Covenant Health

Certified Respiratory Therapist, Respiratory Therapy

PRN/OCC, Hours and shifts vary

Parkwest Overview:

Parkwest is West Knoxville’s premier medical facility and a top performing heart hospital. In addition to providing the area’s leading cardiac services, Parkwest has been nationally recognized for award-winning care throughout our facility. For 2020-21 Parkwest received recognition from U.S. News & World Report as one of the “Top 10” hospitals in Tennessee.

Respiratory Therapy:

The Respiratory Department covers all units of the hospital including critical care, ED and all inpatient beds. Our department is comprised of a manager, one supervisor, three shifts leaders, and a mixture of CRT, RRT, and ACCS staff. Respiratory therapy is a fast-paced, high-demand department where employees must work as a team in order to ensure quality patient care.  We have a family-oriented type environment with a mixture of seasoned long-term employees and newer employees. Most full-time employees are on a set schedule consisting of 8 or 12 hour shifts, there are some variable shift positions within the department as well.

Position Summary: 

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.

Contact Kimberlin Woods if you have any questions 865-374-5403, kwoods8@covhlth.com 

• 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 CRT Credential by the National Board for Respiratory Care. Licensed as a Certified Respiratory Therapist by the State of Tennessee Health Related Boards with ABG endorsement.  Current work permit acceptable per state regulations.  Current CPR.