(a) The knowledge and skills for performing the functions of a respiratory assistant shall be acquired through compliance with the requirements of § 63-27-102(4).

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 63-27-108

  • assistant: means any person certified as such pursuant to this chapter, who has:
    (A) Received on-the-job training equivalent to at least one thousand (1,000) hours of clinical training in respiratory care, during an eighteen (18) consecutive month period. See Tennessee Code 63-27-102
  • Board: means the board of respiratory care. See Tennessee Code 63-27-102
  • Certified respiratory therapist: means any person who has obtained the credential "certified respiratory therapist" (CRT) or the credential "certified respiratory therapy technician" (CRTT) from the National Board for Respiratory Care. See Tennessee Code 63-27-102
  • Registered respiratory therapist: means any person who has obtained the credential "registered respiratory therapist" (RRT) from the National Board for Respiratory Care. See Tennessee Code 63-27-102
(b) The assistant’s role shall not include the exercising of independent, clinical judgment. The assistant may be expected to adjust or modify therapeutic techniques within well-defined procedures based on a limited range of patient responses. Therefore, the use of the assistant requires the supervision of a registered respiratory therapist, certified respiratory therapist, or physician experienced in respiratory care. No assistant shall be permitted to perform the functions for which the assistant is certified on a critical care patient being maintained on mechanical ventilation, unless the assistant possesses a certificate that indicates the assistant has passed the critical care section of the board approved examination for respiratory assistants.
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