NICU Respiratory Therapist (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Respiratory Therapist)
Respiratory TherapistsDescription
Assess, treat, and support premature and critically ill newborns with respiratory disorders in the NICU. Assume primary responsibility for neonatal respiratory care modalities and supervision of support staff; initiate and manage ventilatory and therapeutic procedures; maintain detailed records; collaborate with neonatologists and nurses; and select, assemble, check, and operate neonatal respiratory equipment.
- • Set up and manage neonatal ventilators (conventional, HFOV/HFJV), CPAP/bubble CPAP, high-flow, and oxygen/nitric oxide delivery per orders.
- • Deliver emergency neonatal resuscitation in the NICU and delivery room per NRP guidelines.
- • Develop and adjust individualized respiratory care plans with the care team.
- • Monitor work of breathing, apnea/bradycardia/desaturation events, vitals, ventilator data, and blood gases; report changes.
- • Obtain and analyze capillary or arterial blood gases; communicate results promptly.
- • Enforce neonatal safety, infection control, and thermoregulation standards; follow orders and protocols.
- • Document assessments, ventilator settings, therapies, and patient responses in the electronic medical record.
- • Inspect, calibrate, clean, and maintain neonatal respiratory equipment; arrange repairs as needed.
- • Educate parents on neonatal respiratory conditions, equipment, and home care (e.g., oxygen, apnea monitors).
- • Explain procedures and comfort strategies to families to reduce infant stress.
- • Relay blood gas and other diagnostic results to providers.
- • Assist with surfactant therapy, lung recruitment, and extubation readiness assessments.
- • Perform neonatal airway management: intubation, extubation, suctioning, and airway clearance as ordered.
- • Demonstrate neonatal respiratory procedures and device use to trainees and staff.
- • Teach, mentor, and supervise respiratory therapy technicians or assistants assigned to the NICU.
- • Support research or quality initiatives by collecting respiratory data per protocol.
- • Respond to equipment alarms and urgently troubleshoot ventilators and gas delivery systems.
- • Use pulse oximetry, capnography, and transcutaneous monitoring to assess cardiopulmonary status.
- • Assist during invasive procedures (e.g., line placement, chest tube) by managing ventilation and oxygenation.
- • Transport ventilated or oxygen-dependent neonates safely within the hospital.
- • Attend high-risk deliveries to provide immediate respiratory stabilization and transport to the NICU.
- • Monitor cardiac rhythm via bedside monitors; recognize and report arrhythmias and significant bradycardia.
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
