Respiratory Therapist - NICU
Charlottesville, Virginia
University of Virginia Medical Center

Job Opportunity: Respiratory Therapist - NICU

Location

• Charlottesville, Virginia

Employment Type

• Travel/Contract
• Duration: 13 weeks
• Shift: Nights (4 shifts per week, 12 hours each, 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM)
• Hours per week: 48
• Schedule: Every other weekend and every other holiday off; unit uses a self-scheduling model (no guaranteed schedule but attempts to accommodate preferences)

Unit and Patient Population

• Children's hospital
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
• Cardiac Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) experience preferred

Required Qualifications

• Valid Registered Respiratory Therapist license in Virginia
• Minimum of 1 year of Respiratory Therapist experience within the last year
• Level 4 NICU experience
• Pediatric Respiratory Therapist experience
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification

Background and Compliance Requirements

• Government-issued photo ID must be carried during hours of service
• 7-year criminal background check within 60 days of start, updated annually; includes all locations lived/worked in past 7 years
• EPLS/GSA/SAM and HHS/OIG checks required within 30 days of start and updated every 30 days
• Education verification through a third-party vendor; official transcripts required (photocopies not accepted)
• Fingerprinting may be required depending on unit; facility will notify if needed
• Child Abuse and Neglect Registry check required only if assigned to specific behavioral health units (not applicable here)
• Drug screening within 2 months of start, updated annually; 10-panel including marijuana and fentanyl; instant tests not accepted

Health and Immunization Requirements

• Physical exam within 12 months prior to start, attesting ability to meet physical demands
• Tetanus/Diphtheria/Tdap vaccination (Tdap after age 11, no exemptions allowed)
• Negative TB test or chest X-ray per facility protocol (2-step PPD or Qgold within 12 months; chest X-ray if positive)
• Annual TB questionnaire if past positive
• Measles (Rubeola), Mumps, Rubella: 2 vaccines or positive titer required; no declinations accepted for measles
• Hepatitis B: Positive Hep B Surface Antibody titer required; if low/negative, additional antigen titer required; no declinations or exemptions accepted
• Varicella: 2 vaccines or titer required; declination accepted but will not hold clearance
• Seasonal flu vaccination required annually during flu season (no exemptions or declinations accepted)

Certifications and Competencies

• BLS and NRP required
• ACCS preferred
• Additional certifications such as ACLS, PALS, or others may be relevant but are not required for this role
• Medication and competency exams as applicable

References and Documentation

• Proof of 2 clinical references or hospital evaluations required
• Completed employment application/resume
• Skills checklist updated annually as applicable

Additional Notes

• Candidate must review and acknowledge professional appearance guidelines and traveler compliance documents prior to start
• Fit testing may be required onsite for patient-facing roles
• Pass/fail cardiac rhythm assessment not required for this specialty
• Prior travel experience is not explicitly required for this position

This position is ideal for experienced respiratory therapists with strong NICU skills seeking a 13-week night travel assignment in a pediatric hospital setting.