Respiratory Therapist

Respiratory TherapistFull-Time

Listed compensation

$33-$48/hr

The week · per this posting

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

Posted 34m ago · Verified live

Job Description

Description

The purpose of the Respiratory Therapist is to evaluate, treat, document care for residents with impaired respiratory and pulmonary function due to disease process; including resident’s with tracheotomy and residents who are ventilator dependent, and participate in the interdisciplinary team meetings as required. Qualified candidate will plan, organize, develop, and direct the overall operation of the Respiratory Department in accordance with local, state, and federal guidelines and regulations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Performs duties and responsibilities with assigned functional area within a nursing home facility which may include, but are not limited to, any combination of the following tasks:

Evaluate residents’ respiratory functional needs when referred by the resident’s attending physician or interdisciplinary team.

Follow physician’s orders, facility policies and procedures to evaluate and treat residents and complete required documentation for care provided.

  • Participate in discharge planning when appropriate.
  • Evaluate and document evaluations of referred residents in accordance with facility policies and procedures.

Provide appropriate treatment to help residents maintain or attain the highest level of respiratory function possible within the confines of his/her physical condition.

Recommend and/or provide appropriate treatment, preventative measures to prevent decline in residents’ respiratory function.

Provide appropriate resident or caregiver education to help residents maintain or attain the highest level of respiratory function possible within the confines of his/her physical abilities.

  • Operate respiratory therapy equipment safely and effectively.
  • Maintain timely and accurate resident reports as required by federal, state and local regulatory agencies and third-party payers.
  • Perform all duties assigned in an effective, timely and professional manner.
  • Observe infection control procedures.
  • Know and understand Illinois Department Public Health regulations and requirements.
  • Be responsible for the safety of residents under his/her supervision.
  • Observe all facility policies and procedures.
  • Assume duties related to completion of Minimum Data Set assessments as assigned.

Complete documentation related to evaluations, treatment plans, MDS assessments, resident care plans and progress notes in a timely manner.

Participate in resident care conferences, interdisciplinary care conferences and rehabilitation conferences as scheduled.

  • Participate in implementation of programs to improve resident care related to Quality Indicators.
  • Assume Quality Assurance duties as assigned.
  • Accept assigned duties in a cooperative manner.
  • Assume accountability for all data contained in the employees’ handbook (if employed by the facility).
  • Perform other related duties as directed by his/her supervisor.
  • Come to work as scheduled and consistently demonstrate dependability and punctuality.
  • Come to work in neat, clean attire and consistently present an appropriate professional appearance.
  • Consistently work cooperatively with residents, residents’ representatives, facility staff, physicians, consultants, and ancillary service providers.
  • Other duties may be assigned.

Requirements

  • EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
  • Graduate of an accredited Respiratory Program.
  • Valid IL State license as an RT.
  • Minimum 3 years’ experience as a Respiratory Therapist.
  • Thorough understanding of regulatory process, MDS and care planning process.
  • Fiscal and budgetary knowledge
  • Must know documentation requirements and be driven by quality care standards
  • Ability to work with physicians and other healthcare professionals

The Fine Print (Still Important!)

Offers of employment are contingent upon a successful background check and drug screen. We want to keep our residents safe, happy, and in good hands—you’re part of that promise.

Helia Healthcare, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We’re committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better we can serve our community.

Key Responsibilities

The Respiratory Therapist evaluates, treats, and documents care for residents with impaired respiratory function, including those requiring ventilator support. They also manage the Respiratory Department operations in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.

Qualifications

Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Tracheotomy careVentilator managementPatient evaluationRegulatory compliancePatient educationInterdisciplinary collaboration

Respiratory Therapy Career Context

Of the 40 active Respiratory Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 3% are remote, 68% have no call, 60% require no weekends.

Respiratory Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is up 10.1% vs. the prior quarter (through Aug 2026).

The cost-of-living index for Illinois is 100.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$84k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $84k 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

12 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution12 jobs

6
<$110k
3
$110k-120k
0
$120k-130k
3
$130k-140k

Annual compensation range

Work-Life Balance Distribution12 jobs

0
1-2
0
3-4
1
5-6
11
7-8
0
9-10

Higher = better work-life balance

#1

Respiratory Therapist

Sutter Health · Sacramento, California

$47.68-$66.75/hr
#2

Respiratory Therapist

Northwell · Terryville, New York

$80k-$136k
#3

RRT - Registered Respiratory Therapist

$58-$63/hr
#4

Respiratory Therapist

$35.94-$55.43/hr
+ 10 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

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

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,657 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • On-site

Living in Salem

Median resident rent
$774/mo
Residents’ average commute
14 min
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

Sources: U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

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

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