Respiratory Care Therapy Specialist

Respiratory Care Therapy Specialist

Hiring Department: Respiratory Care Services

Location: Chicago, IL USA

Requisition ID: 1040898

FTE: 0.9

Work Schedule: 7 PM-7:30 AM

Shift: Nights

# of Positions: 1

Workplace Type: On-Site

Posting Close Date: 5/6/2026

Salary Range (commensurate with experience): $43.82-$67.76-hourly rate

*Final salary offered will be determined by market data, internal equity, candidate experience/qualifications, and budget.*

About the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (UI Health)

The University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (UI Health) provides comprehensive care, education, and research to the people of Illinois and beyond. A part of the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), UI Health comprises a clinical enterprise that includes a Joint Commission-accredited tertiary care hospital and outpatient clinics, and the Mile Square Health Center network of federally qualified health centers. It also includes the seven UIC health science colleges: the College of Applied Health Sciences; the College of Dentistry; the School of Public Health; the Jane Addams College of Social Work; and the Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Nursing, including regional campuses in Peoria, Quad Cities, Rockford, Springfield, and Urbana. UI Health is dedicated to the pursuit of health equity. Learn more: https://hospital.uillinois.edu/about-ui-health

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

Position Summary

Respiratory Specialists in this position apply critical respiratory care thinking in treating and diagnosis of all patients. They work in delivering appropriate patient care. This position will recognize the needs and behaviors of various age groups of patients treated. They must understand growth and development, normal patterns of adolescent behavior and look for signs of normal aging. They will perform all respiratory care procedures under supervision of a Respiratory Care Manager.

Responsibilities

• All duties and responsibilities affect patient care directly or indirectly. Procedures being performed must be done in their entirety. Therapists’ professional performance and attitude projects an image of the department. Attendance, punctuality, and performing assigned duties are very important. Performance and attitude affect patient care delivery and the therapist’s working environment (workloads, getting off-duty on time). Respiratory Specialists must know the policies and procedures of the department.
• The Respiratory Specialists must be able to respond swiftly to critical changes in a patient’s condition. They not only perform and make recommendations but must be able to teach current respiratory care techniques.
• Procedures not performed during the shift may cause harm to the patient and place a burden on the on-coming shift. Adequate charting assists patient care while inadequate or not charting will incur loss of revenue to the hospital and valuable patient care information.
• Respiratory Specialists will have contact with patients, doctors, nurses, other disciplines, and fellow therapists to discuss patient care. They will also have contact with students and precept new employees about orientation and teaching. All communication must always be professional and respectful.

40% Therapeutic Procedures:

• Modify prescribed therapeutic procedures.
• Select, assemble, and check equipment for proper function operation and cleanliness. This includes oxygen administration devices, aerosol generators, resuscitation devices, ventilators, analyzers, breathing circuits and respirometers, heliox therapy, nitric oxide, and intubation equipment.
• Assist in performing Quality Improvement within the department.
• Comply with the two-patient identifier rule while administering any treatment or therapy to patients, and scan patient and medication barcodes to verify the accuracy before any medication administration.
• Select, review, obtain and interpret data. Reviews existing data in patient record, progress notes, chemistries, pulmonary function, sputum culture, results of ventilator monitoring, blood pressure, pulmonary artery pressures, cardiac output, electrocardiogram, and pleural drainage.
• Collect and evaluate additional pertinent clinical information through physical examination and bedside parameters. When ordered, recommends, or interprets data of blood gas samples and analysis, spirometry, sputum culture. Assists physicians with special procedures such as bronchoscopy, tracheostomy, insertion of chest tubes, invasive monitoring, intubating/extubating, pacemaker insertion, elective cardioversion, CAT Scan, cardiac catheterization, and MRI procedures.
• Measure and interpret respiratory parameters and analyze hemodynamic values.
• Interpret data and recommend ventilator parameter changes, oxygen therapy, bronchodilator protocol and other services provided by the Respiratory Care Department daily.
• Selects, assembles, and checks equipment for proper function, operation, and cleanliness.

20% Maintains records and communication:

• Assess and document Hospital Acquired Pressure Injuries (HAPI);
• Assess & Treat, Delivery of Care Script, and pre/post assessment; Records therapy and results as required by hospital and department policy manual through computer entry/retrieval;
• All orders must be entered under the ordering physician and if applicable per protocol under the initial ordering physician;

• Has knowledge of word processing, e-mail, and electronic charting systems; Document date, time, frequency, medication, and outcome of therapy.
• Inform leadership if there is an issue regarding a patient and/or equipment issues;
• Reads emails sent from hospital/department a minimum of once per scheduled workweek.

20% Revenue and Expenses

• Revenue: review charting at the end of your shift for confirmation that all applicable charges are captured in the electronic medical record
• Expenses: Use only the required disposables and do not leave excess equipment on the units or your assigned WOW.

15% Professional Growth and Development:

• The Respiratory Specialist pursues professional growth by attending lectures and seminars on their own. Annual competency will be completed to verify these skills. Demonstrates continued involvement in growth and development of the Respiratory Care Services to promote department efficiency and professionalism. Promotes professionalism by demonstrating leadership through working relationships and fostering mutual respect within the healthcare team.

5% Other duties assigned

CREDENTIALS TO BE VERIFIED BY PLACEMENT OFFICER

• Credentialed as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).
• Current/ valid Respiratory Care Professions License from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).

• Six (6) months of work experience comparable to that of a Respiratory Care Therapy Technologist.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

Preferred Qualifications
1. Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) required within six months of hiring for all therapists hired after June 1, 2024
2. Neonatal/Pediatric Specialty (NPS) preferred, if not, required to get the certification within six months of hire
3. 2 years of experience in neonatal and or adult ICU
4. Ability work as a core NICU therapist
5. Willing to work as a charge therapist when needed

To Apply: For fullest consideration click on the Apply Now button, please fully complete all sections of the online application including adding your full work history with specific details of your duties & responsibilities for each position held. Fully complete the education, licensure, certification and language sections. You may upload a resume, cover letter, certifications, licensures, transcripts and diplomas within the application.

Please note that once you have submitted your application you will not be able to make any changes. In order to revise your application you must withdraw and reapply. You will not be able to reapply after the posting close date. Please ensure the application is fully completed and all supporting documents have been uploaded before the posting close date. Illinois Residency is required within 180 days of employment.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an Accommodation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.