Respiratory Therapist - Pediatric ICU/NICU
Charlotte, North Carolina
Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center

Job Opportunity: Respiratory / Neuro Diagnostics - Charlotte, North Carolina

Position Details

• Employment Type: Travel/Contract
• Contract Length: 13 weeks
• Shift: 3x12s or 4x12s accepted; 12-hour nights (18:45 - 07:15)
• Call Requirement: May be required depending on workload
• Float Requirement: Yes, throughout Pediatric units and floors
• Weekend Requirement: Every third weekend
• Unit Orientation: 36 hours
• Scrubs: Black (not provided)
• Patient Population: Pediatric and Neonates
• Unit Details:

  • 70+ bed NICU
  • 10 bed PICU
  • 32 bed Pediatric Floor
  • 14 bed Pediatric Emergency Department
• Work Areas: PICU (required), Pediatric ER, Pediatric Floor, Pediatric Medical-Surgical
• Patient Diagnoses: Pediatric and Neonatal cases, including aspiration, COVID, cystic fibrosis, fresh tracheostomy, pneumonia
• Special Equipment:

  • Servo-I, Servo-N ventilators
  • HOFV-3100 A & B
  • Alaris IV pumps for continuous Albuterol treatments
  • Airvo heated HFNC
  • BCPAP with multiple interfaces
  • Aerogen, Hope neb, EZflow Max neb
  • Hamilton T1 ventilator
  • Synclara, Volera, Beyond Air nitric system
  • Fisher Paykel Flexitrunk BCPAP interface
  • Metaneb, Smart Vest, Heliox use, AMBU bronchs
• Unit Systems: EPIC (experience required), Pyxis

Required Qualifications

• Years of Experience: Minimum 5 years in specialty (Respiratory Therapy)
• Prior Travel Experience: Not accepting first-time travelers unless they have a very high-level accurate skillset (implies prior travel experience strongly preferred)
• Licenses/Certifications:

  • Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)
  • NC State License
  • BLS (Basic Life Support)
  • NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program)
  • PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support)
• Skills Required:

  • Work settings: Emergency Department, NICU, Pediatric Critical Care, Pediatrics
  • Airway management and suctioning: Endotracheal tube suctioning, extubation, intubation assist, nasal airway suctioning, oropharyngeal suctioning, pulmonary hygiene, sputum specimen collection, tracheostomy suctioning
  • Care of patients with aspiration, COVID, cystic fibrosis, fresh tracheostomy, pneumonia
  • Medication administration: Albuterol, Atrovent, Flovent, Nitric Oxide (INo), Pulmicort, Racemic epinephrine, Terbutaline Sulfate, Tobramycin, Xopenex
  • Medication delivery systems: Aerosol setup mask and trach, Medihaler, Metered dose inhaler
  • Nebulizer use: Handheld, T-Piece, Trach Collar
  • Oxygen therapy: Bag & Mask, ET Tube, High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC), Portable Oxygen tank, T-piece, Trach Collar
  • Ventilator management: BiPAP, CPAP, High frequency oscillator, IMV, SIMV, troubleshooting high pressure alarms, weaning from mechanical ventilation
  • Neonatal/Pediatric equipment and procedures: Bubble CPAP, capillary blood gases, CPAP/Nasal CPAP/BiPAP, IMV/SIMV, intubation assist, oscillating ventilator, pressure/volume ventilator, umbilical blood gases
  • Professional knowledge: ABG interpretation, chest physiotherapy (vest and manual)

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced airway management: Direct intubation, nasal and oral airway placement
• Experience with bronchoscopy care
• Ventilation management during patient transport (inter-departmental and ambulance)
• Neonatal/Pediatric high-risk delivery assistance, direct intubation (neonatal and pediatric), neonatal transports
• Care of infants/children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, near drowning, respiratory distress syndrome, respiratory syncytial virus, transient tachypnea of the newborn
• Basic EKG and arterial blood gas drawing skills

Additional Information

• Scheduling: Per unit needs; no block scheduling allowed
• RTO Policy: No RTO after booking; call-offs or additional RTO may lead to cancellation
• Interview: Manager requires interview before offer
• Background Checks: Criminal, education verification, and various state-specific checks required within 90 days of start
• Health Requirements:

  • Physical exam within 1 year of start (or within 30 days if past positive TB)
  • Fit mask testing (N95 or PAPR training) required
  • Negative TB test or chest x-ray as applicable
  • Drug screening within 30 days of start
  • Required immunizations and titers: Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella, Hepatitis B (or facility-specific declination)
  • Seasonal flu vaccination or approved exemption required during flu season
• Competency Exams: Medication/pharmacology competency, color blind testing, dysrhythmia/EKG competency (with remediation process if needed)
• Orientation: 36 hours unit-specific orientation required
• Documentation: Various facility-specific documents and agreements required prior to start

This position is ideal for experienced Respiratory Therapists with strong pediatric and neonatal critical care skills, who are comfortable working in a fast-paced, high-acuity environment with advanced respiratory equipment and ventilator management. Prior travel experience or a demonstrated high skill level is strongly preferred.