Final answer:
The respiratory therapist should recommend succinylcholine, as it has a fast onset and short duration.
Step-by-step explanation:
In this case, the respiratory therapist should recommend succinylcholine to the anesthesia resident. Succinylcholine is a neuromuscular blocker that has a fast onset and short duration. It works by depolarizing the motor end plate of the neuromuscular junction, causing a temporary paralysis of the skeletal muscles.