NI-Therapist, Registered Resp (NICU)

J  o  b    D  e  s  c  r  i  p  t  i  o  n

JOB INFORMATION

Effective Date:

4/27/2026

Entity:

Illinois

Job Code:

NI-3322AC

Job Title:

NI-Therapist, Registered Resp (NICU)

FLSA Exemption Status:

Non-Exempt

JOB SUMMARY

The Registered Respiratory Therapist (NICU) is a highly specialized advanced level clinician with training specific to the care of pediatric and neonatal patients. This clinician must work in close collaboration with the neonatal team including the physician, nurse practitioner and nurse to provide care. The respiratory therapist will be expected to participate in critical care ground transport of neonates. They must have exemplary communication and customer service skills as a front-line representative of UW Health.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

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Greets patients and families, explains procedures and provides clinical input regarding pulmonary care into the patient’s overall plan of care working collaboratively with other members of the NICU team.

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Provides complete patient care in conjunction with fellow team members.

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Completes patient assignments and stabilizes patients.

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Sets priorities, adapting to changing patient situations and initiating action to reduce or correct risk in response to data indicating urgent and/or emergent risk.

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Performs diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, including but not limited to the interpretation of blood gases and lab values, airway management management of mechanical ventilation and high frequency oscillatory ventilation (in patient not on transport), and administration of nitric oxide and aerosolized pharmacological agents.

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Represents UW Health to outlying healthcare facilities with superb communication and customer service.

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Selects, assembles, checks and repairs NICU/ Pediatric equipment for proper function, operation and cleanliness.

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Adheres to and completes all policies and procedures, education, and competencies.

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Presents and demonstrates basic pediatric assessments to pediatric “mega-codes”.

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Provides clinical instruction, education, and support to students, new staff, or other health care professionals as required.

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Functions as a lead therapist, as needed.

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Incorporates standards of practice and clinical practice protocols to maximize clinical effectiveness.

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Utilizes technology effectively to support practice and efficiencies in care delivery.

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Implements practice protocols relevant to patient population.

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Initiates multidisciplinary collaboration to positively impact the outcomes of health provided.

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Acquires and maintains current knowledge and clinical specialty and assumes responsibility of the professional development of self, other nursing staff, and students.

As needed, additional responsibilities reasonably within the scope of duties and physical requirements may be assigned.  ALL DUTIES AND REQUIREMENTS MUST BE PERFORMED CONSISTENT WITH THE UW HEALTH PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND RESPECT FOR PEOPLE COMMITTMENTS.

X

Clinical

Will provide all patients age and culturally appropriate assessment/screening and interpretation of clinical and laboratory data. Develops and implements age appropriate interventional plans of care including education within the parameters of their position responsibilities and licensure

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Graduate of a Commission of Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) Accredited Program for Respiratory Therapy.

Required

2 years

experience as a staff therapist, including work with neonatal and/or pediatric critical care patients.

Preferred

Experience working in a patient transport environment.

Preferred

Licensed as a Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) in the state of Illinois (within 90 days of passing test for new grads)

Required

Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) Credentialed by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).

Required

Basic Life Support/CPR Certification.

Required

Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) or ability to obtain within 6 months of hire.

Required

Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) or ability to obtain within six (6) months of hire.

Required

Neonatal Pediatric Specialty (NPS) Certification or ability to obtain within 2 years of hire.

Required

LICENSE, CERTIFICATIONS, AND REGISTRATIONS MUST BE MAINTAINED PER UW HEALTH POLICY. 

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Ability to provide complete critical care in the absence of a physician.

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Clinical expertise in patient assessment and monitoring.

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Clinical expertise in interpretation of blood gases and lab values.

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Clinical expertise in mechanical ventilation and administration of nitric oxide.

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Critical thinking skills.

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Ability to quickly and correctly assess and provide appropriate care based on a situation.

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Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with team members, UW Health medical staff, community facility staff, patients, and families.

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Ability to acquire and maintain advanced skills such as proficiency in performing basic airway management.

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Demonstrates positive working relationships with other departments.

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Demonstrates sensitivity to the values of self and others.

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Ability to be flexible with work schedules.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORKING CONDITIONS

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Sedentary: Sedentary work involves lifting no more than 10 pounds at a time and occasionally lifting or carrying articles like docket files, ledgers, and small tools. Although a sedentary job is defined as one which involves sitting, a certain amount of walking and standing is often necessary in carrying out job duties. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required occasionally and other sedentary criteria are met.

Up to 10#

Negligible

Negligible

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Light: Light work involves lifting no more than 20 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds. Even though the weight lifted may be very little, a job is in this category when it requires a good deal of walking or standing, or when it involves sitting most of the time with some pushing and pulling of arm or leg controls. To be considered capable of performing a full or wide range of light work, you must have the ability to do substantially all of these activities. If someone can do light work, we determine that they can also do sedentary work, unless there are additional limiting factors such as loss of fine dexterity or inability to sit for long periods of time.

up to 20#

Up to 10# or requires significant walking or standing or requires pushing/pulling of arm/leg controls.

Negligible or constant push/pull of items of negligible weight

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Medium: Medium work involves lifting no more than 50 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds. If someone can do medium work, we determine that they can also do sedentary and light work.

20-50#

10-25#

Negligible-10#

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Heavy: Heavy work involves lifting no more than 100 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 50 pounds. If someone can do heavy work, we determine that they can also do medium, light, and sedentary work.

50-100#

25-50#

10-20#

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Very Heavy: Very heavy work involves lifting objects weighing more than 100 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing 50 pounds or more. If someone can do very heavy work, we determine that they can also do heavy, medium, light, and sedentary work.

Over 100#

Over 50#

Over 20#

Other - list any other physical requirements or bona fide occupational qualifications not indicated above:

Over 50 lbs.

UW Health does not require, nor does it expect that its employees lift more than 50 lbs unassisted. Objects in excess of 50 lbs should be lifted or moved with mechanical means or through a team lift. Employees in patient care areas are expected to utilize mechanical lifts and adhere to the "Use of Mechanical Lifts (Liko)" policy in the Patient Services Policy and Procedure Manual.

Note: The purpose of this document is to describe the general nature and level of work performed by personnel so classified; it is not intended to serve as an inclusive list of all responsibilities associated with this position.

THE EMPLOYEE MUST BE ABLE TO COMPLETE ALL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE JOB WITH OR WITHOUT AN APPROVED ACCOMODATION. Note: The purpose of this document is to describe the general nature and level of work performed by personnel so classified; it is not intended to serve as an inclusive list of all responsibilities associated with this position.