How to Hire Respiratory Therapists
Respiratory therapists work with patients with chronic and acute lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Therapists also work with people who have breathing problems due to accidents, such as a drowning or head injuries. Therapists administer medication, set up and monitor respirators, and provide family and patient education on diseases such as asthma. Some therapists specialize and work with premature babies or perform sleep studies. Therapists work in hospitals, home health companies and sleep labs.
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Consider placing an ad with professional respiratory care organizations. According to the American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC), a health care facility can place an ad on the AARC website to find qualified candidates. Other places to recruit applicants include professional respiratory care journals, such as Advance for Respiratory Care Practitioners.
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Verify an active license. According to the United States Department of Labor Statistics, 48 states in the U.S. require a respiratory therapist to be licensed in the state they work. Alaska and Hawaii are the only two states that don't require a license. The first step in the hiring process is to verify a license with your state's respiratory therapy licensing board. A directory of state licensing boards can be found through the National Board For Respiratory Care on its website.
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Consider competency in special skills. Protocols may vary by facility and a therapists job duties may include special skills. For example, at some facilities respiratory therapists may draw arterial blood gases, put in arterial lines, perform pulmonary function tests and intubate patients. Not every therapist has become skillful or familiar with all special skills. Ask the applicants about his proficiency and experience with the special skills you need at your facility.
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Check for additional credentials. Ask applicants to provide proof of additional certifications they have earned, such as advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), pediatric advanced life support (PALS) and neonatal resuscitation (NRP). Additional certifications demonstrate knowledge in specific areas of respiratory care, such as pediatrics and neonatology.
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Look for applicants who are a registered respiratory therapist. The NBRC offers an advanced credential to therapists. Both a written exam and computerized clinical simulation test need to be passed. Although it is not mandatory for employment, having obtained a RRT credential exhibits an additional level of proficiency, knowledge and competency.
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Ask question about the applicants ability to manage and prioritize a large a workload. Respiratory therapists will need to juggle several patients. Workloads can increase during a shift and emergencies occur. Therapists may need to triage patients and treat the most critical first. Ask interview questions using a scenario to determine the applicant's ability to prioritize patients correctly.
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