Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Respiratory Care Practitioner

🎯 Role Definition

A Respiratory Care Practitioner (Respiratory Therapist) delivers specialized respiratory assessment, treatment and education to patients across inpatient and outpatient settings. This role focuses on mechanical ventilation management, airway stabilization, oxygen and aerosol therapy, pulmonary function testing, emergency response, and interdisciplinary care planning. Ideal candidates hold NBRC credentials (CRT/RRT), appropriate state licensure, and certifications such as BLS/ACLS/PALS/NRP when required.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Graduate of an accredited Respiratory Therapy program (Associate or Bachelor) with clinical rotations
Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) with initial hospital experience in med/surg or emergency departments
Allied health professionals transitioning from pulmonary function tech or critical care assistance

Advancement To:

Senior Respiratory Therapist / Lead Respiratory Care Practitioner
Clinical Coordinator of Respiratory Services or Respiratory Care Supervisor
Critical Care Specialist, Pulmonary Function Lab Manager, or Clinical Educator

Lateral Moves:

Pulmonary Function Technologist
Sleep Lab Specialist / Polysomnography Technician
Case Manager or Quality Improvement Specialist with respiratory focus

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conduct comprehensive respiratory assessments for patients across adult, pediatric, and neonatal populations, including history-taking, physical exam of respiratory status, interpretation of lung sounds, and identification of acute deterioration risk, documenting findings clearly in the electronic medical record.
Manage and optimize invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation for critically ill patients by initiating ventilator support, titrating settings (including modes such as A/C, SIMV, PRVC, PCV), performing ventilator checks, monitoring patient-ventilator synchrony, and leading ventilator weaning protocols in collaboration with intensivists.
Perform arterial blood gas (ABG) sampling, analysis and interpretation to guide oxygenation and ventilation strategies, adjusting therapy and communicating urgent abnormalities to the care team promptly.
Administer oxygen therapy and titrate delivery systems (nasal cannula, simple mask, non-rebreather, high-flow nasal cannula) to achieve targeted oxygen saturation and reduce hypoxemic events, while applying infection control best practices.
Initiate, manage and troubleshoot continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) and other non-invasive ventilation modalities for acute respiratory failure, sleep-disordered breathing, and post-extubation support.
Deliver nebulized and aerosolized medication therapies (bronchodilators, mucolytics, corticosteroids) including metered-dose inhaler (MDI) with spacer and SVN administration, documenting response and side effects and educating patients on inhaler technique.
Provide advanced airway management including endotracheal intubation assistance, confirmation and stabilization of artificial airways, suctioning (closed and open systems), cuff management, and extubation readiness assessment under established protocols.
Participate in rapid response and code blue teams, providing airway management, bag-valve-mask ventilation, defibrillation assistance when necessary, and post-resuscitation ventilatory stabilization consistent with ACLS/PALS guidelines.
Perform and interpret pulmonary function testing (spirometry, lung volumes, diffusion capacity) and provide diagnostic support for asthma, COPD and other obstructive/restrictive lung diseases while ensuring calibration and quality control of testing equipment.
Provide respiratory care for neonatal and pediatric patients, including neonatal ventilator management, CPAP for newborns, oxygen targeting for neonates, and specialized monitoring consistent with neonatal resuscitation principles when assigned to NICU settings.
Support perioperative respiratory care by providing bronchodilator therapy, incentive spirometry instruction, pre-operative pulmonary risk assessment, and post-operative airway and ventilatory support to reduce pulmonary complications.
Conduct patient and caregiver education on home respiratory equipment (oxygen concentrators and tanks, home ventilators, BiPAP/CPAP), teaching safe operation, troubleshooting, infection control, and follow-up requirements to support successful transition to home care.
Monitor, maintain and troubleshoot respiratory equipment and supplies, including ventilators, oxygen delivery systems, suction devices, and ABG analyzers, ensure timely preventative maintenance, proper cleaning/sterilization and report any malfunctions to biomedical engineering.
Implement and document respiratory care plans and protocols, contribute to development and revision of clinical practice guidelines (ventilator bundles, weaning pathways, oxygen therapy policies), and ensure compliance with regulatory standards and hospital policies.
Perform chest physiotherapy and secretion clearance techniques (postural drainage, chest percussion, airway clearance devices) for patients with retained secretions or impaired cough, documenting efficacy and tolerance.
Coordinate patient transports requiring respiratory support, including intra-hospital and inter-facility transfers of ventilated patients, ensuring continuity of ventilation, oxygenation and monitoring during transport.
Participate in multidisciplinary rounds and handoffs to communicate respiratory status, progress on ventilator weaning, planned interventions and discharge needs; provide clinical recommendations to physicians, nurses and rehabilitation staff.
Collect respiratory specimens for laboratory analysis (sputum cultures, nasopharyngeal swabs) and follow infection prevention protocols for airborne, droplet and contact precautions, including use of appropriate PPE and negative-pressure rooms when indicated.
Lead or participate in quality improvement initiatives focused on ventilator-associated events prevention, ABG turnaround time, effective use of respiratory therapy resources, patient flow and cost-effective care while tracking performance metrics.
Maintain current competency through mandatory in-services, simulation training (airway management, ventilator emergencies), certification renewals, and by providing mentorship and preceptor support to students and new staff members.
Support smoke inhalation, COPD exacerbation, asthma exacerbation and pulmonary edema cases by implementing evidence-based respiratory interventions and coordinating escalation of care to ICU or specialty services when necessary.
Document all respiratory interventions, assessments, and patient education in the electronic health record in a timely, accurate manner to meet legal, billing, and quality assurance requirements.
Participate in clinical research, clinical trials or pilot programs related to respiratory therapies, devices or protocols when opportunities arise, contributing to data collection and protocol compliance.
Provide culturally sensitive, patient-centered communication and education to patients and families regarding disease processes, smoking cessation, pulmonary rehabilitation referrals, and long-term airway management plans.

