Respiratory Education Specialist II at UK St. Claire – Morehead, Kentucky

Responsible for developing and executing comprehensive training and education programs for inpatient and outpatient respiratory services. Ensures quality, consistency, and effectiveness of onboarding, orientation, competency management, and ongoing professional development. Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to support academic partnerships, interdisciplinary education, and quality improvement initiatives. Provides direct patient care and real-time support to clinical staff during shifts and on-call assignments. Advances clinical excellence by integrating education, process improvement, and research into daily operations.

Essential Functions:

• Designs, implements, and evaluates onboarding and orientation processes to support seamless employee integration and transitions across respiratory services.

• Develops and manages competency assessment programs, establishes teams of trainers and assessors, and aligns priorities with organizational goals.

• Designs and delivers educational activities to address practice gaps, including continuing education and interprofessional programs, and manages required certifications.

• Assists with professional role development, practice transitions, and succession planning, while modeling lifelong learning and supporting clinical ladder projects.

• Promotes and integrates research, evidence-based practice, and quality improvement initiatives to advance respiratory therapy practice and education.

• Collaborates with internal and external partners to plan, implement, and evaluate educational programs, student rotations, and interdisciplinary initiatives.

• Provides consultation and expertise in educational program design, development, and evaluation, and advises on teaching strategies and learner outcomes.

• Provides direct patient care, just-in-time education, bedside support, and troubleshooting for clinical and equipment issues, including hyperbaric therapy.

• Coordinates shift operations and participates in on-call support for hyperbaric therapy as needed.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education Requirement:

Bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy, or a related field

Master’s degree in health sciences is preferred

Experience Requirement:

2-3 years of experience in clinical respiratory therapy, or a relevant area

An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

All experience must be paid and in the same related field.

Part-time and PRN experience will be prorated based on hours worked per week.

Volunteer work and internships for academic credit are not counted.

Certifications & Licensures:

American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) and either Advance Critical Care Specialist or Neonatal Pediatric Specialist (NPS) credential from National Board of Respiratory Care required at time of hire

Working Conditions:

A. Lifting, pushing, and/or pulling objects up to 50lbs: 2. Occasional (<10% of the time)

B. Lifting, pushing, and/or pulling objects over 50lbs: 1. Never

C. Standing or walking with objects up to 10lbs: 3. Intermittent (10% - 50% of the time)

D. Standing or walking with objects up to 25lbs: 2. Occasional (<10% of the time)

E. Sitting at computer workstation for extended periods: 3. Intermittent (10% - 50% of the time)

F. Risk of back injury from moving, lifting or positioning patients, equipment, or materials: 2. Occasional (<10% of the time)

G. Repetitive motion: 3. Intermittent (10% - 50% of the time)

H. Working at heights above 4 feet: 1. Never

I. Working in confined spaces: 1. Never

J. Risk of injuries from use of equipment on the job: 2. Occasional (<10% of the time)

K. Job-related travel: 2. Occasional (<10% of the time)

L. Loud noises: 1. Never

M. Temperature extremes: 1. Never

N. Hazardous chemicals and fumes including waste: 2. Occasional (<10% of the time)

O. Radiation: 1. Never

P. Burns: 1. Never

Q. Cuts/Punctures: 2. Occasional (<10% of the time)

R. Bloodborne/airborne pathogens: 2. Occasional (<10% of the time)

S. Recombinant DNA or viral vectors: 1. Never

T. Combative/violent people: 2. Occasional (<10% of the time)

U. Animal handling (including carcasses): 1. Never

V. Please specify other(s) and amount of exposure (i.e. Occasional, Intermittent or Regular): N/A

Physical Demands:

This position requires intermittent sitting at a computer workstation for extended periods of time; performing tasks with repetitive motions (such as typing); intermittent standing or walking with objects weighing up to 10 pounds; and occasional standing or walking with objects weighing up to 25 pounds; and lifting, pushing, and/or pulling objects weighing up to 50 pounds. Also involves some exposure to risk of injury from moving, lifting, or positioning patients, equipment, or materials; and occasional exposure to hazardous chemicals and fumes including waste, cuts/punctures, bloodborne or airborne pathogens, and combative or violent people.

Additional Job Descriptions:

N/A