Respiratory Therapist Resident

J  o  b    D  e  s  c  r  i  p  t  i  o  n

JOB INFORMATION

Effective Date:

8/1/2026

Entity:

Wisconsin

Job Code:

520016A

Job Title:

Respiratory Therapist Resident

FLSA Exemption Status:

Non-Exempt

Management Level:

Individual Contributor

JOB SUMMARY

The Respiratory Therapist Resident collaboratively assists an active member of the respiratory therapy team to provide treatment and diagnostic respiratory services with patients and families in all clinical areas of UW Health, including intensive care units, emergency department, general care, perioperative, procedure areas, and others as required. The position works under the direct supervision of a licensed Respiratory Therapist (RT) and assists in performing all required elements of the respiratory therapist role. This position requires clinical assessment skills and the ability to make appropriate clinical decisions and modify care according to clinical protocols. This position requires superb communication skills and the ability to work with the inter-disciplinary team to ensure high quality patient care.   

Respiratory Therapist Resident Goals:

The Respiratory Therapy Resident is provided learning and work experiences designed to assist new respiratory therapy graduates as they transition into their first professional RT role. Resident experiences have an emphasis on the development of clinical and leadership skills for the for the RT to become successful as a full partner within the healthcare team. 

Licensure and Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential must be obtained prior to transitioning to a staff Respiratory Therapist title. This will occur when an individual has completed the orientation process and they are competent to carry a full workload and work independently.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

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Under direct supervision of a licensed Respiratory Therapist:

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Perform comprehensive patient assessment and review of the patient’s medical record to recommend and provide clinically indicated therapy with the patient and family.

•

Perform airway clearance and volume expansion modalities for the purpose of assisting the patient in the mobilization of bronchial secretions or increasing lung volume.

•

Perform procedures related to the care and maintenance of an airway.

•

Initiate and maintain ventilatory support.

•

Initiate and maintain medical gas therapy.

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Administer aerosolized medication.

•

Keep up to date with departmental information disseminated through various media.

•

Perform complete and accurate documentation including charging within the electronic medical record.

•

Participate in education and demonstrate competencies.

As needed, additional responsibilities reasonably within the scope of duties and physical requirements may be assigned.  ALL DUTIES AND REQUIREMENTS MUST BE PERFORMED CONSISTENT WITH THE UW HEALTH PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND RESPECT FOR PEOPLE COMMITTMENTS.

X

Clinical

Will provide all patients age and culturally appropriate assessment/screening and interpretation of clinical and laboratory data. Develops and implements age appropriate interventional plans of care including education within the parameters of their position responsibilities and licensure

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Associate's Degree

Graduate of a Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) accredited School for Respiratory Therapy within the last year

Required

Bachelor's Degree

Graduate of a Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) accredited School for Respiratory Therapy within the last year

Preferred

Must obtain Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) license in the State of Wisconsin

within 3 months

Required

Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) Credentialed by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)

Upon Hire

Required

Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) Credentialed by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) 

within 6 months

Required

CPR/Basic Life Support (BLS)

Upon Hire

Required

Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)

within 18 months

Required

Adult Critical Care Specialist Credential (ACCS)

Preferred

LICENSE, CERTIFICATIONS, AND REGISTRATIONS MUST BE MAINTAINED PER UW HEALTH POLICY. 

•

Ability to perform Respiratory Therapy procedures and have good problem-solving skills

•

Knowledge of current disease management guidelines and protocols

•

Excellent verbal and written skills and be effective in time management and organizational skills

•

Ability to work in a team environment and collaborate with a variety of professionals and home care companies

•

Ability to display leadership and professionalism while in the workforce

•

Ability to interpret select laboratory and diagnostic tests

•

Ability to collaborate with all members of the healthcare team and external customers

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORKING CONDITIONS

☐

Sedentary: Sedentary work involves lifting no more than 10 pounds at a time and occasionally lifting or carrying articles like docket files, ledgers, and small tools. Although a sedentary job is defined as one which involves sitting, a certain amount of walking and standing is often necessary in carrying out job duties. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required occasionally and other sedentary criteria are met.

Up to 10#

Negligible

Negligible

☐

Light: Light work involves lifting no more than 20 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds. Even though the weight lifted may be very little, a job is in this category when it requires a good deal of walking or standing, or when it involves sitting most of the time with some pushing and pulling of arm or leg controls. To be considered capable of performing a full or wide range of light work, you must have the ability to do substantially all of these activities. If someone can do light work, we determine that they can also do sedentary work, unless there are additional limiting factors such as loss of fine dexterity or inability to sit for long periods of time.

up to 20#

Up to 10# or requires significant walking or standing or requires pushing/pulling of arm/leg controls.

Negligible or constant push/pull of items of negligible weight

☒

Medium: Medium work involves lifting no more than 50 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds. If someone can do medium work, we determine that they can also do sedentary and light work.

20-50#

10-25#

Negligible-10#

☐

Heavy: Heavy work involves lifting no more than 100 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 50 pounds. If someone can do heavy work, we determine that they can also do medium, light, and sedentary work.

50-100#

25-50#

10-20#

☐

Very Heavy: Very heavy work involves lifting objects weighing more than 100 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing 50 pounds or more. If someone can do very heavy work, we determine that they can also do heavy, medium, light, and sedentary work.

Over 100#

Over 50#

Over 20#

Other - list any other physical requirements or bona fide occupational qualifications not indicated above:

Over 50 lbs.

UW Health does not require, nor does it expect that its employees lift more than 50 lbs unassisted. Objects in excess of 50 lbs should be lifted or moved with mechanical means or through a team lift. Employees in patient care areas are expected to utilize mechanical lifts and adhere to the "Use of Mechanical Lifts (Liko)" policy in the Patient Services Policy and Procedure Manual.

Note: The purpose of this document is to describe the general nature and level of work performed by personnel so classified; it is not intended to serve as an inclusive list of all responsibilities associated with this position.

THE EMPLOYEE MUST BE ABLE TO COMPLETE ALL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE JOB WITH OR WITHOUT AN APPROVED ACCOMODATION. Note: The purpose of this document is to describe the general nature and level of work performed by personnel so classified; it is not intended to serve as an inclusive list of all responsibilities associated with this position.