Secondary Functions

Assist with inventory management and ordering of respiratory supplies and consumables to ensure clinical readiness.
Contribute to disaster response planning for mass casualty or surge events involving respiratory compromise (e.g., influenza, COVID-19) and support implementation of emergency respiratory protocols.
Actively participate in departmental meetings, performance reviews and continuous education sessions to promote best practices and operational efficiency.
Support outreach and community education programs on lung health, smoking cessation, and home oxygen safety as part of preventive care initiatives.
Serve as a subject matter resource for integration of respiratory therapy workflows with the electronic health record and telemedicine tools.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Mechanical ventilation management and troubleshooting (invasive and non-invasive) including multiple ventilator modes and weaning strategies.
Arterial blood gas (ABG) sampling, point-of-care analysis, and clinical interpretation.
Advanced airway management skills: endotracheal intubation assistance, suctioning, cuff management and extubation.
Proficiency with CPAP/BiPAP systems, high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), oxygen delivery devices and home ventilators.
Administration of aerosolized medications, SVN/MDI technique, nebulizer operation and bronchodilator therapy protocols.
Pulmonary function testing and spirometry interpretation, plus equipment calibration and quality control.
Neonatal and pediatric respiratory care competencies (neonatal ventilators, CPAP, NRP basics) when assigned to NICU/PICU.
Use and maintenance of respiratory equipment: ventilators, oxygen analyzers, aerosol generators, suction units, and ABG analyzers.
Infection control practices for aerosol-generating procedures and respiratory isolation precautions.
Electronic health record (EHR) documentation, coding basics relevant to respiratory services and charge capture.
Familiarity with advanced technologies where applicable: ECMO support experience or support role, transport ventilators, and portable oxygen systems.

Soft Skills

Strong clinical judgment and critical thinking with the ability to triage and prioritize high-acuity patients.
Excellent verbal and written communication for effective multidisciplinary collaboration and patient education.
Empathy and cultural competence when teaching patients and families about chronic respiratory disease management.
Adaptability and calmness under pressure during codes, rapid responses, and emergent airway situations.
Organizational skills and attention to detail for accurate documentation, equipment checks and protocol adherence.
Team leadership and mentoring abilities to precept new therapists and lead small clinical initiatives.
Problem-solving mindset to identify process improvements and contribute to quality initiatives.
Time management skills to balance a variable caseload across inpatient, procedural and transport duties.
Commitment to continuous learning and maintaining certifications and competencies.
Professionalism and accountability for adherence to legal, ethical and regulatory requirements.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Associate Degree in Respiratory Therapy (or equivalent from an accredited program) required.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy, Pulmonary Science, or related healthcare field preferred.
Additional coursework or certifications in critical care, neonatal/pediatric respiratory care or pulmonary diagnostics is a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Respiratory Therapy
Pulmonary Science / Science of Breathing
Respiratory Care Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 0–5+ years depending on role level (new graduates accepted for entry-level roles; critical care positions typically require 1–3+ years of ICU/ventilator experience).

Preferred:

2–5 years of acute care respiratory therapy experience for intermediate roles; 3+ years of ICU or specialty care for senior roles.
Experience in adult critical care, NICU/PICU or pulmonary diagnostics as relevant to the hiring department.
Demonstrated experience with ventilator management, ABG analysis and participation in rapid response/code teams.

Certifications (required/preferred): Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) or Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential from NBRC; current state Respiratory Care Practitioner license; BLS required, ACLS/PALS/NRP as applicable; additional certifications such as Neonatal Resuscitation Program, ECMO Specialist, or Sleep Disorders credential are advantageous.