Pediatric Respiratory Therapist

Respire Homecare Services•Elmhurst, IL

1d•$45 - $55•Remote

About The Position

Pediatric Respiratory Therapists on Respire’s Complex Pediatrics team bring skilled, hands-on respiratory care directly into the homes of medically complex children, and just as importantly, bring steadiness and warmth to families navigating one of the hardest chapters of their lives. This role is for a therapist who leads with clinical excellence and empathy in equal measure, helping caregivers feel confident and supported rather than overwhelmed. You’ll manage ventilator, tracheostomy, and complex airway care in the home, and you’ll be the clinical face families see most which means your communication and teaching skills matter as much as your technical ones. You’ll work closely with the Pediatric Care Navigator, Social Worker/Case Manager, and Pediatric Logistics Specialist so families experience one coordinated team, not a series of separate visits. This role reports to the Senior Clinical Manager, Pediatric Respiratory Care, who will support your onboarding, competency development, and path to RRT-NPS certification within your first 6 months.

Requirements

Active Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential and state licensure in good standing required.
RRT-NPS (Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist) credential required within 6 months of hire; Respire will support your path to certification - candidates who already hold RRT-NPS are strongly preferred.
Experience with ventilator-dependent and/or tracheostomy patients required.
A genuine passion for pediatric and family-centered care, with the empathy and patience to teach and reassure caregivers who are new to complex home care.
Strong communication and teaching skills - the ability to explain clinical information clearly to caregivers who are not clinicians, and to adjust your approach for a scared parent versus a clinical colleague.
Comfort working independently in the home setting while staying closely coordinated with a cross-functional team (navigation, social work, logistics).
Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation for daily travel to patient homes within the pilot market.
Ability to remain calm, clear, and reassuring in high-stress or emergency clinical situations.

Nice To Haves

Pediatric or neonatal critical care experience strongly preferred.
Home care, DME, or post-acute care experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide direct, hands-on respiratory care to medically complex pediatric patients in the home, including ventilator, tracheostomy, and complex airway management.
Conduct structured, multi-visit caregiver education and validate caregiver competency before considering a case stabilized checking not just what caregivers were told, but what they actually understood.
Bring warmth and steadiness to every home visit, recognizing that families are often managing significant emotional, financial, and logistical stress alongside their child’s clinical needs.
Participate in bedside introductions and hospital-to-home handoff communication, helping families meet their care team before they ever leave the hospital.
Document clinical assessments, Plan of Care updates, and follow-up visits per program standards.
Escalate complex or high-risk cases to the Senior Clinical Manager, Pediatric Respiratory Care, and seek guidance when a case is outside your comfort zone, asking for help is part of doing this job well, not a failure at it.
Coordinate closely with the Pediatric Care Navigator on scheduling, equipment readiness, and discharge timing so families never feel caught between departments.
Coordinate with the Pediatric Logistics Specialist on equipment delivery, setup, and resupply needs identified during home visits.
Partner with the Social Worker/Case Manager (SW/CM) when a family’s psychosocial or financial stress is affecting their ability to manage care at home.
Work toward RRT-NPS (Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist) certification within your first 6 months, with structured support from the RT Clinical Educator function.
Participate in ongoing competency validation, training, and peer case discussions led by the Senior Clinical Manager, Pediatric Respiratory Care.
Represent Respire professionally when interacting with hospital care teams, physicians, and referral sources encountered during patient care.