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Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

Internal Traveler - Pediatric Respiratory Therapist (Night Shift)

Respiratory TherapistIncludes weekendsContract

Listed compensation

$63-$65/hr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations and time off.

Posted 2h ago · Verified live

Job Description

At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.

About Duke University Hospital Pursue your passion for caring with Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, which is consistently ranked among the best in the United States.

The largest of the four Duke Healthhospitals with 1062 patient beds, it features comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgery center, and more.

Duke’s Internal Traveler Pool Opportunity

Pediatric Respiratory Therapist (Night Shift)

External Candidates only will be considered (12-Months away from Duke)

Traveler – Pediatric Respiratory Therapist (Night Shift)

Join our compassionate care team as a traveler and help us advance health together at Duke University Hospital.

Assignment Details

Location: Duke University Hospital

Shift: Nights; 12-hour shifts

Schedule: One, two, or three shifts per week, with every-other-weekend coverage required throughout the assignment

Assignment length: 8, 13, or 26 weeks, with renewal opportunities subject to program limits (26-weeks)

Compensation: $63 or $65 per hour depending on level (Night shift and Weekend premium eligible)

Benefits: Eligible for limited benefits

Pediatric respiratory care experience is required. NICU, PCICU, and PICU experience is highly preferred.

What You’ll Do

Provide diagnostic and therapeutic respiratory care to pediatric patients in accordance with physician orders, established protocols, and the Respiratory Care Services scope of practice. You will support night-shift staffing needs and collaborate closely with physicians, nurses, and other members of the pediatric care team to deliver safe, responsive, family-centered care.

Key Responsibilities

Assess pediatric patients and deliver respiratory therapies in accordance with care plans, physician orders, and established protocols.

Administer oxygen, aerosolized medications, airway-clearance therapies, and other ordered treatments.

Initiate and manage invasive and non-invasive ventilation and monitor each patient’s response to therapy.

Perform airway suctioning, pulse oximetry, arterial blood gas punctures, bedside pulmonary mechanics, CPR, and bag-mask ventilation.

Recognize urgent or life-threatening changes in condition and initiate an appropriate response.

Support safe transport of pediatric patients within the hospital.

Verify orders and ensure respiratory equipment and supplies are correctly set up, safe, and ready for use.

Document care accurately and communicate relevant clinical information during handoffs and throughout the night shift.

Educate patients and families and collaborate with the interdisciplinary pediatric care team.

Follow infection-prevention, safety, compliance, equipment-care, and quality-improvement standards.

What You Bring

Education

Completion of a two-year CoARC-approved respiratory care program (associate degree or equivalent).

Experience and Level Placement

A minimum of one year of experience as a Registered Respiratory Therapist. Pediatric respiratory care experience is required for this pediatric-only assignment.

This opportunity includes two levels based on experience and demonstrated clinical competencies. Candidates will be considered for the appropriate level based on their qualifications.

Degrees, Licensure, and/or Certification

Current North Carolina respiratory care license and Registered Respiratory Therapist credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). Current Basic Life Support (BLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certifications are required. Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification and any additional credentials required by the assigned pediatric care area must be current, as applicable.

Skills for Success

Sound clinical judgment and the ability to make age-appropriate decisions for pediatric patients.

Confidence working independently on night shift while escalating concerns and collaborating effectively across disciplines.

Clear, compassionate communication with patients, families, physicians, nurses, and other care team members.

Adaptability, reliability, and readiness to support changing pediatric staffing and patient-care needs.

Ready for Your Next Assignment?

Bring your pediatric respiratory expertise to an 8, 13, or 26-week night-shift assignment and make an immediate impact for Duke’s patients, families, and care teams. This opportunity is open to external applicants only, with placement at one of two levels based on experience and competencies.

Duke University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes.

To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions

Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.

Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes.

To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.

Requirements

Requires a two-year CoARC-approved respiratory care program degree and at least one year of experience as a Registered Respiratory Therapist. Must hold current North Carolina licensure, NBRC credentials, and BLS, PALS, and NRP certifications.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Patient assessmentEquipment maintenanceDocumentationInterdisciplinary collaboration

Pediatrics Career Context

Of the 40 active Respiratory Therapist listings this role was benchmarked against, 3% are remote, 55% have no call, 60% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for North Carolina is 94.3 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$133k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $141k in an average-cost state. 59.2% of North Carolina clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Respiratory Therapist pay on WeekdayDoc is up 1.0% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Top contract/1099 Respiratory Therapist Jobs

24 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution24 jobs · 21 employers

7
<$100k
11
$100k-115k
3
$115k-130k
3
$130k-145k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks17 jobs

401k / retirement match
88%
Sign-on bonus
41%
Relocation assistance
18%
Loan repayment
12%
PSLF eligible
12%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Respiratory Therapist

Sutter Health · Sacramento, California

$47.68-$66.75/hr
#2

Respiratory Therapist II

Marian Regional Medical Center · Santa Maria, California

$52.03-$64.05/hr
#3

Respiratory Therapist – CRT/RRT

$45.05 - $63.70/hr
#4

Respiratory Therapist (RT), Cardiopulmonary Rehab - Full Time (36hrs/week), Egg Harbor Township

$36.14-$56.23/hr
+ 22 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 3.0this job 3.0
Better work-life than 50% of Pediatrics (Respiratory Therapy) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 47 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • Includes weekends

Living in Durham

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$363k
Typical market rent
$1,659/mo
Residents’ average commute
22 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
97.6
State income tax
Up to 4.8%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.