PRN Respiratory Therapist (RT)
Posted Sep 8, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026
Likely interview questions for this role
Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.
Behavioral
Tell me about a time you caught something on a blood gas or chest x-ray that changed your treatment plan.
real clinical judgment and whether they can connect diagnostic data to bedside action
Tell me about a time a piece of respiratory equipment malfunctioned mid-treatment. What did you do?
troubleshooting under pressure and whether they know when to escalate versus fix it themselves
Describe a time you disagreed with a physician's order or a protocol-driven decision. What did you do?
whether they can advocate for a patient professionally without becoming combative or passive
Tell me about a time you had to hand off a patient to another therapist or shift under time pressure. What did you make sure to communicate?
handoff discipline, since incomplete handoffs are a common patient safety failure point
Have you precepted a student or oriented a new hire before? What did you focus on teaching them first?
willingness and ability to teach, which the posting explicitly lists as a duty
Technical
Walk me through how you'd assess a patient who just came out of surgery and is now on a ventilator. What are you actually looking at first?
whether the candidate has a systematic, prioritized approach to patient assessment rather than a checklist recited from memory
What's your experience operating specialized ventilators in a critical care setting versus a general floor? Which vent platforms have you actually run?
hands-on equipment fluency and honesty about the range of settings they've worked in
Where are you at with your RRT credential, and what's your plan if you're still on the CRT pathway?
licensure compliance and awareness of the 12-month credentialing requirement tied to this role
Situational
You're covering both a critical care unit and a med-surg floor tonight with PRN staffing being thin. How do you decide where to go first when two calls come in at once?
triage instinct and comfort working without a fixed team or unit assignment, which is core to PRN work
Since you'd be flexible across day shift and night shift with no fixed rotation, how do you personally handle the disruption to sleep and routine that comes with that kind of schedule?
realistic self-awareness about PRN lifestyle demands, since burnout and no-shows are the main risk with per diem staff
How would you explain a new inhaler technique or a home oxygen setup to a patient who's scared and not really listening?
patient education skill and ability to read emotional state, not just deliver information
As a PRN therapist floating into a unit you don't work regularly, how do you get up to speed on that unit's specific workflow and staff fast enough to be useful and safe?
adaptability and self-directed learning, since PRN staff get less onboarding time per unit
Picture a patient who is deteriorating and their family is upset and asking you questions you can't fully answer yet. How do you handle that conversation while still managing the clinical situation?
composure and communication under simultaneous clinical and emotional pressure
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As published by Advocate Health.
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