Per Diem Respiratory Care Practitioner

About the role

As an academic medical center with a rich history of providing life-saving treatment in Southern Nevada, UMC serves as the anchor hospital of the Las Vegas Medical District, offering Nevada’s highest level of care to promote successful medical outcomes for patients. UMC is home to Nevada's ONLY Nonprofit Level I Trauma Center, Verified Burn Center, and Multi-Organ Transplant Center. In 2026, we became the FIRST and ONLY Magnet®-Recognized hospital in the state, reflecting UMC's nursing professionalism, teamwork, and superiority in patient care. Position Summary: Provides respiratory therapy modalities per protocol and those ordered by physicians to improve the cardiopulmonary conditions of patients from neonatal to geriatric ages.

Responsibilities

• Assessment, administration and evaluation of respiratory care treatments
• Coordinating with physicians on treatment care plans
• Performing extubations and airway management
• Provision of life support to critical adult and pediatric patients
• Transport of respiratory‑compromised patients when required

Requirements

• Education/Experience: Equivalent to graduation from high school and successful completion of an approved school of Respiratory Therapy
• Licensing/Certification: Credentialed by the NBRC as a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) or Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) at time of hire; Respiratory Care Practitioner licensure by the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners at time of hire; Basic Life Support (BLS) certification accepted by the American Heart Association (AHA); State of Nevada Blood Gas Technologist or Blood Gas General Laboratory Supervisor license at time of hire or within 90 days of hire
• Additional requirement: Credentialed by the NBRC as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)
• Physical Requirements: Mobility to work in a typical clinical environment; stamina to remain standing and/or walk for extended periods; vision to read printed materials and a VDT screen; hearing and speech for effective communication; ability to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 20 pounds frequently, and up to 10 pounds constantly to move objects; reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Anatomy and physiology; blood gases; advanced respiratory and cardiology principles
• Dynamics of aerosol and IPPB therapy
• Respiratory care modalities for adults, pediatrics and neonatal patients when trained and competent
• Respiratory drug pharmacology
• Respiratory care equipment in use at the facility
• Pulmonary rehabilitation techniques
• Patient acuity assessment methods
• Hospital standards of care
• Department and hospital emergency response policies and practices
• Patient rights; age‑specific patient care practices
• Infection control policies and practices
• Handling, storage, use and disposal of hazardous materials

Skills

Skill in:

• Using mechanical ventilators
• Performing arterial blood gas sampling and analysis
• Applying cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• Surfactant administration
• Using computers for data entry and reporting
• Maintaining airway adjustments
• Transporting critical patients
• Maintaining ventilation equipment
• Communicating with a wide variety of people from diverse socio‑economic and ethnic backgrounds
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with all personnel contacted in the course of duties
• Efficient, effective and safe use of equipment