Resigning from a hospital or healthcare facility as a Respiratory Therapist means leaving behind not just coworkers, but patients mid-treatment and ventilator protocols you've refined over months. The timing matters—respiratory departments run thin, and your shift coverage directly impacts ICU capacity. Your resignation needs to land professionally while acknowledging the clinical handover ahead.

The resignation email subject line

Most RT resignations start with an email to your supervisor or department manager. The subject line should be clear and professional:

  • "Resignation – [Your Name] – Respiratory Therapy"
  • "Notice of Resignation – [Your Name], RRT"
  • "Two Weeks' Notice – Respiratory Therapist Position"

Avoid vague subjects like "Important" or "We need to talk." Your manager should know what the email contains before opening it.

Template 1 — Short email (paste-ready)

Subject: Resignation – [Your Name] – Respiratory Therapy

Dear [Manager Name],

I am writing to formally resign from my position as Respiratory Therapist at [Hospital/Facility Name], effective [Last Day – typically two weeks from today's date].

Thank you for the opportunity to serve our patients and work alongside the respiratory team. I will ensure a smooth transition of my current patient cases and protocols during my remaining time.

Please let me know how I can best support the handover process.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Credentials, e.g., RRT, CRT]

Template 2 — Standard email + attached letter

Subject: Notice of Resignation – [Your Name], RRT

Dear [Manager Name],

I am writing to inform you of my resignation from my Respiratory Therapist position at [Hospital/Facility Name]. My last day of work will be [Date – two to three weeks from today].

This was not an easy decision. I have valued my time working with our respiratory team and the opportunity to care for critically ill patients. The experience I've gained in [specific unit, e.g., neonatal ICU, trauma care, COVID unit] has been formative in my career.

Over the next [two/three] weeks, I am committed to:

  • Completing documentation for my current patient caseload
  • Transferring ventilator protocols and ongoing treatment plans
  • Training team members on [specific equipment or protocols you manage]
  • Ensuring all certifications and compliance records are up to date

Please find my formal resignation letter attached for HR records. I'm happy to discuss transition planning at your earliest convenience.

Thank you again for your mentorship and support.

Best regards,
[Your Name], RRT
[Phone Number]

Attached formal letter:

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number]
[Date]

[Manager Name]
[Title]
[Hospital/Facility Name]
[Address]

Dear [Manager Name],

Please accept this letter as formal notice of my resignation from the position of Respiratory Therapist at [Hospital/Facility Name]. My final day of employment will be [Date].

I am grateful for the clinical experience and professional development I have received during my time here, particularly in [mention specific area, e.g., advanced ventilator management, neonatal care]. Working alongside skilled clinicians has strengthened my practice significantly.

I will work diligently during my notice period to ensure continuity of care for patients and to support the department through this transition.

Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to patient care at [Facility Name].

Sincerely,

[Your Signature]
[Your Typed Name]
[Credentials]

Template 3 — Formal printed letter (for HR file)

[Your Name], RRT
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number]

[Date]

[HR Director Name] / [Department Manager Name]
[Title]
[Hospital/Facility Name]
[Address]
[City, State ZIP]

Dear [Name],

I am writing to formally resign from my position as Respiratory Therapist in the [Department Name] at [Hospital/Facility Name], effective [Date – at least two weeks from submission, preferably three to four weeks for hospital positions].

During my tenure at [Facility Name], I have had the privilege of providing respiratory care to diverse patient populations, including [mention specific populations: pediatric, geriatric, trauma, cardiac, etc.]. The clinical skills I have developed here, particularly in [specific area such as invasive ventilation, pulmonary rehabilitation, arterial blood gas analysis], have been invaluable to my professional growth.

To ensure a seamless transition, I will:

  • Complete all current patient documentation and treatment plans
  • Provide detailed handover notes for ongoing cases, including ventilator settings and weaning protocols
  • Transfer knowledge of specialized equipment and departmental procedures
  • Assist in training staff on any protocols I have developed or manage
  • Ensure all certifications, competency records, and compliance documentation are current and filed appropriately

I am available to discuss transition planning and to support the department in any way that ensures continuity of patient care. Please let me know if there are additional steps required by HR or the department.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve patients at [Facility Name] and for the mentorship I have received from the respiratory therapy team.

Respectfully,

[Your Signature]

[Your Typed Name]
Registered Respiratory Therapist, [State License Number if applicable]

What to do when there's no HR

Many smaller clinics, home health agencies, or private practices don't have formal HR departments. If you're resigning from a facility without HR, address your letter directly to the owner, medical director, or office manager. Email is fine, but follow up with a printed copy for their records. Keep your own copy with a timestamp, especially for final paycheck and benefits documentation.

Transition document templates — what to leave behind for the next person

Respiratory Therapists often manage equipment, protocols, and patient histories that don't live in the EMR. Before your last day, create a transition document covering:

  • Ventilator protocols and settings: Document custom protocols for complex patients, especially long-term vent patients or those with unusual weaning plans. Include rationale for settings.
  • Equipment locations and maintenance schedules: Where backup vents are stored, which units have which models, when the last preventive maintenance was completed, and any quirks (e.g., "the BiPAP in Room 204 has a finicky humidifier").
  • Supplier and vendor contacts: Who handles O₂ deliveries, DME orders, RT equipment repairs. Include account numbers and rep contact info.
  • Patient-specific care plans: Especially for pulmonary rehab patients, home vent patients, or anyone with a customized aerosol med schedule that might not be obvious in chart notes.
  • Departmental workflows you've built: If you created a system for tracking bronchoscopy preps, ABG logs, or code cart checks, document it. The next RT shouldn't have to reverse-engineer your process.
  • Certifications and compliance deadlines: When competencies are due, which staff need re-credentialing, when the department's ACLS or NRP renewal window opens.

Save the document as a PDF, email it to your manager, and print a copy for the department binder. It's professional insurance—and it protects patient care after you're gone, especially if staffing gets thin and people start calling out.

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