Respiratory Therapy Apprentice in Morehead City, North Carolina at Carteret Health Care

Responsible to the Director of Cardiopulmonary Services for daily operational workflows, equipment management, and patient care delivery. Also maintains a reporting relationship with the Student Programs Coordinator for apprenticeship coordination, academic progress tracking, and program compliance, working in close collaboration with Carteret Community College (CCC).

The Respiratory Therapy Apprentice position is a dynamic, multi-stage healthcare career pathway operated in formal partnership with Carteret Community College (CCC). Designed to combine paid, hands-on clinical experience with academic instruction, this apprenticeship guides students through a structured progression as they build skills and advance in responsibility across three distinct roles:

1. Equipment Technician: Provides essential technical support for the Cardiopulmonary Department. Responsibilities include cleaning, assembling, testing, and maintaining respiratory equipment, managing supply inventory, delivering equipment to clinical units, and assisting respiratory therapists with setup and troubleshooting. Scope is strictly limited to non-clinical and supportive duties such as equipment transport, stocking, simulation activities, and direct clinical observation, with performance of direct patient care or assessment strictly prohibited.
2. Respiratory Care Assistant (RCA): Obtains RCA licensure through the North Carolina Respiratory Care Board (NCRCB). Supports licensed respiratory care practitioners by performing basic patient care duties and non-invasive cardiopulmonary procedures. Tasks include oxygen systems, equipment processing, manual resuscitation, oxygen/aerosol/humidity therapy, nebulizers, MDIs, incentive spirometry, airway clearance, chest physiotherapy with suctioning, arterial puncture, ECGs, and patient reporting.
3. Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT): Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT): Attains full scope of clinical practice following graduation from Carteret Community College’s CoARC-accredited program, attainment of the NBRC Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential, and active NC RCP licensure. Directs patient care under provider oversight, including advanced cardiopulmonary evaluations, mechanical ventilation management, diagnostic procedures, and urgent airway interventions.