Department: Respiratory Therapy

Location: Primary site is BMC (Springfield) with travel to BWH (Palmer), BNH (Westfield), and BFMC (Greenfield).

Hours: 40 hours per week.

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:00AM-3:30PM for 2-week session.

Dates: Session 1 – August 3-14; Session 2 – August 17-28.

Job Summary

Under general supervision and in accordance with established policies and procedures, the Respiratory Care Intern supports the Respiratory Care Department through a structured internship experience that includes limited supervised hands-on activities, observational learning, and career readiness/professional development activities.

The intern role is designed for students currently enrolled in an accredited Respiratory Care program who have completed at least one clinical practicum. The position provides supervised exposure to different respiratory care settings (e.g., inpatient and outpatient environments), workflows, and equipment while reinforcing academic learning and supporting readiness for future Respiratory Care roles. Travel between Baystate Health facilities is required to support exposure to diverse care settings and learning experiences.

All activities are performed under the direct supervision of a licensed Respiratory Therapist and in alignment with departmental guidelines and academic preparation.

This is a temporary, time-limited position established solely for participation in a Respiratory Care internship for a defined period.

Job Responsibilities

• Job Knowledge & Scope Awareness: Demonstrates foundational knowledge of respiratory care concepts consistent with current academic coursework and completed clinical practicum experience. Applies classroom and clinical learning in a supervised healthcare environment while recognizing role limitations, scope boundaries, and departmental policies.

• Supervised Clinical Exposure & Support: Participates in observational and limited hands-on learning experiences under direct supervision, consistent with academic preparation and departmental approval. May assist with non-invasive respiratory care activities, equipment setup, patient transport support, and departmental workflow activities as permitted and appropriate. Does not independently perform respiratory care procedures.

• Learning & Use of Resources: Engages in learning opportunities through observation, discussion, and feedback with Respiratory Therapists and other members of the healthcare team. Utilizes appropriate departmental resources, including preceptors, educators, and clinical leadership, and seeks clarification to ensure safe and appropriate participation in internship activities.

• Professional Conduct & Patient Relations: Demonstrates professionalism, reliability, and accountability in all interactions. Adheres to Baystate Health policies, dress code standards, scheduling, and attendance expectations. Respects patient rights to privacy, dignity, and confidentiality, introduces self appropriately as a student intern, and demonstrates sensitivity to patient comfort and safety.

• Communication, Teamwork & Time Management: Demonstrates effective oral and written communication appropriate to the intern role. Works cooperatively with Respiratory Therapists and the interdisciplinary healthcare team. Manages assigned internship activities responsibly, follows assigned schedules, communicates availability as required, and completes internship-related tasks as directed.

• Career Readiness & Professional Development: Engages in experiential learning activities that introduce and reinforce career readiness competencies, such as communication, professionalism, teamwork, critical thinking, respect for different perspectives and experiences, technology use, leadership development, and career self-development, consistent with nationally recognized career readiness frameworks.

Skills/Competencies

Skills (Demonstrated with Supervision): Foundational clinical skills the intern may demonstrate or assist with under direct supervision.

• Infection control and patient safety practices, including standard precautions and appropriate use of PPE

• Basic chest assessment and breath sound recognition, appropriate to academic level

• Oxygen therapy equipment uses and safety, including low-flow and selected high-flow delivery systems and oxygen cylinder handling

• Aerosol and inhalation therapy support, including metered-dose inhalers (MDI), dry-powder inhalers (DPI), and small-volume nebulizer treatments

• Bronchial hygiene and airway clearance techniques, including chest physiotherapy and incentive spirometry

• Outpatient respiratory therapy activities, including support for 6-minute walk testing and oxygen titration evaluations

• Patient education support related to respiratory therapies, inhaler technique, breathing exercises, and airway clearance strategies appropriate to outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation

• Airway suctioning support

• Basic respiratory equipment setup, preparation, and organization

• Professional communication and patient interaction appropriate to a student intern role

• Collaboration with Respiratory Therapists and the interdisciplinary healthcare team

Knowledge & Understanding (Academic + Clinical Foundation): Clinical concepts the intern is expected to understand and be able to discuss or explain, based on completed coursework and clinical practicum.

• Respiratory care principles and terminology

• Basic principles of pulmonary rehabilitation and exercise-based respiratory assessment, including functional capacity testing

• Indications and goals of common respiratory therapies, including oxygen therapy, aerosol therapy, and bronchial hygiene

• Documentation concepts in respiratory care, including patient monitoring, charting, and flow-sheet awareness (without independent documentation responsibility)

Awareness & Familiarity (Observed / Introduced Concepts): Higher-risk or advanced areas where the intern is expected to observe, recognize, and understand — not perform.

• Ventilator monitoring concepts, including basic parameters, alarms, humidification, and tubing management

• Arterial blood gas (ABG) procedures, including indications, equipment recognition, and patient safety considerations

Required Education/Requirements

• Basic Life Support – American Heart Association

• Current enrollment in an accredited Respiratory Care program

• Completion of at least one clinical practicum in the Respiratory Care program

Education:

GED or HiSET (Required)

Certifications:

Compensation

Note: The compensation range(s) in the table below represent the base salaries for all positions at a given grade across the health system. Typically, a new hire can expect a starting salary somewhere in the lower part of the range. Actual salaries may vary by position and will be determined based on the candidate's relevant experience. No employee will be paid below the minimum of the range. Pay ranges are listed as hourly for non-exempt employees and based on assumed full time commitment for exempt employees.

Minimum – Midpoint – Maximum

$19.29 – $22.16 – $25.87

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer