Respiratory Therapist (RT)
Posted Sep 10, 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 had to make a quick call on a patient who was decompensating fast, maybe in a trauma or code situation.
composure and clinical judgment under real time pressure in a Level I trauma setting
Tell me about a time you had to teach a new grad or student a skill they were struggling with.
mentoring ability, since the job explicitly includes training new teammates and students
Describe a situation where you disagreed with a physician's respiratory care plan. What did you do?
whether they can advocate for the patient professionally without becoming combative or passive
Tell me about a time a shift didn't go the way you planned and you had to adjust everything on the fly.
adaptability in a high-acuity, fast-paced trauma and stroke center environment
Technical
Walk me through how you'd manage ventilator settings for a NICU patient versus an adult trauma patient in the same shift.
whether the candidate can actually flex between drastically different physiology and protocols, since this role covers both populations
How do you approach weaning a ventilator patient, and what tells you they're not ready yet even if the numbers look okay?
depth of hands-on ventilator management experience versus textbook knowledge
What's your experience with administering aerosolized medications and how do you handle a family who's anxious or resistant during patient education?
comfort with both the clinical task and the softer skill of family communication
What does your NICU respiratory experience look like so far, and where do you feel least confident?
honest self-assessment of NICU competency, a specialized skill not every adult-focused RT has
Situational
A NICU infant on the vent starts desaturating and the numbers don't match what you're seeing at the bedside. What do you do first?
whether they trust clinical assessment over monitors and follow a logical troubleshooting sequence, not panic
You're covering a large patient load overnight and two rooms need urgent respiratory interventions at once. How do you decide who you see first and how do you communicate that to the team?
triage judgment and communication skills when working solo overnight with thin coverage
How do you keep yourself sharp and alert working overnight shifts, especially every other weekend and holidays?
realistic self-awareness about the schedule's demands and sustainability, since this is 3rd shift with a rotation
How do you make sure you're communicating clearly with nurses, physicians, and other therapists during a handoff, especially at 6am or 6pm shift change?
attention to handoff safety and teamwork, since incomplete handoffs are a common source of error
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As published by Advocate Health.
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