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COPD Navigator Respiratory Therapist Full-Time Days

Northwestern Medicine · Palos Heights, IL · Full time · Health Care Provider

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

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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

Tell me about a time you worked with case management or pulmonary rehab to coordinate a patient's care.

What they are checking: Whether they collaborate across disciplines, which the navigator role depends on.

Tell me about a time a patient did not follow your advice. How did you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they stay patient and keep working with the person instead of giving up.

This role is mostly navigation rather than bedside therapy. What draws you to that?

What they are checking: Whether they truly want an education and coordination role and understand how it differs from floor work.

What would you do

On a follow-up call, a patient tells you they are more short of breath than usual but do not want to go to the ER. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can assess over the phone and escalate according to protocol even when the patient resists.

A patient keeps getting readmitted. How would you figure out what is getting in the way at home?

What they are checking: Whether they look for real barriers like cost, transportation or smoking rather than blaming the patient.

About the work

Walk me through how you would teach a COPD patient inhaler technique before they go home.

What they are checking: Whether they can teach a skill clearly and confirm the patient can actually do it, not just nod along.

How do you explain the difference between a rescue inhaler and a maintenance inhaler so a patient remembers it?

What they are checking: Whether they can make a common source of confusion simple, which cuts down on avoidable readmissions.

What symptoms or vital sign trends in remote monitoring would make you escalate right away?

What they are checking: Whether they know the warning signs of a COPD flare and act on data before a crisis develops.

How do you talk to a patient about home oxygen safety, especially if someone in the home smokes?

What they are checking: Whether they can address fire risk honestly and without judgment.

How do you document patient interactions so the care team can see progress and gaps?

What they are checking: Whether their documentation supports outcome tracking and readmission reduction efforts.

How would you help a patient recognize early symptoms of a flare before it gets bad?

What they are checking: Whether they can teach action plans that let patients act early at home.

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The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

This position is primarily functioning as the COPD navigator. Provide individualized inpatient education on COPD, inhaler technique, prescribed oxygen use, and symptom recognition. Help patients understand their care plan and prepare for a successful transition home. Conduct follow-up phone calls to reinforce education, identify barriers, and connect patients with needed resources. Support remote patient monitoring by reviewing reported symptoms and vital signs and escalating concerns according to established protocols. Collaborate with providers, nursing, case management, and pulmonary rehabilitation to coordinate care. Document patient interactions and contribute to efforts to improve outcomes and reduce avoidable readmissions. The Respiratory Care Practitioner I reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards. A clinically competent, licensed professional who administers Respiratory care to the acutely ill patient through assessment, planning/evaluation, intervention and treatment. Effectively interacts with patient, significant others, and other health team members, while providing care within the scope of their training. Responsibilities: • •Competent in all adult med surg units in all respiratory therapies and modalities. •Understands and implements adult respiratory protocols, policies, and guidelines that are ordered on med surg units. •Delivers and assesses response to ordered therapy; adjusts frequencies as appropriate. •Monitors, records and communicates patient condition as appropriate to other members of the healthcare team. •Educate patients and/or families and provide information about respiratory disease management, community support groups and other resources. •Competent in all adult care areas including med/surg units, emergency department, and critical care units and other units as per hospital expectations. •Responds to clinical emergency management situations. •Participates in multidisciplinary rounds; collaborates with healthcare team. •Evaluates and utilizes respiratory care policies and procedures based on patient outcomes, current research, and best practices. •Precept students. •Serves as positive role model for team members by working with them to promote teamwork and cooperation; consistently adheres to NM Code of Professionalism. This position is full-time, 72 hours per pay period, 8-hour shifts, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with every 3rd weekend. No holidays. Required • Graduate of an Accredited Respiratory Therapy Program • Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) or Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) • Active or Pending Illinois Respiratory Care License • Basic Life Support (BLS) Preferred • Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) • Adult Cardiovasular Life Support (ACLS) Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status. Background Check Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. Benefits We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Click on or copy and paste URL to your browser to view detailed benefits information NorthwesternMedicine Career Page https://jobs.nm.org/benefits Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings. If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception : New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.

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