Respiratory Care Practitioner (RRT)
Posted Oct 2, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 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.
About your past
Tell me about a time you were called to a rapid response or code. What was your role, and how did it go?
What they are checking: Whether they can manage the airway calmly and work smoothly with the team under pressure.
This is a PRN role that requires 24 hours in each four-week period, plus a holiday and a weekend shift. How would you manage that commitment?
What they are checking: Whether they will reliably meet the minimum and can work days, nights or weekends as the department needs.
Tell me about a time you had to work with a patient who was very anxious about their breathing.
What they are checking: Whether they can bring comfort and confidence to a scared patient while still giving effective care.
What would you do
You think a treatment ordered for a patient isn't helping or isn't needed. What do you do?
What they are checking: Whether they speak up with evidence and work with the physician instead of giving useless or harmful therapy.
How do you prioritize when you have several treatments due across different floors at the same time?
What they are checking: Whether they triage by clinical urgency and communicate delays rather than just going in order.
About the work
Walk me through how you assess a patient to decide the right type and frequency of respiratory treatment.
What they are checking: Whether they evaluate breath sounds, work of breathing and history to build a plan instead of just following a schedule.
A patient on a ventilator suddenly has high peak pressure alarms. What do you check first?
What they are checking: Whether they can troubleshoot quickly and systematically, from the patient to the tube to the circuit.
How do you interpret an arterial blood gas? Give me an example of results that would worry you.
What they are checking: Whether they can read ABGs accurately and connect the numbers to what's happening with the patient.
How do you teach a patient with COPD to use their inhaler correctly?
What they are checking: Whether they check technique with teach-back, since poor technique is a common reason treatments fail.
What steps do you take to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia?
What they are checking: Whether they know and actually follow prevention practices like head-of-bed elevation and oral care.
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Practice this out loudThe full job description
As published by SSM Health.