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Kindred Healthcare
Chicago, Illinois

Respiratory Therapist, RRT - Full-time Nights

Respiratory TherapistIncludes callFull-Time

Listed compensation

$32-$47.55/hr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 2mo ago

Job Description

Kindred Hospital Chicago - North is a 164-bed long-term acute care hospital offering the same in depth care you would receive in a traditional hospital, but for an extended recovery period. We partner with your physician and offer 24-hour clinical care seven days a week so you can start your journey to wellness.

To the benefit of our patients, families and visitors, we are located alongside the North Branch Chicago River and surround by the greenery of Horner, Welles and Revere Parks.

Job Summary

Responsible for administering safe and competent respiratory care as ordered per physician, monitoring mechanical ventilation, administering medications, patient assessment, understanding ramifications of hemodynamic monitoring, understanding blood work results, monitoring, teaching, and training.

Essential Functions

Competent delivery of Respiratory Care procedures in all areas of the hospital as outlined in the Respiratory Care policies, procedures and protocols.

Maintain accurate and complete documentation and charge capture of all Respiratory Care procedures. Develop, document and maintain respiratory care elements of the patient plan of care.

Verify and initiate all physician orders for Respiratory Care.

Demonstrate competency and working knowledge of all Respiratory Care instruments and equipment. Perform troubleshooting, problem resolution and proper disinfection/sterilization.

Initiate, monitor and maintain oxygen/aerosol delivery devices and non-invasive and invasive mechanical ventilation devices.

Perform effective airway management including oral/nasal airway placement, bag/mask ventilation, intubation and/or intubation assistance, emergent and scheduled tracheostomy tube changes. Demonstrate safe and appropriate suction techniques and use of artificial airways. Initiate and perform "CPR".

  • Perform tracheostomy, endotracheal tube and oral care.
  • Implement one way speaking valve trials per physician order.
  • Assist physician with diagnostic and therapeutic bronchoscopy procedures.
  • Complete initial and ongoing decannulation risk assessments with appropriate interventions and documentation.

Perform and document timely Spontaneous Breathing Trial assessments for weaning readiness. Initiate and advance mechanical ventilator weaning per protocol.

  • Actively participate in the multidisciplinary early patient mobility program
  • Perform pulse oximetry and carbon dioxide gas monitoring.
  • Perform arterial blood gas (ABG) sampling and analysis.
  • Perform and document ongoing ABG analyzer quality control and maintenance as required.
  • Perform and document patient and family teaching/education.
  • Provide and receive accurate and complete patient handoff reports.
  • Participate in department/hospital in-services, meetings, and patient care rounds.
  • Notify immediate supervisor of changes in workload and patient acuity.
  • Provide timely and accurate updates to healthcare team members and make recommendations for modification to patient therapy as clinically indicated.
  • Assist in orientation and training of new employees/ students, and precept new employees during orientation.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities/Expectations

Ability to work under stress and to respond quickly in emergency situations.

Utilize appropriate interpersonal communication skills when interacting with all healthcare team members, patients, and their families.

Understands principles of lifespan growth and development with the ability to provide care appropriate for the adult and geriatric patient population.

  • Ability to work cooperatively as a member of a team.
  • Must have good and regular attendance.
  • Must read, write and speak fluent English.
  • Approximate percent of time required to travel: 0%25
  • Performs other related duties as assigned.
  • Pay Range: $32.00-$47.55/hr.

ScionHealth has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit-eligible employees that includes Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), FSA/HSA, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off, and Wellness.

Education

Respiratory Therapy education as required for attainment of credentialling by the National Board for Respiratory Care

Licenses/Certifications

  • Current Respiratory Therapy license from the appropriate state licensing body.
  • Current Certified, Registered Respiratory Therapist (CRT/RRT) credential or a Texas Respiratory Care `Practitioner Certification in compliance with the National Board for Respiratory Care Credential Maintenance Program (CMP).
  • Current BLS and ACLS certifications.

Experience

1 year experience preferred.

Key Responsibilities

The Respiratory Therapist is responsible for administering safe and competent respiratory care, including mechanical ventilation, airway management, and patient assessment. They must also maintain accurate documentation, participate in multidisciplinary rounds, and assist with diagnostic procedures.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a current Respiratory Therapy license and possess RRT or CRT credentials along with BLS and ACLS certifications. One year of experience is preferred, and the role requires the ability to work in emergency situations and communicate effectively with the healthcare team.

Key Skills

Arterial blood gas samplingTracheostomy careBronchoscopy assistancePatient education

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Respiratory Therapist, RRT - Full-time Nights at Kindred Healthcare a 6.4 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the top 25% in Respiratory Therapy — ranked against 3,889 active Respiratory Therapy listings on WeekdayDoc.

Respiratory Therapy Career Context

Of the 40 active Respiratory Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 3% are remote, 53% have no call, 63% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Illinois is 100.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$83k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $83k in an average-cost state. 62.6% of Illinois clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Respiratory Therapist Jobs

23 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution23 jobs · 21 employers

6
<$100k
11
$100k-115k
3
$115k-130k
3
$130k-145k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks17 jobs

401k / retirement match
88% this job
Sign-on bonus
35%
Loan repayment
12%
Relocation assistance
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 – CRT/RRT

Garnet Health · Middletown, New York

$45.05 - $63.70/hr
#3

Respiratory Therapist II

$41.41-$62.92/hr
#4

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

$36.14-$56.23/hr
+ 21 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 3.0this job 6.4
Better work-life than 80% of Respiratory Therapy listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,889 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • On-site
  • Includes call

Living in Chicago

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$356k
Typical market rent
$2,342/mo
Residents’ average commute
33 min
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

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

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

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About Kindred Healthcare

Hospitals and Health Care
Louisville, KY
10,000+ employees

Benefits & Perks

Medical
Dental
Vision
401(k)
FSA/HSA
Life Insurance
Paid Time Off
Wellness