Experienced Respiratory Therapist, RRT - UPMC Children's Hospital

UPMC • Pittsburgh, PA

21h

About The Position

UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh is hiring an experienced Respiratory Therapist to provide respiratory care as part of a highly skilled pediatric team. The role involves critical decision-making and high-acuity interventions in collaboration with physicians and nurses. The position also offers opportunities to use advanced equipment, mentor trainees, and contribute to a supportive clinical team. Applicants are placed into the appropriate job title and salary based on individual experience, certification, and education.

Qualified Respiratory Therapists may receive a sign-on bonus of $15,000 for 0–1 year of experience or $20,000 for 1 or more years of experience, in each case with a two-year full-time commitment.

Requirements

• Graduate of a Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)-approved respiratory program.
• Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) license.
• Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).
• RRTs who received their NBRC credential after July 1, 2002, must maintain certification under NBRC requirements.
• BLS or CPR certification required.
• Required clearances: Act 31, Act 33, Act 34, and Act 73, with renewal.

Responsibilities

• Assist with transporting mechanically ventilated patients and respond to code situations.
• Evaluate the appropriateness of medical orders and interpret clinical data to optimize patient care objectives.
• Maintain patient charts with relevant identification and therapy information, and arrange equipment repairs when needed.
• Demonstrate respiratory care procedures to trainees and other healthcare personnel, and supervise students during training.
• Monitor patients’ physiological responses to therapy, including vital signs, arterial blood gases, and blood chemistry changes.
• Perform bronchopulmonary drainage and assist patients with breathing exercises.
• Perform pulmonary function tests for use by physicians in diagnosis.
• Consult with physicians if adverse reactions occur.
• Review prescriptions and patient information, measure arterial blood gases, assess patient condition, and determine treatment requirements, including therapy type and duration and medication dosages.
• Select an appropriate method for administering inhalants, identify precautions, and determine modifications compatible with physician orders.
• Set up and operate mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, and aerosol generators.
• Operate and adjust equipment to achieve prescribed treatment parameters and administer medicinal gases and aerosol drugs.
• Observe equipment function and inspect and test respiratory therapy equipment to ensure safe and efficient operation.

Benefits

• Sign-on bonus of $15,000 for therapists with 0–1 year of experience who make a two-year full-time commitment.
• Sign-on bonus of $20,000 for therapists with 1 or more years of experience who make a two-year full-time commitment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree