Graduate Respiratory Therapist CRT/RRT - UPMC Mercy

UPMC Mercy Health Center; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus $15,000

Sign-on bonus $20,000

Tuition reimbursement $6,000/yr

Paid time off up to 5 weeks

Seven paid holidays

CCAC education partnership

Job summary

UPMC Mercy is seeking new graduate Respiratory Therapists to grow their skills in a high‑acuity, team‑oriented setting. You’ll receive structured onboarding, mentorship, and ongoing professional development to support your early career.

The role includes hands-on therapy with trauma and critical care patients, participation in an extended respiratory therapy ladder, and flexible scheduling options. Sign‑on bonuses are available for qualified applicants.

Qualifications

• New graduates welcomed to begin respiratory therapy careers.
• Structured onboarding, mentorship, and ongoing professional development.
• Opportunity to gain hands-on experience with high-acuity patients.

Responsibilities

• Provide respiratory therapy services under physician direction.
• Set up and operate ventilators and related equipment.
• Monitor patient responses and adjust therapy as prescribed.
• Maintain patient charts and document therapy information.
• Assist with transport of patients and respond to code situations.

Skills

Teamwork

Mentorship

Onboarding

Professional development

High-acuity care

Job description

Launch your respiratory therapy career at UPMC Mercy, where compassion, teamwork, and clinical excellence define patient care. We are seeking New Graduate Respiratory Therapists ready to grow their skills while making a meaningful impact from day one.

UPMC Mercy is a large, acute‑care Level I Trauma Center with a strong community feel. Mercy is western Pennsylvania’s only hospital with a Level I Regional Resource Trauma Center and a comprehensive Burn Center under one roof, and it serves as a hub for the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute, specializing in care for traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and stroke patients.

As a new graduate at UPMC Mercy, you’ll work alongside experienced clinicians in a supportive, team‑oriented environment, gain hands‑on experience with high‑acuity patients, and benefit from structured onboarding, mentorship, and ongoing professional development.

If you’re a recent or upcoming graduate looking for a place to learn, grow, and make a difference early in your career, we invite you to start that journey at UPMC Mercy.

We’re excited to offer sign‑on bonuses for qualified Respiratory Therapists who join our team:

• $15,000 for therapists with 0–1 year of experience with a 2-year full‑time commitment
• $20,000 for therapists with 1+ years of experience with a 2-year full‑time commitment

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
• Flexible schedule options to make your career work for you, including casual opportunities, nights, or weekends
• $6,000 in tuition reimbursement each year, plus a partnership with the Community College of Allegheny County to help you advance your education and grow your career

Purpose

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.