Entry Level Respiratory Therapist Resume Example + Guide + Tips
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Being an entry-level respiratory therapist can be both exciting and challenging. This job involves assessing and treating patients who have breathing and other cardiopulmonary disorders. As an entry-level respiratory therapist, you will be responsible for conducting assessments, developing and implementing treatment plans, and educating patients and their families about their conditions.
You need a great resume if you want a job as an entry level respiratory therapist and we’re here to help you build one. Our guide will show you how to write a resume for an entry level respiratory therapist job effectively so you can make the most of your problem-solving and interpersonal skills to stand out from the competition.
Start by editing this entry level respiratory therapist resume example or explore our library of resume templates to find the best one for you.
Entry level respiratory therapist resume sample (text version)
Omar Miller
Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
(555) 555-5555
example@example.com
Career Objective
Driven and committed entry-level respiratory therapist with a fresh perspective and a strong desire to make a meaningful impact on patients’ well-being. Well-versed in respiratory therapy techniques, equipment and protocols. My goal is to provide compassionate care and play an integral role in patient recovery while expanding my knowledge and skillset in a clinical environment.
Skills
- Medical terminology
- Administration of oxygen
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- Mechanical ventilators
- Patient documentation
- Detail oriented
- Patience
- Active listening
Professional Skills
Patient Assessment and Care
- Conducted thorough respiratory assessments on over 30 patients daily, ensuring accurate diagnosis and treatment.
- Administered nebulizer treatments and monitored oxygen therapy for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), achieving a 98% improvement in oxygen saturation levels.
- Assisted in emergency intubations and ventilator management for critical patients, contributing to a 20% decrease in unplanned intubations.
Diagnostic Testing and Equipment Maintenance
- Performed arterial blood gas (ABG) sampling with a 98% accuracy rate, aiding in the prompt adjustment of ventilation strategies.
- Maintained and calibrated respiratory therapy equipment, reducing equipment malfunctions by 15% and ensuring the uninterrupted care of patients.
- Conducted polysomnography tests for sleep disorders, facilitating the diagnosis and treatment planning for 50 patients with a 95% satisfaction rate.
Patient Education and Communication
- Educated patients and families on proper inhaler techniques, resulting in a 90% improvement in medication adherence.
- Collaborated with the health care team to develop individualized care plans, contributing to a 25% reduction in hospital readmissions.
- Maintained accurate electronic health records (EHR) for all patients, ensuring comprehensive documentation with a 100% compliance rate.
Work History
June 2021 – Current
HCA Westside Hospital – Fort Lauderdale, FL
Respiratory Therapist
September 2020 – May 2021
Atlantic Recovery Center – Fort Lauderdale, FL
Respiratory Therapist Intern
Education
June 2021
NSU Florida Fort Lauderdale, FL
Bachelor of Science Respiratory Therapy
Certifications
Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) – (2023)
5 essentials of a top entry level respiratory therapist resume
Contact details
Add your contact information to the top of your resume; otherwise, hiring managers won’t know how to contact you for an interview. Display your contact information like so: Your full name, then your city, state and ZIP code, followed by your phone number and professional email address. Add your LinkedIn profile and professional website (if you have them) last.
Personal statement
A personal statement is also known as a professional summary. This is where you introduce yourself and highlight your top qualifications for the job in three to five sentences. A resume for an entry level respiratory therapist must include a professional summary with appropriate skills and it should touch on how long you’ve been in the industry.
Here’s an example of a great professional summary for an entry level respiratory therapist:
“Recent graduate of a Respiratory care program with experience in providing quality patient care in a variety of settings. Highly knowledgeable in diagnosing, treating, and managing cardiopulmonary conditions. Skilled in building strong relationships with patients, families, and colleagues to ensure successful patient outcomes. Demonstrated ability to work with a team to provide respiratory services and ensure that patient safety is always a top priority. Passionate about providing compassionate and evidence-based respiratory care.”
If you are just starting your career, use an entry level respiratory therapist resume objective instead.
Skills
You’ve got to let potential employers know what skills you bring to the table. Create a separate section for your job-relevant skills and display them with bullet points to make them easy to read. Our sample resume for an entry level respiratory therapist includes hard and soft skills.
This job requires a great deal of knowledge and specialized skills, such as interpreting pulmonary function test results and analyzing patient data. It also requires the ability to work closely with other healthcare professionals to coordinate care.
Work history
Your resume must include an employment history section, whether or not you have professional experience as an entry level respiratory therapist. In reverse-chronological order, list current and previous employers and provide business names, locations and the dates you worked for each. Include three to five bullet points of notable accomplishments for every job you list. If you’re applying for your first job as an entry level respiratory therapist, it’s acceptable to highlight relevant extracurricular activities, coursework, presentations, volunteer experience and community service.
