Respiratory Care Apprentice - Pediatrics

About the role

At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. This position is designed for first-year respiratory therapy students who have not yet completed clinical competencies and does not involve direct patient care. The Respiratory Care Apprentice provides non-clinical operational support to the Respiratory Care Services department at Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, which is consistently ranked among the best in the United States.

The largest of the four Duke Health hospitals with 1062 patient beds, Duke University Hospital features comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center and an endo-surgery center.

Responsibilities

• Provides first-year respiratory care students with paid, structured exposure to Respiratory Care Services while they are not yet eligible to provide direct patient care.
• Supports departmental equipment, supply, educational, quality, and operational activities under the direction of Respiratory Care leadership and licensed Respiratory Care Practitioners.
• Rotates supplies according to expiration dates and departmental procedures.
• Restocks and verifies approved emergency airway, bronchoscopy, transport, procedure, and skills-training carts.
• Notifies respiratory leadership of identified equipment, supply, or medical-gas concerns.
• Participates in approved nonclinical quality, safety, and process-improvement activities appropriate to the apprentice’s knowledge and assigned role.
• Assists with monitoring compliance with equipment-processing and clean-storage standards.
• Identifies and promptly reports safety risks, equipment concerns, supply deficiencies, or deviations from standard work.
• Develops foundational knowledge, professional behaviors, familiarity with hospital operations, and readiness for future clinical respiratory care responsibilities.
• Observes licensed respiratory therapists performing clinical and operational responsibilities when authorized and appropriately supervised.
• Learns the names, functions, components, and basic operating principles of commonly used respiratory equipment.
• Develops foundational knowledge of oxygen safety, infection prevention, equipment processing, alarm safety, emergency readiness, and respiratory terminology.
• Performs other nonclinical duties consistent with the purpose and scope of the position.

Does not independently perform respiratory care, provide patient assessment or treatment, or replace licensed respiratory care staffing.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED equivalent plus prerequisite coursework (varies based on the apprenticeship program).