What are the responsibilities and job description for the Weekend Program Respiratory Therapist, CRT/RRT - UPMC Mercy position at UPMC?
Looking for a schedule that works for your life—without sacrificing the acuity, teamwork, or growth you love in respiratory care? UPMC Mercy is hiring an experienced Respiratory Therapist to join our Weekend Program, offering enhanced pay and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact at a Level 1 Trauma Center with a close‑knit, community feel.
At UPMC Mercy, our respiratory team plays a vital role across high‑acuity patient populations, including trauma, burn, neuro, and rehab care. As a Weekend Program RT, you’ll be fully integrated into the department while enjoying a predictable weekend schedule, competitive weekend differential, full benefits, and continued eligibility for merit increases and career advancement. If you’re looking for flexibility, stability, and purpose—all in one role—this is your chance to breathe new life into your career at UPMC Mercy.
As a Respiratory Therapist with UPMC, you’ll also have access to:
- Take the Registered Respiratory Therapist exam at no cost to you as a Certified Respiratory Therapist
- A comprehensive benefits package designed to support your total well-being – physically, financially, and emotionally
- Up to 5 weeks of paid time off, plus seven paid holidays
- An enhanced Respiratory Therapy career ladder designed to help you get where you want to be
Weekend Program Guidelines:
- 20% differential on your base rate
- Minimum of six months of experience is required.
- Eligible participants may use up to a total of 96 hours of a combination of scheduled and unscheduled Paid Time Off (PTO) and Ill Time Off (ITO) on the weekends for a maximum of eight weekend shifts off in a fiscal year. Holiday scheduling and work requirements will mirror the department’s standard expectations for non-weekend staff.
- Working an extra shift during the week shall not offset a participant’s obligation to work 24 weekend hours per weekend. Weekday hours will be paid at the participant’s regular weekday rate.
*Final candidates will be placed into the appropriate job title and salary structure based on education, experience, and certification. *
Under the general direction of a physician and by prescription, provides respiratory therapy services and life support to patients with deficiencies and abnormalities of the cardiopulmonary system. Defined responsibilities are performed in all patient populations and in all patient service areas.
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.