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 ventilator adjustment without a physician immediately available.
comfort with autonomous clinical judgment under pressure, which matters in a Level I trauma center
Tell me about a time you had to mentor a new RT or a student during a busy or stressful shift.
teaching ability and patience, since the job explicitly includes mentoring new teammates and students
Describe a time you disagreed with a nurse or physician about a patient's respiratory care plan. How did you handle it?
ability to advocate clinically while staying collaborative on a care team
Tell me about a case that didn't go the way you expected. What did you learn from it?
self-reflection and honesty about mistakes or limits, important in high-acuity trauma settings
Technical
Walk me through how you'd manage ventilator settings for a NICU patient versus an adult trauma patient you might see later that same shift.
whether the candidate can actually flex between two very different patient populations, since this role covers both adult and NICU care
How do you decide when a patient is ready to be weaned off a ventilator, and what signs make you hold off?
depth of hands-on ventilator management knowledge, not just textbook definitions
What's different about administering respiratory medications to a NICU infant compared to an adult patient?
whether the candidate respects dosing and delivery differences in a fragile population, a patient safety check
How do you stay current on ventilator technology and respiratory protocols as they change?
commitment to ongoing learning, relevant given the clinical ladder and continuing education emphasis here
Situational
A patient in the ED who's part of the pediatric-capable trauma pathway comes in with acute respiratory distress. What are your first three actions?
whether the candidate has a clear, prioritized emergency protocol rather than a vague general answer
If you're covering both adult units and the NICU on the same shift and two urgent calls come in at once, how do you decide where to go first?
triage judgment and honesty about the real workload pressures of a dual-coverage role
What would you do if a family member of a patient was upset and pushing back on a treatment you needed to perform right away?
communication skills under emotional pressure and ability to keep care moving without losing the family's trust
What does a normal every-other-weekend, 6a-6p rotation look like for you in terms of energy and focus by hour ten or eleven?
realistic self-awareness about fatigue management on long shifts, since sustained attention matters for patient safety
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As published by Advocate Health.
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