Respiratory Therapist, PRN Nights
Posted Aug 25, 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 disagreed with a physician's order for respiratory treatment. How did you handle it?
What they are checking: Professional confidence to raise concerns and use protocols to support patient safety.
How do you prepare a patient and family for extubation or a change to comfort care?
What they are checking: Compassion and communication during end-of-life respiratory care, common in oncology.
Which credentials do you hold, such as RRT and ACLS, and what ventilators have you used most?
What they are checking: Readiness to work independently at night with minimal orientation.
What would you do
As PRN nights, you need to work at least three shifts every six weeks. How would you keep your skills and knowledge of our protocols current?
What they are checking: Commitment to staying sharp and familiar with the unit despite a limited schedule.
How do you prioritize when you are the only therapist in the hospital at night and two calls come at once?
What they are checking: Triage judgment when coverage is thin and both calls might be urgent.
About the work
You are called to a rapid response for a patient with sudden shortness of breath and low oxygen. Walk me through what you do.
What they are checking: Fast airway and breathing assessment and choosing the right oxygen or support device.
How do you manage a patient on BiPAP who is getting more agitated and less able to tolerate the mask?
What they are checking: Knowing when noninvasive support is failing and when to escalate to intubation.
Your ventilated patient's peak pressures suddenly rise. What do you check?
What they are checking: A methodical approach to ventilator troubleshooting that separates patient causes from circuit causes.
Cancer patients often have fragile lungs from treatment. How does that change your approach?
What they are checking: Awareness of lung toxicity from chemo and radiation and immunosuppressed patients' infection risks.
What is your role in a code, and what do you focus on from the moment you arrive?
What they are checking: Clear understanding of airway management and teamwork during a cardiac arrest.
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As published by City of Hope Chicago.