Registered Respiratory Therapist Lead | RRT | Le Bonheur Children's | FT | Night

Respiratory TherapistFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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Posted 50m ago · Verified live

Job Description

If you are looking to make an impact on a meaningful scale, come join us as we embrace the Power of One!

We strive to be an employer of choice and establish a reputation for being a talent rich organization where Associates can grow their career caring for others. For over a century, we’ve served the health care needs of the people of Memphis and the Mid-South.

The Lead Registered Respiratory Therapist is responsible for assisting the Supervisor with the day-to-day operations of the Respiratory Care Dept as well as the standard and advanced respiratory care procedures patients suffering from various cardiopulmonary disorders and for performing other examinations and procedures as directed. Models appropriate behavior as exemplified in MLH Mission, Vision and Values.

Working at MLH means carrying the mission forward of caring for our community and impacting the lives of patients in every way through compassion, a deliberate focus on service expectations and a consistent thriving for excellence.

A Brief Overview

The Lead Registered Respiratory Therapist is responsible for assisting the Supervisor with the day-to-day operations of the Respiratory Care Dept as well as the standard and advanced respiratory care procedures patients suffering from various cardiopulmonary disorders and for performing other examinations and procedures as directed. Models appropriate behavior as exemplified in MLH Mission, Vision and Values.

What You Will Do

Performs routine respiratory therapy procedures including IPPB, O2 therapy, and humidity/aerosol therapy on patients in an assigned area.

Coordinates department operations, subject to review by the Supervisor/Director, including scheduling, patient assignments, monitoring of department activities, and coordinating among other departments to ensure effectiveness of operations and the delivery of patient care.

Establishes and maintains ventilation and airway care for assigned patients and provides ventilatory support to patients receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Performs advanced respiratory care techniques, including but not limited to: invasive pressure monitoring, including ICP, pulmonary artery catheters, cardiac output determinations, administration of Nitric Oxide, and other gases. Assists physician in insertion of catheters as needed. Performs arterial blood gas collection through line draws or punctures.

Performs patient assessment and reassessment through observation of the patient, clinical data gathering, response to therapy and reports findings accurately making referrals to appropriate disciplines as needed.

Provides educational development through guidance and teaching and serves as a technical resource person to the patient, patient's family, physician, students and other hospital staff regarding respiratory care procedures.

Recognizes and reacts appropriately to environmental safety factors and performs preventative and routine maintenance on respiratory care equipment and instruments.

  • Participates in departmental/hospital continuous improvement opportunities.
  • Performs other job functions as assigned or requested.
  • Education/Formal Training Requirements
  • Required - Associates Degree Respiratory Therapy
  • Preferred - Bachelor's Degree Respiratory Therapy
  • Preferred - Technical Degree or Diploma Respiratory Therapy

Work Experience Requirements

Required - Critical Care 1-3 years

  • Licenses and Certifications Requirements
  • Required - BASIC LIFE SUPPORT - American Heart Association
  • Required - Registered Respiratory Therapist - National - National Board for Respiratory Care
  • Preferred - Neonatal Resuscitation Program Certification - American Heart Association
  • Preferred - Registered Respiratory Therapist - Mississippi - Mississippi State Department of Health
  • Preferred - Registered Respiratory Therapist - Tennessee - Tennessee Board of Respiratory Care
  • Preferred - Pediatric Advanced Life Support - American Heart Association
  • Preferred - Registered Respiratory Therapist - Arkansas - Arkansas State Medical Board
  • Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
  • Ability to understand and prepare moderately complex written materials, such as patient records.
  • Ability to communicate verbally with Associates, physicians, and other outside professionals.
  • Prepared by education, training, or experience to work with the age specific populations, preferred.
  • Ability to work without close supervision and to exercise independent judgement.
  • Ability to organize multiple tasks and projects and maintain control of work flow.
  • Must have completed competency and skill in intubation and airway management.

Supervision Provided by This Position

There are no supervisory or lead responsibilities assigned to this job, except that the incumbent may demonstrate various job responsibilities to other Associates or respiratory care students.

Physical Demands

The physical activities of this position may include climbing, pushing, standing, hearing, walking, reaching, grasping, kneeling, stooping, and repetitive motion.

Must have good balance and coordination.

The physical requirements of this position are: medium work - exerting up to 50 lbs. of force occasionally and/or up to 25 lbs. of force frequently.

The Associate is required to have close visual acuity including color, depth perception, and field of vision to perform an activity, such as assessing patients, preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; or extensive reading.

  • Frequent invasive and non-invasive patient contact.
  • Exposure to patient body fluids as well as exposure to hazardous or poisonous materials.
  • Ability to react quickly to emergency situations.

Our Associates are passionate about what they do, the service they provide and the patients they serve. We value family, team and a Power of One culture that requires commitment to the highest standards of care and unity.

Boasting one of the South's largest medical centers, Memphis blends a friendly community, a thriving and growing downtown, and a low cost of living. We see each day as a new opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the people in our community.

Key Responsibilities

Performs routine and advanced respiratory care for patients with cardiopulmonary disorders, including ventilation and airway management, blood gas collection, patient assessment, and support during resuscitation. Assists with daily department operations, coordinates patient care and assignments, educates patients and staff, and maintains respiratory equipment.

Requirements

An associate degree in respiratory therapy and 1–3 years of critical care experience are required, along with current American Heart Association Basic Life Support certification and National Board for Respiratory Care Registered Respiratory Therapist credentials. Competency in intubation and airway management is required; a bachelor's degree, neonatal resuscitation, pediatric advanced life support, and state respiratory therapist licenses are preferred.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree
Experience
2+ years of experience

Certifications

BLSPALS (preferred)NRP (preferred)

Key Skills

Ventilation ManagementNitric Oxide AdministrationRespiratory Equipment MaintenancePatient and Family EducationDepartment Operations CoordinationClinical CommunicationEmergency Response

Respiratory Therapy Career Context

Of the 50 active Respiratory Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 4% are remote, 58% have no call, 46% 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 $83k (middle half $65k–$108k)22 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost of livingTennessee index 91.9US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Respiratory Therapy listings in Tennessee127 active3,894 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 4% remote · 58% no call · 46% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedTennessee healthcare professional listings (all specialties): 11% state a sign-on bonus (median $10k) · 1% offer loan repayment134 active listings, Nov 2026
New Respiratory Therapy listings1,244 in the last 30 days723 the 30 days before (+72%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 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

32 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

28 jobs · 18 employers
13
<$85k
3
$85k-100k
9
$100k-115k
2
$115k-130k
1
$131k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

17 jobs
401k / retirement match
71%
Sign-on bonus
65%
Loan repayment
29%
PSLF eligible
12%
CME allowance
6%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Respiratory Therapist II

Olympic Medical Center · Port Angeles, Washington

$41.41-$62.92/hr
#2

Senior Respiratory Therapist -Dayshift

Sentara Health · Norfolk, Virginia

$41.74-$62.48/hr
#3

Respiratory Therapist

$34-$56.1/hr
#4

Respiratory Therapist

$37.61-$55.27/hr
+ 30 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 3,985 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Memphis

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$148k
Typical market rent
$1,259/mo
Residents’ average commute
21 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
92.2
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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