Your achievements might look like this:
- Completed 2-month respiratory therapy externship with a 4.0 GPA.
- Administered 300+ breathing treatments to patients in a professional and compassionate manner.
- Developed and implemented 10+ individualized treatment plans for patients in need of specialized care.
Education
Hiring managers want to see your education credentials, so a resume for an entry level respiratory therapist job must include an education section. Add all the educational institutions you’ve attended after high school and display the name of the schools and the years that you graduated in reverse-chronological order using bullet points. If you did not attend college, list your high school information and the classes you’ve taken since graduating.
The educational requirements for an entry level respiratory therapist vary depending on the country or region. In the United States, a respiratory therapist typically needs to have an Associate’s degree in Respiratory care from an accredited institution and be licensed in the state in which they practice. In some cases, a Bachelor’s degree may be required. Additionally, certification from the National Board for Respiratory Care may be needed.
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Action words for a standout entry level respiratory therapist resume
Action words strengthen resumes because they tell the hiring manager exactly what you did and convey confidence. Use them with numbers to make a more substantial impact.
Here’s a short list of perfect action words for an entry level respiratory therapist resume:
- Collaborated
- Assessed
- Manage
- Conduct
- Assist
- Ensure
- Monitor
- Improve
- Deliver
- Enhance
Want more inspiration? We have 800+ resume examples to help you create the perfect entry level respiratory therapist resume.
Top skills for an entry level respiratory therapist resume
Review the job description carefully and match the required skills to the skills and traits that fit you.
Your skills might include the following:
- Compassion
- Sensitivity
- Detail orientation
- Patience
- Compassion
- Technical skills
- Active listening
- Medical terminology
- Administration of oxygen
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- Management of mechanical ventilators
Need the perfect resume for an entry level respiratory therapist job now? Our Resume Builder has all the tools you need to craft a professional resume in minutes! You can make edits as you go, download your finished resume and save it in multiple file formats. It’s so easy!
Certifications for an entry level respiratory therapist resume
The National Board of Respiratory Care offers entry-level certification as a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT), or the more advanced Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) certification. Most respiratory therapists are certified in cardiopuminary resuscitation (CPR).
Pair your resume with a matching cover letter
Entry level respiratory therapist resume FAQ
What does an entry level respiratory therapist resume look like?
There is no standard entry level respiratory therapist resume template; you can use any of our resume templates and customize them for the job you want. A good resume for an entry level respiratory therapist will look much like the entry level respiratory therapist resume sample on this page and will contain the job seeker’s contact information, skills, employment history, education and certifications, if applicable. An entry level respiratory therapist resume might also contain sections for awards and honors if the job candidate has them to display.
To help your resume stand out, choose the correctresume format and include some of the following if they apply to you:
- A strong summary statement that outlines your qualifications and highlights your most relevant experience.
- Relevant experience related to respiratory therapy such as clinical rotations, internships or volunteer work.
- Any certifications or licenses you have obtained related to respiratory therapy.
- Details of any research or presentations related to respiratory therapy you have been involved with.
- Any awards or honors you have received related to your work as a respiratory therapist.
- Professional memberships such as the American Association for Respiratory care.
- Any special skills or abilities such as knowledge of medical terminology, CPR certification, etc.
- Any relevant education or training related to respiratory therapy.
What to put under skills on a resume for an entry level respiratory therapist?
A resume for an entry level respiratory therapist should only include skills that 1. Are relevant to the job, and 2. Fit the job applicant’s true skill set. Review entry level respiratory therapist resume examples for ideas on how to display your skills on your entry level respiratory therapist resume.
Top skills for an entry level respiratory therapist include:
- Respiratory care procedures
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
- Ventilator care
- Oxygen therapy
- Nebulizer treatments
- Chest physical therapy
- Patient assessment
- EmergencycCare
- Medical charting
What are some tips for creating an excellent resume for an entry level respiratory therapist job?
Not all resumes are created equal. Here are our top tips for crafting a perfect entry level respiratory therapist resume:
- Add separate sections for extra training, certifications, licenses and awards.
- Keep your resume short and to the point. If you have less than 10 years of experience, it should be one page long; if you have more than 10 years of experience, then it’s acceptable to have no more than two pages.
- Use keywords before the job description in your entry level respiratory therapist resume work experience section to pass ATS screening.
Keywords for an entry level respiratory therapist might include:
- Patient Assessment
- Patient Education
- Critical Care
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
- Respiratory Diagnosis
- Airway Management
- Pulmonary Diagnostic Tests
- Respiratory Equipment Maintenance
- Ensure your resume is formatted correctly, meaning margins should be one inch on all sides and line space should be single or 1.5 inches.
