Jobs › Advocate Health

2nd Year RT Extern

Advocate Health · Milwaukee, WI · $19.80–$29.70 an hour · Part time

Posted Sep 30, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

Apply at Advocate Health

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

You're in your second year of respiratory therapy school. What have you done in clinicals so far, and what are you still uneasy about?

What they are checking: Whether they know their own skill level honestly, which matters because externs work under a licensed therapist.

Tell me about a time you got corrective feedback in clinicals. What did you do with it?

What they are checking: Whether they take feedback well, which is the whole point of a supervised extern role.

Why respiratory therapy, and why at a large hospital like St. Luke's?

What they are checking: Whether they have a real reason for the field and would likely stay on after graduating.

What would you do

A patient's pulse oximeter reads 84 percent but they look comfortable and are talking. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they check the probe and the patient, then tell the therapist, instead of ignoring or overreacting.

As an extern you can only do certain things under observation. What would you do if a nurse asked you to do something outside that scope?

What they are checking: Whether they will hold the line on scope politely, which protects patients and their future license.

The shifts are four to eight hours between 11 a.m. and 9:30 p.m., about 20 hours per pay period. How will you balance this with school?

What they are checking: Whether they have thought through reliability around classes and exams before committing.

If you noticed a patient getting more short of breath while you were in the room, who would you tell and what would you say?

What they are checking: Whether they report clearly and quickly to the therapist or nurse rather than trying to manage it alone.

About the work

Walk me through how you'd set up and check a patient on oxygen by nasal cannula versus a non-rebreather.

What they are checking: Whether they know the basic devices and flow ranges they will handle on their first shifts.

How would you explain to a nervous patient how to use an incentive spirometer?

What they are checking: Whether they can teach in plain words and check that the patient actually understood.

What infection control steps do you take before and after a respiratory treatment, especially with a patient in isolation?

What they are checking: Whether they take PPE and cleaning seriously, since respiratory work exposes staff to airborne illness.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Advocate Health from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: 36402 Aurora St. Lukes Medical Center - Respiratory Therapy Services Status: Part time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 20 Schedule Details/Additional Information: 20 hours per pay period, flexible PM hours between 11-2130 in increments of shifts of 4-8 hours Pay Range: $19.80 - $29.70 Loan Forgiveness: Up to $21,000 Tuition Assistance: Up to $21,000 Location : Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center - Milwaukee, WI Shift/Schedule : 0.5 FTE, 20 hours per pay period, flexible PM hours between 11-2130 in increments of shifts of 4-8 hours Base Pay: $22.28/hour PM Differential : $3.00/hour We want our teammates and their families to Live Well. Actual compensation offered in the Pay Range (above) will be based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience and/or training and internal equity. To accompany base pay, we offer a comprehensive benefits package including: • Shift differentials for PM, Nights, Weekends (based on job profile) • 401(k) company contribution: 3% of your eligible annual salary AND 401(k) employer match: Dollar for dollar match up to 3% • Opportunity for yearly merit increases within the salary range Major Responsibilities: • Under the observation of a licensed respiratory therapist, may perform routine and basic level respiratory therapy procedures including oxygen therapy, pulse oximetry, aerosol therapy and incentive spirometry. • Organizes and maintains supply of respiratory therapy equipment and supplies as needed by department specific standards. • Collects equipment from all the areas of the hospital and cleans and reassembles equipment according to proper procedure observing standard precautions. Processes disposable/non-disposable equipment based on infection prevention guidelines. • Completes annual hospital competencies. Learns new equipment/supplies, procedures, and processes as needed to perform their job as appropriate. • Performs various patient positioning and transporting duties, which require lifting and pushing/pulling, while utilizing proper technique (if applicable). • Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served. Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the department's policies and procedures. Age-specific information is developed further in the departmental job standards. Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required: • Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification issued by the American Heart Association (AHA). Education Required: • Currently enrolled in an accredited or approved program in Respiratory Therapy. Experience Required: • No experience required. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required: • Wisconsin externs: Must transition into graduate respiratory therapist position immediately. • Illinois externs: The status of an extern shall not exceed 3 years from date of enrollment in an approved program. • Strong interpersonal and organizational skills plus ability to function independently. Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: • Will be required to walk, stand, squat, reach above the shoulders and sit throughout the workday. • Repetitive use of hands including simple grasping, pushing/pulling and fine manipulation. • Must be able to: • lift up to 50 lbs. from floor to waist. • lift up to 20 lbs. over the head. • carry up to 40 lbs. a reasonable distance. • Must be able to: • push/pull with 30 lbs. of force. • perform a sliding transfer of 150 lbs. with a second person present. • Must have functional speech, vision and hearing. • May be exposed to chemical and radiation hazards as well as blood and body fluids; therefore, personal protective equipment must be worn as necessary. • Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job. This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties. Our Commitment to You: Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including: Compensation • Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training • Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job • Incentive pay for select positions • Opportunity for annual increases based on performance Benefits and more • Paid Time Off programs • Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability • Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses • Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave • Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs • Educational Assistance Program Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview. About Advocate Health Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.

Apply at Advocate Health