic testing (including arterial blood gases and pulmonary function tests), and educates patients and families on disease management. This role requires strong clinical judgment, hands-on technical competence with respiratory equipment, strict adherence to infection control and safety protocols, and effective multidisciplinary collaboration to improve pulmonary outcomes for patients across the lifespan.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Respiratory Therapy Student / Clinical Intern
  • Respiratory Therapy Assistant / Technician
  • EMT / Paramedic transitioning into respiratory care

Advancement To:

  • Lead Respiratory Therapist / Charge Therapist
  • Respiratory Care Supervisor / Manager
  • Clinical Educator or Simulation Instructor
  • Pulmonary Rehabilitation Coordinator or Sleep Lab Lead

Lateral Moves:

  • Pulmonary Function Technologist
  • Sleep Technologist / Polysomnography Specialist
  • Home Care / Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Respiratory Clinician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Assess respiratory status and cardiopulmonary function for assigned patients by collecting and interpreting vital signs, lung sounds, oxygen saturation, chest x-rays, and clinical histories to develop individualized treatment plans.
  • Initiate, monitor, and adjust mechanical ventilation settings (invasive and non-invasive) under physician protocols and clinical guidelines to optimize oxygenation and ventilation for adult, pediatric, and neonatal patients.
  • Perform arterial blood gas (ABG) sampling, analyze results, and provide timely clinical interpretation and recommendations for oxygen, ventilation, and medication adjustments.
  • Provide advanced airway management support during intubation and extubation procedures, including preparation of airway equipment, monitoring during procedures, and post-procedure ventilator management.
  • Administer aerosolized medications, bronchodilators, mucolytics, and inhaled therapies using metered-dose inhalers (MDIs), nebulizers, and smart inhalation devices while documenting patient response and education.
  • Conduct pulmonary function testing (PFTs), including spirometry, lung volumes, and diffusion capacity testing, ensuring accurate calibration, correct patient technique, and high-quality results for diagnostic interpretation.
  • Deliver respiratory care in critical care settings (ICU and step-down), performing ventilator checks, sedation assessments, spontaneous breathing trials, and weaning protocols in coordination with the interdisciplinary team.
  • Provide emergency respiratory interventions in the Emergency Department and code response teams, including bag-mask ventilation, advanced oxygen delivery, chest physiotherapy, and support for cardiac/respiratory arrest procedures.
  • Implement non-invasive ventilation (CPAP/BiPAP) therapies and monitor for effectiveness, tolerance, and pressure-related complications while coordinating with physicians for titration and escalation.
  • Perform suctioning (endotracheal and tracheostomy) and secretion management safely and competently, minimizing hypoxia and trauma while documenting frequency and outcomes.
  • Manage and troubleshoot respiratory equipment (ventilators, oxygen delivery systems, high-flow nasal cannula, suction units) including routine checks, alarm recognition, and escalation of technical issues to biomedical engineering as needed.
  • Educate patients and families on chronic respiratory disease management (COPD, asthma, cystic fibrosis), oxygen safety, inhaler technique, smoking cessation counseling, and home ventilator care to promote adherence and reduce readmissions.
  • Coordinate and document all respiratory interventions, care plans, and outcomes in the electronic health record (EHR) with clear, timely notes that support continuity of care and compliance with regulatory requirements.
  • Participate in multidisciplinary rounds and collaborate with physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and rehabilitation staff to optimize respiratory care plans and integrate therapy into overall patient management.
  • Perform neonatal and pediatric respiratory assessments and therapies when applicable, following neonatal resuscitation (NRP) guidelines, pediatric advanced life support (PALS), and age-specific ventilation strategies.
  • Adhere to infection prevention and control policies, including appropriate use of PPE, isolation precautions, equipment disinfection, and safe handling of airway secretions to protect patients and staff.
  • Conduct chest physiotherapy and airway clearance techniques (postural drainage, percussion, oscillatory devices) based on individualized patient needs and current best practices.
  • Participate in quality improvement initiatives and credentialing processes by collecting data, identifying opportunities to reduce ventilator-associated events, and implementing evidence-based practice changes.
  • Provide procedural assists for bronchoscopy and other pulmonary procedures, ensuring sedation/monitoring support, ventilator management during the procedure, and post-procedure respiratory assessment.
  • Titrate and manage supplemental oxygen therapy including high-flow nasal cannula and oxygen concentrators in both inpatient and discharge planning contexts, ensuring safe transitions to home oxygen.
  • Support discharge planning for respiratory patients, including oxygen prescriptions, home ventilator setup coordination, patient/family training, and referrals to pulmonary rehabilitation or outpatient follow-up.
  • Maintain competency through ongoing education, certifications, and participation in simulation or in-service training to stay current with advances in respiratory care technology and clinical guidelines.
  • Ensure accurate inventory control and stock levels for respiratory supplies and medications, reporting shortages and participating in procurement decisions that affect clinical practice.

