Respiratory Therapist Residency Program
For more than 50 years, it has been Rady Children's Mission to restore, sustain and enhance the health and developmental potential of children through excellence in care, education, research and advocacy.
As the San Diego region's only designated pediatric trauma center, and the only area hospital dedicated solely to pediatric care, we offer our employees the chance to make a difference in the lives of children every day. Rady Children's is committed to ensuring that our professionals receive support, rewards and career advancement opportunities. We offer a competitive salary, benefits package and retirement plan. We also offer tuition reimbursement and a multidisciplinary team approach to patient care.
The five-month RT Residency begins late July. Applicants are able to start applying in mid-to-late February. We recommend applying as soon as possible after the jobs are posted. When applying, you also need a cover letter that shows:
- Your commitment to a career in pediatric or neonatal respiratory care.
- Your availability for an interview.
- Why you want to be a pediatric or neonatal RT at Rady Children's.
- When you anticipate graduating (or when you did graduate) from your respiratory program.
Key Components of the RT Residency
Preceptor-Based Training: RT Residents benefit from the guidance of experienced Therapist Preceptors in the clinical setting as they jointly deliver patient care; this training is individualized and emphasizes the development of safe care practices and critical thinking skills.
Mentorship: Early in the program, each RT Resident is paired with an experienced RT Mentor committed to supporting new staff; this Mentor is then available as a professional contact, coach and resource for the full duration of the orientation period.
Debriefing: Throughout the program, RT Residents regularly participate in free-form discussions facilitated by social work staff and leadership that address the stresses and challenges particular to the healthcare profession; themes typically explored during debriefing include professional boundaries, stress management, self-care, conflict resolution and coping with grief.
Class Curriculum: RT Residents attend an ongoing series of classes that cover core concepts in pediatric care; these classes take the form of lectures and hands-on training presented by a team of experienced healthcare personnel.
Looping: RT Residents gain an expanded perspective of the Rady Children's system as they "loop" to a variety of patient care areas for a customized learning experience.
RT Opportunities
Sam S. and Rose Stein Emergency Care Center:
- Level I Trauma Center
- