Pediatric Respiratory Therapist Traveler (Night Shift)
Listed compensation
$63-$65/hr
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations and time off.
Job Description
Join Duke University Hospital through our Internal Traveler Program and bring your pediatric respiratory expertise to a flexible assignment with a nationally recognized academic medical center. You will care for complex pediatric patients across areas such as our Level IV NICU, pediatric cardiac intensive care, and PICU, working with advanced respiratory therapies and interdisciplinary teams to shape patient care.
With 8, 13, and 26 week assignments, you can expand your experience at Duke Health while receiving support from clinical leads and educators as you get familiar with our equipment, practices, and care environment.
Assignment Details
Location: Duke University Hospital, Durham, NC, the largest of Duke Health's four hospitals with 1062 patient beds
Shift: Nights; 12-hour shifts
Schedule: One, two, or three shifts per week, with every-other-weekend coverage
Assignment length: 8, 13, or 26 weeks, with renewal opportunities subject to program limits (26-weeks)
Compensation: $63 or $65 hour based on level (night and weekend premium)
Benefits: Eligible for limited benefits
Eligibility: External candidates, including former Duke team members who have been away for at least 12 months
Pediatric respiratory care experience is required. NICU, PCICU, and PICU experience is highly preferred.
What You Will Do
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 Will Bring
Strong clinical judgement, adaptability, and confidence working independently and collaboratively in a complex pediatric care enviroment.
- Completion of a two-year CoARC-approved respiratory care program, with an associate degree or equivalent.
- At least one year of experience as a Registered Respiratory Therapist.
- Pediatric respiratory care experience is required for this pediatric-only assignment.
- Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification and any additional credentials required by the assigned pediatric care area must be current, as applicable.
- Current bBasic Life Support (BLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certifications are required.
Current North Carolina respiratory care license and Registered Therapist credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).
Candidates will be considered for tone of the two traveler levels based on experience, qualifications, and demonstrated clinical competences
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.
Key Responsibilities
Assess pediatric patients and deliver respiratory therapies, including managing invasive and non-invasive ventilation. Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to monitor patient conditions and document care accurately.
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 BLS, PALS, NRP, and North Carolina respiratory care licensure.
Qualifications
- Education
- Professional certificate or licensure
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Pediatrics Career Context
Of the 40 active Respiratory Therapist listings this role was benchmarked against, 3% are remote, 50% have no call, 53% 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).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Listed pay | $131k–$135k | Respiratory Therapist median $80k (middle half $80k–$80k)79 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$141k in purchasing power | North Carolina index 94.3 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Respiratory Therapist listings in North Carolina | 116 active | 4,132 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 3% remote · 50% no call · 53% no weekends40 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | North Carolina healthcare professional listings: 34% state a sign-on bonus (median $15k) · 7% offer loan repayment116 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Pediatrics listings | 1,217 in the last 30 days | 782 the 30 days before (+56%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
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