Secondary Functions

  • Assist with departmental scheduling, staffing coverage, and float assignments across units to maintain optimal respiratory care availability.
  • Participate in training new hires, students, and technicians by providing supervised clinical teaching and competency assessments.
  • Contribute to equipment purchasing committees by evaluating devices, providing clinical input on features, and trialing new respiratory technologies.
  • Support infection control audits, documentation audits, and compliance reviews to uphold state and federal healthcare standards.
  • Collect and maintain performance metrics (ventilator days, ABG turnaround time, weaning success rates) and assist in reporting for hospital quality dashboards.
  • Engage in community outreach and education programs such as smoking cessation seminars, asthma clinics, and school-based respiratory health initiatives when required.
  • Coordinate with home health vendors and DME providers for smooth patient transitions and follow-up of home respiratory equipment issues.
  • Assist respiratory therapists and leadership with incident reviews, root cause analyses, and implementation of corrective actions following adverse events.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Credentialed CRT (Certified Respiratory Therapist) with current NBRC certification and relevant state licensure; familiarity with RRT conversion processes is preferred.
  • Strong mechanical ventilation management across modes (volume, pressure, PRVC, SIMV, APRV, PSV) for critically ill adult, pediatric, and neonatal patients.
  • Proficient in arterial blood gas (ABG) sampling, interpretation, and application of results to ventilator and oxygen therapy adjustments.
  • Competence with non-invasive ventilation (CPAP, BiPAP) setup, titration, mask fitting, and monitoring for leak and patient tolerance.
  • Experience performing and interpreting pulmonary function tests (spirometry, lung volumes, diffusion capacity) with an emphasis on quality control.
  • Skilled in advanced airway techniques including endotracheal tube management, tracheostomy care, and suctioning protocols.
  • Hands-on experience with high-flow nasal cannula, oxygen therapy devices, inhaled medication delivery systems, and bedside ventilators used in acute care.
  • Familiarity with neonatal/pediatric respiratory equipment and protocols (NRP, PALS) when applicable to the patient population served.
  • Clinical competency with bedside monitoring equipment, oximetry, capnography, and ventilator waveform analysis for troubleshooting and optimization.
  • Proficient documentation in electronic health record (EHR) systems and ability to generate clear clinical notes and reports for quality audits.

Soft Skills

  • Excellent clinical judgment and critical thinking under pressure to prioritize interventions during respiratory compromise.
  • Clear, compassionate patient and family education skills to improve adherence and self-management of chronic respiratory conditions.
  • Strong verbal and written communication for effective interdisciplinary collaboration and handoffs.
  • Team-oriented mindset with the ability to lead small clinical teams and coordinate care across multiple departments.
  • High attention to detail and accountability for patient safety, infection control, and equipment maintenance.
  • Time management and organizational skills to handle multiple patients and urgent situations in fast-paced environments.
  • Adaptability to changing protocols, technologies, and patient acuity levels.
  • Commitment to continuous learning, professional development, and evidence-based practice.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Respiratory Care or equivalent respiratory therapy degree, and current CRT credential/licensure.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care, Cardiopulmonary Science, or related healthcare discipline; Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential preferred for advanced clinical roles.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Respiratory Therapy / Respiratory Care
  • Cardiopulmonary Science
  • Pulmonary Rehabilitation
  • Allied Health Sciences

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 0–5 years (new grads with clinical rotations to several years of acute care experience)

Preferred: 1–3 years of hospital-based respiratory care experience, with at least some exposure to ICU/ED/Neonatal settings preferred for inpatient positions; prior experience with mechanical ventilation and ABG interpretation strongly preferred.

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