Travel Registered Respiratory Therapist
Tacoma, WA
First Connect Health
3x12 hrs, Nights
Referral Bonus

NICU Respiratory Therapist (RRT) – Tacoma, WA

Contract Duration: 13 Weeks (Starts 05/11/2026)

Shift: Nights (18:00 – 06:30) | 36 Hours Guaranteed

Job Summary

Seeking a specialized NICU Registered Respiratory Therapist to support their neonatal and labor & delivery teams. This high-acuity role requires a therapist who is expert in neonatal resuscitation and the management of fragile airways. You will be a primary responder for high-risk deliveries and manage advanced ventilatory support for the hospital's smallest patients.

Key Responsibilities

• Delivery Room Coverage: Attend high-risk deliveries in L&D; provide immediate neonatal stabilization and resuscitation as part of the birth team.
• Ventilatory Support: Manage and troubleshoot specialized neonatal equipment, including Drager ventilators, Bubble CPAP, and F&P 850 High Flow (HHFNC).
• Diagnostics: Perform capillary and arterial blood gas draws and analysis; perform EKGs as needed.
• Care Collaboration: Work directly with Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (NNPs) to adjust care plans based on clinical status.
• Intubation: Assist clinical leads with intubations (Travelers do not intubate independently at this facility).

Requirements & Qualifications

• Credentials: RRT (Registered Respiratory Therapist) with NPS (Neonatal/Pediatric Specialty) certification is required.
• Experience: Minimum 2 years of experience specifically in the NICU and Delivery Room.
• Certifications: Current NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program) is mandatory. Also requires ACLS, BLS, and PALS.
• Licensure: Active Washington (WA) State Respiratory Care Practitioner License.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in Bubble CPAP and Drager neonatal ventilation is a "must-have."
• Policy: COVID Vaccination is required (no exemptions noted).

Unit & Logistics Details

• Department: NICU & Labor & Delivery (L&D).
• Charting System: EPIC.
• Weekend Requirement: Every other weekend (EOW).
• Standby/Call: Required during low census; 30-minute response time.
• Dress Code: Hospital-provided scrubs.

Clinical Spotlight: The Neonatal Airway Expert

In a Level III NICU environment, the Respiratory Therapist is the guardian of the "Golden Hour." Your mastery of Bubble CPAP—which uses a water seal to provide oscillatory effects that help keep alveoli open—is critical for infants with Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS). Whether you are managing a stable "feeder and grower" or stabilizing a micro-preemie in the delivery room, your technical precision with Drager technology is the difference-maker.

Tacoma offers a blend of urban culture and stunning natural access, with Mt. Rainier providing a constant backdrop.