Turn inspiration into your own evidence
Do not copy the career. Learn how the career is communicated.
Read the evidence
Notice where the example uses scale, change, ownership, and context.
Replace every fact
Write from your real work, even when your numbers or setting are different.
Check the result
Make sure the document remains readable, truthful, and aligned to the role.
Key Skills
Use only the skills you can support with real experience. The example shows the vocabulary; your evidence makes it credible.
Full Respiratory Therapist Resume Example
This is a complete fictional sample. Study the structure and evidence patterns, then replace every name, employer, number, skill, and accomplishment with information that is true for you.
Professional Summary
Registered Respiratory Therapist with 9 years in adult critical care and pulmonary rehabilitation, covering 12-16 ventilated patients per shift in a Level II trauma center. Championed a therapist-managed weaning protocol that lifted first-attempt extubation success to 95% and cut average ventilator days from 5.1 to 3.9. Holds NBRC credentials (RRT, ACCS) alongside ACLS, PALS, and NRP, with additional experience in noninvasive ventilation and outpatient pulmonary rehab.
Work Experience
Lead Respiratory Therapist, ICU
2019 – PresentSt. Aldric Regional Medical Center — Columbus, OH
- Coordinate respiratory coverage for a 28-bed medical-surgical ICU, personally managing 12-16 ventilated patients per 12-hour shift
- Drove adoption of a therapist-managed weaning protocol that cut average ventilator days from 5.1 to 3.9 and raised first-attempt extubation success to 95%
- Draw and interpret 20+ arterial blood gases per shift, adjusting ventilation strategy within minutes for ARDS, COPD exacerbation, and post-arrest patients
- Respond to roughly 6 rapid response and code events weekly, securing airways and running bag-valve-mask ventilation until intubation
- Onboard 6 new graduate therapists annually on Hamilton and Puritan Bennett platforms, shortening ICU orientation from 10 weeks to 7
Respiratory Therapist II
2016 – 2019Maple Grove Hospital — Dayton, OH
- Floated between ICU, emergency department, and medical floors, titrating noninvasive ventilation for 8-10 BiPAP and CPAP patients nightly to avert intubation
- Helped launch an outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program that graduated 60 COPD patients in its first year with an average six-minute-walk improvement of 62 meters
- Performed bedside pulmonary function screening and inhaler technique teaching, cutting 30-day COPD readmissions on the medicine unit by 18%
- Assisted with 40+ bronchoscopies annually, handling specimen collection, airway monitoring, and post-procedure recovery
Staff Respiratory Therapist
2015 – 2016Ridgeline Community Hospital — Fort Wayne, IN
- Provided floor and emergency department respiratory coverage in a 90-bed community hospital, splitting shifts between oxygen titration, nebulizer therapy, and tracheostomy care
- Stabilized and prepared 2-3 patients monthly for ground transfer to tertiary ICUs, managing portable ventilation en route handoffs
- Maintained emergency airway carts across four units with zero equipment failures recorded during code events
Education
- BS, Respiratory Care — Indiana University School of Medicine · 2015
Certifications
- Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) — National Board for Respiratory Care
- Adult Critical Care Specialist (ACCS) — NBRC
- Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner — Ohio (active)
- ACLS and PALS — American Heart Association
- Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) — American Academy of Pediatrics
Achievement bullet patterns
Adapt the sentence pattern to your work. Never copy an employer, number, tool, or outcome that is not true for you.
- 1
Managed ventilator care for 10-15 critically ill patients per shift in a 32-bed medical ICU, achieving a 96% successful extubation rate through evidence-based weaning protocols
Adapt the pattern; do not copy facts that are not yours.
- 2
Implemented a therapist-driven bronchodilator protocol that reduced unnecessary treatments by 30%, saving the department an estimated $120K annually
Adapt the pattern; do not copy facts that are not yours.
- 3
Responded to an average of 5 rapid response and code blue events per week, performing emergency airway management with a 99% first-attempt success rate
Adapt the pattern; do not copy facts that are not yours.
- 4
Trained 8 new respiratory therapists on ventilator management and ABG interpretation, reducing orientation period from 12 weeks to 8 weeks
Adapt the pattern; do not copy facts that are not yours.
Practical writing guidance
- 1
Quantify your patient impact: 'Managed ventilator care for an average of 12 ICU patients per shift with a 94% successful weaning rate' is much stronger than 'provided respiratory care'
- 2
Highlight your RRT credential over CRT if you hold it, as Registered Respiratory Therapist is the higher credential and increasingly the industry standard
- 3
Include specialized experience such as NICU, ECMO, transport, or pulmonary rehabilitation to differentiate yourself from generalist candidates
- 4
Mention any protocols you developed or improved, especially ventilator weaning or oxygen therapy protocols that resulted in measurable outcomes
- 5
List your NBRC credentials and state licensure prominently, and include ACLS, PALS, and NRP certifications as applicable
- 6
Showcase experience with specific ventilator brands (Draeger, Puritan Bennett, Hamilton) and monitoring equipment to match ATS keyword filters
How to write a respiratory therapist resume
Report ventilator metrics the way an ICU medical director reads them
Lead with RRT and stack specialty credentials in screening order
Show breadth beyond the vent: NIV, floors, and pulmonary rehab
Frequently Asked Questions
What credentials should a respiratory therapist include on their resume?
Include your RRT (Registered Respiratory Therapist) or CRT (Certified Respiratory Therapist) credential from the NBRC, along with your state license. List additional certifications such as ACLS, PALS, NRP, and any specialty credentials like RPFT (Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist) or CPFT. Place your primary credential after your name in the header and list all certifications in a dedicated section.
How do I write a respiratory therapist resume for an ICU position?
Emphasize critical care experience including ventilator management, arterial line management, ABG interpretation, and emergency airway skills. Quantify your ICU patient volume and acuity levels. Highlight experience with specific ventilator modes (APRV, HFOV), ECMO, and prone positioning protocols. Include your ACLS certification and any critical care-specific continuing education.
Should I include a professional summary on my RT resume?
Yes, a 2-3 sentence professional summary is recommended. Include your credential level (RRT vs CRT), years of experience, primary practice settings (ICU, NICU, ER), and a standout accomplishment. Example: 'RRT with 7 years of critical care experience managing complex ventilator patients in a Level I trauma center. Developed a weaning protocol that improved extubation success rates by 15%.'
How important is continuing education on an RT resume?
Continuing education demonstrates your commitment to staying current in a rapidly evolving field. Include relevant CE in areas like mechanical ventilation advances, pulmonary diagnostics, and disease-specific protocols. Highlight any conference presentations, published research, or advanced certifications. This is especially important if you are applying for specialized or senior-level positions.