- Only use appropriate fonts, like Times New Roman, Arial or Helvetica, in 11-12 points on the body and 14-16 points on headers.
- Proofread your resume more than once before sending it to potential employers.
Do’s and don’ts for building an entry level respiratory therapist resume
- Use measurable achievements to describe your entry level respiratory therapist abilities and experience. For example, “Trained 10+ healthcare personnel in the use of respiratory equipment and procedures.”
- Use action words such as monitor, administer and educate to make an impact on your entry level respiratory therapist resume.
- Tailor your resume to your target entry level respiratory therapist job.
- Use keywords from the job description throughout your entry level respiratory therapist resume.
- Format your entry level respiratory therapist resume so that it is easy to read by ATS software and human eyes.
- Lie about your entry level respiratory therapist experience and skills.
- Boast about your entry level respiratory therapist experience and skills. Instead, highlight achievements, like “Received 2 commendations from supervisors for excellent performance in providing respiratory therapy services.”
- Include irrelevant personal information such as your ethnicity and age.
- Add skills and experience that do not pertain to being an entry level respiratory therapist.
- Forget to proofread!
Top 4 tips for acing an entry level respiratory therapist interview
Learn about the institution.
It’s vital to take the time to learn about the institution or company’s history, goals, values and people before the job interiew. Doing so conveys interest, passion and commitment — traits that can set you above the competition. Plus, a glimpse of the company culture early on will help you know what to expect and can boost your confidence.
Some things to consider:
- Accreditation status: Check the accreditation status of the institution to ensure it meets the standards of the medical field.
- Clinical Training: Research the type of clinical training offered by the institution to ensure it is relevant to respiratory therapy.
- Staff-to-Patient Ratio: Find out the ratio of staff to patients at the institution and make sure it is sufficient for providing quality care.
- Equipment: Research what types of equipment are available to respiratory therapists at the institution, and make sure it is of the highest quality.
- Research Opportunities: Look into the opportunities for research within the institution to gain valuable experience.
Practice at home.
Practice really does make perfect. To practice for your interview, start by reviewing the most common interview questions, such as:
- Why Did You Choose This Career?
- What Do You See Yourself Doing in 10 Years?
- What’s Your Proudest Accomplishment?
Possible behavioral questions include:
- Why Should We Hire You Over Other Candidates?
- Tell Me About a Time When You Had To Cope With a Stressful Situation
- Tell Me About a Time When You Were Forced to Think on your Feet
Don’t forget to prepare answers for respiratory-therapy related questions, such as:
- What experience do you have with oxygen/ventilation therapy?
- How familiar are you with the different types of breathing tests?
- What medical conditions have you treated in a respiratory care setting?
- How do you ensure proper patient safety during a breathing treatment?
- How do you handle difficult patient situations?
- What strategies do you use to educate patients about the importance of breathing treatments?
- What techniques do you use to assess a patient’s respiratory status?
- How do you stay up-to-date on new advances in respiratory care?
- Describe a time you had to troubleshoot a complex respiratory care issue.
- How do you handle competing demands and prioritize tasks in a busy respiratory care setting?
Write down two or three possible answers as you review potential questions, then review them with a friend or a family member in a mock interview so you can get comfortable with the questions and memorize your answers.
Ask questions.
You should always have at least three questions ready to ask every job interview you encounter; those who do tend to get hired more often than those who don’t because they show motivation, keen interest and thoughtfulness.
Some questions you might ask for an entry level respiratory therapist job are:
- What type of patient population do you typically see?
- What technology and equipment do you use in the practice?
- How is patient care managed?
- What opportunities are available to advance my skills and knowledge?
- What challenges do you anticipate in this role?
- Do you have any questions or concerns about my qualifications for this position?
- What type of continuing education and training is provided for this role?
- What kind of team environment do you have in the practice?
- Are there any opportunities to collaborate with other departments or teams?
Gather references.
You’ll need professional references quickly if the hiring manager offers you the job after the interview. Having them ready will save you stress and time, so prepare a list of two former colleagues and a former manager who are willing to speak to your abilities to perform the job of an entry level respiratory therapist and who you know will give you a stellar review.
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Since 2013, we have helped more than 15 million job seekers. We want to make your career journey accessible and manageable through our services and Career Center’s how-to guides and tips. In our commitment to bring you a transparent process, we present our Editorial Process.
Sources
- American Association of Respiratory Care. What is an ART? Credentials–CRT and RRT
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.Occupational Outlook Handbook. Respiratory Therapists
- The National Board for Respiratory Care
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Entry Level Respiratory Therapist Resume Example
Kellie is a Certified Professional Resume Writer with extensive experience in digital media. She is passionate about helping job seekers navigate their careers. She earned a B.A. in English and writing from Temple University.
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