Pediatric Respiratory Therapist

Respire Homecare Services; Elmhurst (IL); On-site; USD 93,600 - 114,400; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental & vision insurance

401(k) with employer match

Life insurance

Paid time off

Company provided car

Sign-on bonus

Job summary

Respire Homecare Services in Elmhurst, IL seeks a Pediatric Respiratory Therapist to deliver hands‑on care at patients’ homes, including ventilator and tracheostomy management, with clinical excellence and compassionate support.

You will educate families, coordinate with a cross‑functional team, and work toward RRT‑NPS certification within six months, supported by onboarding and clinical education resources.

Qualifications

• Active RRT credential and state licensure required.
• RRT-NPS credential within 6 months of hire; Respire supports certification.
• Experience with ventilator‑dependent and/or tracheostomy patients.
• Genuine passion for pediatric and family‑centered care.
• Strong communication and teaching skills for non‑clinicians.
• Able to work independently in home settings with cross‑functional coordination.
• Pediatric or neonatal critical care experience preferred.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation for daily travel.
• Ability to stay calm and reassuring in high‑stress situations.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands‑on respiratory care to medically complex pediatric patients in the home, including ventilator and tracheostomy management.
• Educate caregivers through structured, multi‑visit sessions and validate their understanding.
• Bring warmth and steadiness to families facing emotional, financial, and logistical stress.
• Participate in hospital‑to‑home handoffs and introductions to care teams.
• Document assessments, plans of care, and follow‑up visits per program standards.
• Escalate complex cases to the Senior Clinical Manager and seek guidance when needed.
• Coordinate with care navigator and logistics for scheduling and equipment readiness.
• Work with SW/CM to address psychosocial or financial barriers to care.
• Progress toward RRT‑NPS certification within 6 months with support from clinical educators.
• Engage in ongoing competency validation and peer case discussions.

Skills

RRT Credential

RRT-NPS

Ventilator care

Pediatric care

Communication skills

Independent home work

Pediatric/Neonatal CC

Driver's license

Calm under pressure

Job description

Respire Homecare Services provides comprehensive, compassionate, and personalized home care services for patients and their families by fostering an environment that balances both the needs of our employees and the needs of the company through open communication, teamwork, trust, and mutual respect.

We embrace change and the opportunity it brings to establish and administer sound policies, rules and practices that treat employees with dignity and equality.

Our focus is on delivering patient centered home care services while being committed to recruiting, developing, rewarding, and retaining our most valuable resource – our employees.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Pediatric Respiratory Therapists on Respire’s Complex Pediatrics team bring skilled, hands‑on respiratory care directly into the homes of medically complex children, and just as importantly, bring steadiness and warmth to families navigating one of the hardest chapters of their lives. This role is for a therapist who leads with clinical excellence and empathy in equal measure, helping caregivers feel confident and supported rather than overwhelmed.

You’ll manage ventilator, tracheostomy, and complex airway care in the home, and you’ll be the clinical face families see most which means your communication and teaching skills matter as much as your technical ones. You’ll work closely with the Pediatric Care Navigator, Social Worker/Case Manager, and Pediatric Logistics Specialist so families experience one coordinated team, not a series of separate visits.

This role reports to the Senior Clinical Manager, Pediatric Respiratory Care, who will support your onboarding, competency development, and path to RRT‑NPS certification within your first 6 months.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Provide direct, hands‑on respiratory care to medically complex pediatric patients in the home, including ventilator, tracheostomy, and complex airway management.
• Conduct structured, multi‑visit caregiver education and validate caregiver competency before considering a case stabilized checking not just what caregivers were told, but what they actually understood.
• Bring warmth and steadiness to every home visit, recognizing that families are often managing significant emotional, financial, and logistical stress alongside their child’s clinical needs.
• Participate in bedside introductions and hospital‑to‑home handoff communication, helping families meet their care team before they ever leave the hospital.
• Document clinical assessments, Plan of Care updates, and follow‑up visits per program standards.
• Escalate complex or high‑risk cases to the Senior Clinical Manager, Pediatric Respiratory Care, and seek guidance when a case is outside your comfort zone, asking for help is part of doing this job well, not a failure at it.
• Coordinate closely with the Pediatric Care Navigator on scheduling, equipment readiness, and discharge timing so families never feel caught between departments.
• Coordinate with the Pediatric Logistics Specialist on equipment delivery, setup, and resupply needs identified during home visits.
• Partner with the Social Worker/Case Manager (SW/CM) when a family’s psychosocial or financial stress is affecting their ability to manage care at home.
• Work toward RRT‑NPS (Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist) certification within your first 6 months, with structured support from the RT Clinical Educator function.
• Participate in ongoing competency validation, training, and peer case discussions led by the Senior Clinical Manager, Pediatric Respiratory Care.
• Represent Respire professionally when interacting with hospital care teams, physicians, and referral sources encountered during patient care.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

• Active Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential and state licensure in good standing required.
• RRT‑NPS (Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist) credential required within 6 months of hire; Respire will support your path to certification - candidates who already hold RRT‑NPS are strongly preferred.
• Experience with ventilator‑dependent and/or tracheostomy patients required.
• A genuine passion for pediatric and family‑centered care, with the empathy and patience to teach and reassure caregivers who are new to complex home care.
• Strong communication and teaching skills - the ability to explain clinical information clearly to caregivers who are not clinicians, and to adjust your approach for a scared parent versus a clinical colleague.
• Comfort working independently in the home setting while staying closely coordinated with a cross‑functional team (navigation, social work, logistics).
• Pediatric or neonatal critical care experience strongly preferred.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation for daily travel to patient homes within the pilot market.
• Ability to remain calm, clear, and reassuring in high‑stress or emergency clinical situations.

WHY YOU’LL LOVE WORKING HERE

• Mission‑driven culture focused on whole‑person wellness and dignity
• Opportunities for career growth within the company
• Competitive pay and comprehensive benefits package:
  • Pay range: $45‑$55/hr (rate will be based on experience and location)
  • Health, dental & vision insurance
  • 401(k) with employer match
  • Life insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Company‑provided car
  • Sign‑on bonus

Take the leap and bring your expertise where it’s truly needed; apply today and help us create healthier tomorrows, one home at a time.