What are the responsibilities and job description for the Respiratory Therapist, CRT position at UPMC?
Join a team where every day brings something new, and your work truly matters. This role features a rotating schedule with a dynamic mix of 8‑ and 12‑hour shifts, occasionally incorporating 8‑or 12‑hour variations to support work–life balance. You’ll work four shifts per week, with start times that may include 6:30 AM, 2:30 PM, or 10:30 PM, giving you flexibility and variety throughout your week. Unlike many similar positions, this role requires no floating, travel, or on‑call duties, allowing you to stay focused on exceptional patient care. Weekend and holiday shifts are part of the schedule, offering meaningful opportunities to support patients when it matters most.
To make joining our team even more rewarding, we’re excited to offer a generous sign‑on bonus:
- $12,000 for candidates with 0–1 year of experience and
- $20,000 for candidates with 1 years of experience, both tied to a 2‑year work commitment.
Responsibilities:
- Evaluates the appropriateness of medical orders. Interprets clinical data to optimize patient clinical objectives.
- Sets up and operates devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, and aerosol generators. Operates equipment to ensure specified parameters of treatment, such as volume, gas concentration, humidity, and temperature, and to administer medicinal gases and aerosol drugs to patients. Observes equipment function and adjusts equipment to obtain optimum results to therapy. Inspects and tests respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment functions safely and efficiently.
- Assists to transport mechanically ventilated patients. Responds to all code situations.
- Maintains patient's chart that contains pertinent identification and therapy information. *Orders repairs when needed. * Demonstrates respiratory care procedures to trainees and other health care personnel. * Supervises students during training.
- Reads prescription, measures arterial blood gases, and reviews patient information to assess patient condition and determine requirements for treatment, such as type and duration of therapy, and medication dosages. Determines most suitable method of administering inhalants, precautions to be observed, and modifications which may be needed that will be compatible with physician's orders.
- Monitors patient's physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, and blood chemistry changes. Performs bronchopulmonary drainage and assists patient in performing breathing exercises. Performs pulmonary function tests to be used by physician in diagnosis of case. Consults with physician in the event of adverse reactions.