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VUMC
Nashville, Tennessee

Respiratory Therapist 2 Reg

Respiratory TherapistFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the pay range, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

Discover Vanderbilt Health: With eight hospitals and over 180 clinics, we are the region’s largest comprehensive academic health system.

Vanderbilt Health has a long tradition of providing world-class care to the people of the Mid-South, living out our mission of moving medicine forward through preeminent programs in patient care, education and research.

Here you’ll find a spirit of collaboration and a supportive community where your expertise is valued, your knowledge expanded and your uniqueness celebrated.

We are committed to fostering an environment where talented, compassionate people are united in bringing the most advanced care to our neighbors throughout the region.

Organization

Pulmonary Lab Staff

Job Summary

Performs routine respiratory care procedures in the acute care, critical care and outpatient environment independently; performs respiratory care assessments and diagnostic testing procedures associated with respiratory care..

Key Responsibilities

  • The responsibilities listed are a general overview of the position and additional duties may be assigned.
  • Initiates and maintains mechanical ventilation.
  • Provides education for students in affiliated clinical training programs as well as patients and families.

Technical Capabilities

  • Ventilator Management (Novice): Possesses sufficient fundamental proficiency to successfully demonstrate ventilator management in practical applications of moderate difficulty. Generally works under the direction of others while accomplishing assignments.
  • Respiratory Therapeutic Procedures (Novice): Possesses sufficient fundamental proficiency to successfully demonstrate respiratory therapeutic procedures in practical applications of moderate difficulty.
  • Laboratory Testing & Analysis (Novice): Demonstrates sufficient knowledge of the primary laboratory tests required by the department to successfully meet work objectives. Understands the core functions and features of the core laboratory tests. Able to interpret results of the test under general supervision.

Allied health is among the fastest growing occupations in healthcare today. This area can be defined as credentialed professionals who perform supportive, diagnostic, and therapeutic health care services to promote health and prevent disease in a variety of settings.

These areas are crucial to Vanderbilt Health’s reputation for excellence in these areas that has made us a major center for patient referrals from throughout the Mid-South.

Each year, people throughout Tennessee and the southeast choose Vanderbilt Health for their health care because of our leadership in medical science and our dedication to treating patients with dignity and compassion.

Core Accountabilities

Organizational Impact: Executes job responsibilities with the understanding of how output would affect and impact other areas related to own job area/team with occasional guidance. Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Analyzes moderately complex problems using technical experience and judgment. Breadth of Knowledge: Has expanded knowledge gained through experience within a professional area. Team Interaction: Provides informal guidance and support to team members.

Core Capabilities

Supporting Colleagues:- Develops Self and Others: Invests time, energy, and enthusiasm in developing self/others to help improve performance e and gain knowledge in new areas.- Builds and Maintains Relationships: Maintains regular contact with key colleagues and stakeholders using formal and informal opportunities to expand and strengthen relationships.- Communicates Effectively: Recognizes group interactions and modifies one's own communication style to suit different situations and audiences.

Delivering Excellent Services:- Serves Others with Compassion: Seeks to understand current and future needs of relevant stakeholders and customizes services to better address them.- Solves Complex Problems: Approaches problems from different angles; Identifies new possibilities to interpret opportunities and develop concrete solutions.- Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Provides ongoing support and coaching in a constructive manner to increase employees' effectiveness.

Ensuring High Quality: - Performs Excellent Work: Engages regularly in formal and informal dialogue about quality; directly addresses quality issues promptly.- Ensures Continuous Improvement: Applies various learning experiences by looking beyond symptoms to uncover underlying causes of problems and identifies ways to resolve them. - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Understands all aspects of providing a safe environment and performs routine safety checks to prevent safety hazards from occurring.

Managing Resources Effectively: - Demonstrates Accountability: Demonstrates a sense of ownership, focusing on and driving critical issues to closure.- Stewards Organizational Resources: Applies understanding of the departmental work to effectively manage resources for a department/area.- Makes Data Driven Decisions: Demonstrates strong understanding of the information or data to identify and elevate opportunities.

Fostering Innovation:- Generates New Ideas: Proactively identifies new ideas/opportunities from multiple sources or methods to improve processes beyond conventional approaches.- Applies Technology: Demonstrates an enthusiasm for learning new technologies, tools, and procedures to address short-term challenges.- Adapts to Change: Views difficult situations and/or problems as opportunities for improvement; actively embraces change instead of emphasizing negative elements.

Position Qualifications

Responsibilities:

Certifications

LIC-Registered Respiratory Therapist - Tennessee

Work Experience

Relevant Work Experience

Experience Level

1 year

Education

Graduate of an Approved Discipline Specific Program

This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within Vanderbilt Health, supported by a comprehensive benefits package which may include health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well-being and professional growth.

Vanderbilt Health is committed to fostering an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity. EOE/Vets/Disabled.

Requirements

Requires a Registered Respiratory Therapist license in Tennessee and at least one year of relevant work experience. Candidates must be a graduate of an approved discipline-specific program.

Key Skills

Patient assessmentPatient educationData analysisSafety compliance

Respiratory Therapy Career Context

Of the 49 active Respiratory Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 2% are remote, 51% have no call, 53% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Tennessee is 91.9 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 58.6% of Tennessee clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Respiratory Therapy by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed paynot listedRespiratory Therapy median $81k (middle half $68k–$109k)21 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost of livingTennessee index 91.9US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Respiratory Therapy listings in Tennessee118 active4,026 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 2% remote · 51% no call · 53% no weekends49 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedTennessee healthcare professional listings: 12% state a sign-on bonus (median $12k) · 2% offer loan repayment126 active listings, Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Location & Logistics

Tennessee has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states.

Top Respiratory Therapist Jobs

34 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

23 jobs · 19 employers
10
<$85k
4
$85k-100k
5
$100k-115k
2
$115k-130k
2
$130k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

21 jobs · 19 employers
401k / retirement match
86%
Sign-on bonus
48%
Loan repayment
24%
PSLF eligible
14%
Relocation assistance
10%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Respiratory Therapist – CRT/RRT

Garnet Health · Middletown, New York

$45.05 - $63.70/hr
#2

Respiratory Therapist II

Olympic Medical Center · Port Angeles, Washington

$41.41-$62.92/hr
#3

Respiratory Therapist

$41.35-$58.48/hr
#4

Respiratory Therapist - Providence Kodiak Island

$37.08-$55.62/hr
+ 32 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 3.0this job 3.0
Better work-life than 50% of Respiratory Therapy listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,991 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • On-site
VUMC logo

About VUMC

Hospitals and Health Care
Nashville, Tennessee
10,000+ employees

Benefits & Perks

Comprehensive benefits package (health, disability, retirement, wellness)

Living in Nashville

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$409k
Typical market rent
$1,820/mo
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
96.3
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026).

BEA 2024 · Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.