Respiratory Therapist

“Your Health, Our Passion: The Medical Heart of Maryland”

Welcome to Baltimore, Maryland - a vibrant city full of opportunity and culture! Located on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay, it is a city known for its' rich history, diverse neighborhoods, and thriving arts and entertainment districts. 

Steeped in history with iconic landmarks, such as Fort McHenry, the birthplace of the Star-Spangled Banner. Explore cobblestone streets, charming row houses and historic neighborhoods like Fells Point and Mount Vernon.

Whether indulging in Maryland blue crabs, cheering on the Ravens and Orioles, enjoying outdoor activities at the Inner Harbor or attending a variety of annual festivals - the city provides "Home Away from Home - A Legacy of Caring, a Future of Healing!"

With treating over 330,000 patients every year, the University of Maryland Medical Center is at the vital core of Maryland’s health care system and community. We are known for our prestigious expertise in innovative research and education, along with the talented staff and advanced centers that drive forth innovation, collaboration and exceptional care.

We provide a comprehensive scope of care with the following groundbreaking medical advancements: 

• The R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, the world’s first center dedicated to trauma, treats more than 7,500 critically injured patients a year with an incredible 97 percent survival rate.
• The nation’s largest kidney and pancreas transplant programs at The Joseph and Corinne Schwartz Division of Transplantation, home to Maryland’s first steroid-free protocol and pancreas/kidney transplant.

Our National Cancer Institute-designated UM Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center to The University of Maryland’s Children’s Hospital, one of the largest pediatric centers in the state, we are dedicated to saving and transforming lives.

$10,000 Sign on Bonus!

As a Respiratory Therapist, you will administer complex respiratory therapy procedures to evaluate and treat individuals with compromised cardiopulmonary functions due to developmental defects, aging, physical injury, or disease. Responsibilities include:

• Respiratory Care Treatments: Perform treatments for adult, pediatric, or neonatal patients.
• Treatment Explanation: Explain treatments to patients and/or families.
• Patient Monitoring: Observe and monitor physical signs, symptoms, behavior, and responses to procedures. Collaborate with physicians on treatment plans.
• Treatment Termination: Terminate treatment if the patient experiences discomfort or has a troubled medical status.
• CPR Participation: Participate in CPR procedures, including airway management and manual ventilation.
• Therapeutic and Diagnostic Gases: Administer gases, subcutaneous analgesic agents, bronchodilator treatments, chest physiotherapy, and aerosolized medications. Deliver oxygen and humidified air to:
  • Reverse and prevent tissue hypoxia
  • Treat arterial hypoxemia
  • Decrease the work of breathing
  • Reduce myocardial work
• Artificial Airway Management: Assist with the non-surgical insertion, maintenance, and removal of artificial airways. Suction airways using a sterile catheter.
• Age-Specific Techniques: Perform age-specific respiratory techniques.
• Mechanical Ventilation and CPAP: Administer and adjust mechanical ventilation and CPAP under supervision.
• Effectiveness Evaluation: Evaluate the effectiveness of interventions by interpreting chest x-rays and blood gas results. Monitor patient appearance, respiration rate, and oxygen saturation.
• Equipment Maintenance: Ensure the operation, calibration, and maintenance of respiratory equipment. Adjust ventilator settings as needed.
• Cleaning and Sterilization: Apply cleaning techniques and ensure equipment decontamination.
• Maintenance Rounds: Perform maintenance rounds and ensure equipment needing service is repaired.
• Documentation: Document patient care activities and collect relevant data.
• Quality Improvement: Document quality improvement information and report issues. Notify physicians of urgent problems.
• Clinical Supervision: Provide supervision, guidance, and training to interns and students.

Education and Experience

• Education:

  • Associate degree (required)
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Respiratory Therapy (preferred)
  • Registration by the National Board of Respiratory Care as a Respiratory Therapist (required)
  • Licensure as a Respiratory Care Practitioner by the Maryland Board of Physician Quality Assurance (required)
  • CPR certification (required)
  • ACLS certification (preferred)

• Experience:

  • Two years' experience as a Respiratory Therapist (preferred)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge:

  • Anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system
  • Biology, microbiology, technical mathematics, and pharmacology
  • Medical terminology
  • Operation and use of standard respiratory equipment and supplies (e.g., ventilators, nebulizers, aerosol masks, nasal cannulas, mist tents, oxyhoods, and other oxygen delivery devices)
  • Respiratory diseases and standard treatments
  • Respiratory procedures (e.g., auscultation, administration of bronchodilators), respiratory surgical procedures, x-ray and arterial blood gas interpretations, and lab result analysis

• Skills:

  • Effective verbal and written communication for interacting with patients, doctors, respiratory staff, and nursing staff
  • Accurate and complete documentation of testing procedures

• Abilities:

  • Draw arterial blood and evaluate blood-gas results
  • Determine quality of patient performance, judge patient discomfort or failing medical status, and assess inability to perform during treatment
  • Demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary for patient care across different populations and age groups
  • Participate in departmental committees and special projects
  • Maintain required continuing education credits and attend professional conferences