Respiratory Therapy Students - Horizons Program

Overview

The Memorial Horizons Program provides students enrolled in Radiography, Surgical Technology, and Sonography degree programs with hands-on experience, financial support, and a pathway to employment at Memorial Health after graduation.

Eligibility Criteria

• Open to external candidates and current Memorial Health colleagues in the first year of their major program of study and will graduate in May 2027.
• Must be enrolled in an accredited allied health program that aligns with Memorial’s workforce needs.
• Maintain the minimum required GPA and have completed all prerequisite coursework.
• Complete an employment application and an interview as part of the competitive selection process.
• Selected participants must maintain satisfactory academic progress, have no active corrective actions on file, and exhibit behaviors that align with Memorial’s values.

Benefits of Working While in School

• Work at Memorial Health as a per diem colleague while attending school.
• Gain valuable hands-on experience, work alongside Memorial clinicians, and prepare for careers at Memorial after graduation.
• Receive a bi-weekly stipend of $1,000.00 during the second year of your program (August 2026-May 2027).
• May be eligible for up to $5,250 per calendar year in Tuition Assistance.
• Eligible for sign-on incentives at the time of graduation.

Pathway to Employment After Graduation

• Graduates will be placed in full-time roles designated by Memorial Health upon meeting all graduation and licensing requirements.
• Participants must commit to working at Memorial Health for three years after graduation.

Responsibilities

• Minimum cleaning and maintenance of R.T. equipment.
• Prepares and tests R.T. equipment for proper and safe operation and periodically checks R.T. equipment in use and on units for proper operation and routine service.
• Reports malfunctioning equipment to manager.
• Follows and enforces safety rules of the R.T. Department and hospital following special instructions, such as isolation precautions to prevent the spread of infection.
• Receives, verifies, and processes all necessary documentation for correct order.
• Documents patient oxygen use for charging purposes by visual inspection of every patient care unit bed.
• Changes humidifiers and aerosol generators according to department policy.
• Performs emergency rounds according to department policy.
• Distributes E-cylinders of oxygen to the designated gas stations within MMC.
• Receives and documents orders from physicians relating to Respiratory Care Order Set.
• Reads and evaluates physician orders and charts that pertain to respiratory care and is aware of contraindication to medications, treatments, and related hazards with their use.
• Measures and administers prescribed medications to patients (oxygen & aerosolized medications, etc.)
• Administers the following therapy: EZPAP, humidity and aerosols, chest physical therapy, incentive spirometry, pulse oximetry, BiPAP and CPAP administration and bedside pulmonary function/mechanics.
• Affirms patients’ conditions and response to respiratory therapy by checking patients pulse, blood pressure, respiratory frequency, tidal volume, inspiratory pressure, cough, sputum, breath sounds, and other pertinent data that relates to the patient.
• Recognizes signs of cardiopulmonary arrest and/or failure and assists in performing CPR procedures.
• Recognizes life-threatening arrhythmias or EKG strips.
• Modifies therapy to deal with adverse or ineffective patient response and reports changes to shift supervisor.
• Records procedures and patient response in appropriate electronic documentation, departmental paperwork, medication administration records, interdisciplinary plan of care and education record and requisitions.
• Completes both written and oral reports on patients and relays information to oncoming therapists.
• Participates in in-services, continuing education, and other staff development activities.
• Performs CPR procedures as part of the Stat Code Team.
• Keeps confidential all patient information received and follows MMC Guest Relations guidelines.
• Follows MMC and Pulmonary Medicine infection control policies.
• Performs all duties under supervision of Certified Respiratory Therapist, Registered Respiratory Therapist, or shift supervisor.
• Performs other related duties as assigned or requested.