Neonatal Respiratory Therapist - Per Diem - 141606

University of California San Diego; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Per Diem appointment

Nights, 12-hour shifts

Job summary

UC San Diego Health is seeking a Neonatal Respiratory Therapist for the NICU on a per diem basis. The role covers high risk deliveries, transport, and critical care support in a fast-paced setting.

You will administer oxygen therapy, ventilatory support, and bronchodilator treatments, while monitoring arterial blood gases and adapting care per protocols. Shift rotations include nights with 12-hour shifts across multiple sites in San Diego.

Qualifications

• Graduate of a CoARC accredited respiratory therapy program.
• Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) license.
• Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).
• NRP certification; BLS/CPR or BART at hire with 6 months to obtain BART.
• Experience in a large, complex healthcare setting preferred.

Responsibilities

• Attend high risk deliveries and neonatal transport, provide oxygen and ventilation support.
• Perform humidity/aerosol therapy, lung inflation maneuvers and secretion clearance.
• Monitor patients on ventilator support and assist in NICU procedures.
• Manage respiratory care equipment and coordinate with NICU team.

Skills

RCP

RRT

NRP Certification

BLS/CPR

Education

CoARC accredited respiratory therapy program

Job description

Payroll Title: REG RESP THER PD

Department: NEONATAL CLINICAL SUPPORT CTR

Hiring Pay Scale: $61.70 / Hour

Worksite: Various

Appointment Type: Per Diem

Appointment Percent: 20%

Union: EX Contract

Total Openings: 2

Work Schedule: Nights, 12-Hour Shifts, Sunday-Saturday

#141606 Neonatal Respiratory Therapist - Per Diem

Filing Deadline: Mon 10/12/2026

Will consider new graduate applicants.

DESCRIPTION

Under general supervision the Neonatal Respiratory Therapists attend high risk deliveries and neonatal transport. Conduct procedures, including humidity and aerosol therapy, lung inflation maneuvers, and pulmonary secretion clearance methods, monitor patients on continuous ventilator support and performs CPR in NICU. Provide appropriate oxygen therapy by selecting appropriate devices, alters treatments based on respiratory care protocols and demonstrates appropriate changes with regard to arterial blood analysis and lab results. Perform appropriate method of bronchodilator therapy.

Perform appropriate method of secretion clearance and assembles, maintains and troubleshoots equipment. Determine appropriateness of all respiratory care therapy modalities; including indication/contraindications and hazards of therapy, appropriateness of therapy, and ability to evaluate therapy outcomes. Initiate, monitor, troubleshoot, and maintains patients on continuous mechanical support. Recommends changes based on patient's clinical status. Perform invasive and noninvasive monitoring and diagnostic techniques on NICU patients.

Responsible for caring for infants requiring respiratory support such as oxygen, ventilation, and medications to aid their breathing. Other duties may include respiratory therapy equipment management, blood gas analysis, neonatal resuscitation, intubation assistance and special procedure assistance.

This position is for NICU therapists that have a desire to work with NICU patients.

The primary location for this position is La Jolla but will be required to float to our Hillcrest location as needed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be a graduate of a CoARC accredited respiratory therapy program.
• Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP).
• Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program Certification (NRP).
• BLS/CPR or BART certification at time of hire with commitment to get BART within six (6) months of hire date.
• Previous directly related experience in a large, complex healthcare setting.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Neonatal Pediatric Specialty (NPS).
• Previous experience working as a Respiratory Therapist in the NICU.
• Experience performing invasive and noninvasive monitoring and diagnostic techniques on NICU patients.
• Experience working in the Delivery Room.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Must be able to work various hours and locations based on business needs including at least 1 shift per week, select holidays and weekends, and at least 1 on call shift per week.
• Must attend transports of infants via ambulance, fixed wing aircraft, and helicopters.
• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.
• Performs work to expected standards in life threatening emergencies and in the critical care environment.

Pay Transparency Act

Annual Full Pay Range: $128,830 - $128,830 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)

Hourly Equivalent: $61.70 - $61.70

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).

If employed by the University of California, you will be required to comply with our Policy on Vaccination Programs, which may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

If applicable, life-support certifications (BLS, NRP, ACLS, etc.) must include hands-on practice and in-person skills assessment; online-only certification is not acceptable.

UC San Diego Health is the only academic health system in the San Diego region, providing leading-edge care in patient care, biomedical research, education, and community service. Our facilities include two university hospitals, a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Shiley Eye Institute, Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center, the only Burn Center in the county, and dozens of outpatient clinics. We invite you to join our team!

Applications/Resumes are accepted for current job openings only. For full consideration on any job, applications must be received prior to the initial closing date. If a job has an extended deadline, applications/resumes will be considered during the extension period; however, a job may be filled before the extended date is reached.

To foster the best possible working and learning environment, UC San Diego strives to cultivate a rich and diverse environment, inclusive and supportive of all students, faculty, staff and visitors. For more information, please visit UC San Diego Principles of Community.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

For the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination

UC San Diego is a smoke and tobacco free environment. Please visit smokefree.ucsd.edu for more information.

UC San Diego Health maintains a marijuana and drug free environment. Employees may be subject to drug screening.

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.

a. "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC’s policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• Abusive Conduct in the Workplace