Respiratory Therapy Assistant

Job Description

Respiratory Intern | McLaren Health Care

The Tone:
This is an internship at McLaren Health Care. As a vital part of the healthcare system, McLaren Health Care focuses on providing comprehensive medical services to its community. This Respiratory Intern role is crucial for supporting the Respiratory Therapy department by directly assisting experienced respiratory therapists in patient care, ensuring the proper and safe administration of medical gases, therapeutic treatments, and aerosolized drugs to patients, contributing directly to patient well-being and recovery within a supervised clinical environment.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Variable, Per Diem
• Location: In-person

• Team: Respiratory Therapy Department, reports directly to a respiratory therapist
• Mission: Assist in the administration of medical gases and therapeutic treatments to patients under direct supervision.
• Tech Stack:

What You’ll Actually Do
• Administer Medical Gases: Assist in the precise administration of prescribed doses of medical gases to patients as directed by a supervising respiratory therapist.
• Therapeutic Treatment Setup: Support the setup and preparation of various therapeutic treatments for patient application.
• Therapeutic Treatment Administration: Aid in the direct administration of therapeutic treatments to patients under the guidance of a respiratory therapist.
• Aerosolized Drug Management: Facilitate the setup and administration of aerosolized drugs to patients according to prescribed protocols.
• Equipment Operation: Utilize and manage oxygen mixtures in conjunction with specialized therapeutic respiratory therapy equipment for patient care.

The Must-Haves
• Background: This is an Entry-Level internship position. Candidates must possess a high school diploma or GED equivalent. Crucially, applicants must be currently enrolled in a Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) approved respiratory care program, with successful completion of at least three semesters and maintaining good academic standing within the program.
• Experience: Required experience includes the academic completion of three semesters within an accredited respiratory care program, demonstrating foundational knowledge in respiratory therapy principles and practices. Additionally, current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is a mandatory requirement for this role.
• Skills: Essential skills for this role include the ability to assist with the administration of prescribed doses of medical gases, proficiency in supporting the setup and administration of various therapeutic treatments, and competency in the setup and administration of aerosolized drugs to patients. The intern must also be capable of using oxygen mixtures in conjunction with therapeutic respiratory therapy equipment and possess current BLS skills.
• Bonus: Not applicable; no preferred qualifications are listed in the job description.