Respiratory Therapist onboarding at a glance

Week one covers orientation, safety and shadowing. Days 1–30 build vocabulary and supervised practice on core procedures; days 31–60 move to independent work with competency sign-offs; days 61–90 focus on full productivity, cross-training and a credential plan.

Before day one

Confirm start date, schedule, pay and supervisor in writing
Verify required credentials: Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) (as applicable)
Prepare equipment and access: mechanical ventilators; biPAP and CPAP machines; nebulizers and metered-dose inhalers; blood gas analyzers
Assign a buddy or preceptor
Enroll the new hire in Respiratory Therapist training so foundations are covered before or during week one

Week one: orient and protect

Workplace tour, emergency procedures and incident reporting
Wear PPE, including N95 respirators, for airborne infections
Follow oxygen fire safety: no open flames or sparks
Check alarms and backup equipment on every ventilator
Use safe lifting and repositioning techniques
Shadow an experienced respiratory therapist through a full shift
Training modules 1–3: role foundations, a day on the job and essential vocabulary (15 terms)

Days 1–30: learn

Goal: perform core tasks safely under supervision.

Supervised practice: give a nebulizer treatment
Supervised practice: perform a ventilator check
Supervised practice: draw an arterial blood gas
Training modules 4–7: duties, step-by-step tasks, tools and safety
30-day check-in: confidence, questions and early wins

Days 31–60: contribute

Goal: handle a regular workload independently.

Assess patients’ breathing, oxygen levels and lung sounds: independently
Give aerosol, inhaler and oxygen therapy: independently
Set up, monitor and adjust mechanical ventilators: independently
Draw and analyze arterial blood gases: independently
Competency sign-offs completed (see checklist below)
Training final knowledge check and certificate of completion
60-day check-in

Days 61–90: own

Goal: full productivity and a growth plan.

Meet productivity and quality targets for the role
Begin cross-training on a secondary task
Agree on a credential goal (for example, Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT))
Discuss the career path: Student Respiratory Therapist → Staff Respiratory Therapist → Critical Care or Neonatal Specialist
90-day review

Competency checklist

Skill or task	Trained	Observed	Signed off
Give a Nebulizer Treatment
Perform a Ventilator Check
Draw an Arterial Blood Gas
Mechanical ventilation management
Arterial blood gas sampling and interpretation
Aerosol and oxygen therapy
Airway management

How to measure onboarding success

Days until the new hire works without a preceptor
Competency sign-offs completed on time
Documentation or charting error rate
90-day retention

How Respiratory Therapist training maps to this plan

Introduction to the Respiratory Therapist Role
A Day on the Job
Essential Respiratory Therapist Vocabulary
Core Duties and Responsibilities
Common Tasks, Step by Step
Tools, Equipment and Technology
Safety, Compliance and Professional Standards
Skills Employers Look For
Launching Your Respiratory Therapist Career
Final Knowledge Check

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Respiratory Therapist Onboarding Plan (30-60-90 Days)