Provides specialized care to patients with respiratory insufficiency and related complications as part of a direct patient care team. Responsibilities include managing mechanical ventilation, performing blood gas analysis, and collaborating with physicians and nursing staff.
Overview Registered Respiratory Therapist PRN/OCC, Variable Hours and Shifts Parkwest Overview: Parkwest Medical Center, Covenant Health’s flagship facility in West Knoxville, combines world-class cardiac expertise with the warmth of home in serving a vibrant East Tennessee community.
Since 1973, Parkwest has grown into the region’s largest hospital in the area, offering advanced services like an all-digital catheterization lab, comprehensive breast health, emergency, and critical care.
It’s consistently ranked among Tennessee's top 10 hospitals by U.S.
News & World Report and earns national recognition as a Top 100 Heart Hospital, as well as an “A” safety grade from Leapfrog.
As part of Covenant Health, the region’s largest employer, Parkwest Medical Center, marries cutting-edge technology with compassionate, community-centered care, earning accolades for cardiology, stroke, surgical excellence, and patient safety.
To learn more about Parkwest Medical Center and our units, visit Covenant Health Parkwest Medical Center Opportunities.
Provides care to patients with respiratory insufficiency and related complications. Functions as part of the direct patient team to provide overall quality care and serves as a resource and specialist to patients, all patient care givers and physicians. May be required to exercise clinical judgment under the order of a licensed physician.
Demonstrates respiratory care competency of critical and clinical skills on an annual basis. Demonstrates the ability to be flexible, handle multiple assignments, balance priorities, and make decisions quickly and function under stressful situations. Demonstrates the ability to perform all aspects of respiratory therapy to include age specific and related patient care in a safe and competent manner. Demonstrates skill in emergency situations based up on department standards, policies, procedures and protocols, assumes a leadership role in emergency situations. Demonstrates the ability to assess, identify and treat patient health conditions as established by organizational and departmental policies and procedures. Demonstrates the ability to make safe, effective and competent decisions regarding individual patient care. Express sound judgment. Demonstrates the ability to provide appropriate communication to nursing personnel and/or physicians, and other hospital staff as necessary. Must be able to demonstrate effective communication skills on all socioeconomic levels using tact, articulation and in a professional manner. Demonstrates competency/proficiency in mechanical ventilation, CPAP, and BiPAP skills to include current modes of ventilation, indications for use and calculations of necessary data. Demonstrates competency/proficiency in the performance of arterial blood gases and analysis per department policy and procedure. Quality control, troubleshooting, and quality assurance per department policy and procedures. Performs assigned tasks and uses equipment with skill and accuracy. Participates in performance improvement activities by making suggestions for unit/organizational improvements, data collection activities, and date analysis as appropriate. Documentation and charges are complete, accurate, timely and legible. Consistently document patient assessments, reassessments, patient education, goals, response to therapy and any other requirements for the patient medical record. Completes Quality Control procedures and documentation required by regulatory agencies, medical center and department policy. Maintains all equipment in a clean and functioning order. Responsible for location and inventory of any RT equipment utilized on a routine basis. Attends meetings as required and participates on committees as directed. Assists with the orientation and training of newly hired respiratory employees and the precepting of respiratory students. Perform other related duties as assigned or requested.
Minimum Education: None specified; however, must be sufficient to meet the standards for achievement of the below indicated license and/or certification as required by the issuing authority. Minimum Experience: Must have documented experience necessary to obtain state license. Licensure Requirement: Valid RRT Credential by the National Board for Respiratory Care. Licensed as a registered Respiratory Therapist by the State of Tennessee Health Related Boards with ABG endorsement. Current work-permit acceptable per state regulations. New Registry Eligible graduates may be hired in as an RRT and will have 90 days in which to pass the NBRC RRT exam and become credentialed. Failure to obtain RRT credential within 90 days will result in a reclassification to CRT with an appropriate adjustment in pay. Current BLS.
Must hold a valid RRT credential from the NBRC and be licensed as a Registered Respiratory Therapist by the State of Tennessee with ABG endorsement. Current BLS certification is required, and new graduates may be hired if they obtain credentials within 90 days.
Market context
In Tennessee, RRT openings are often competitive because employers look for candidates who can support credentialing, compliance, and medical staff operations with limited onboarding. This role stands out for requiring five years of healthcare experience and three years in a Medical Staff office, while a bachelor’s degree and Medical Staff Services Professional certification are preferred. Requirements and benefits on this platform are AI-summarized from the original job description, helping you review the role faster; if you are considering applying, compare your credentialing background closely against the stated Medical Staff office experience before submitting.
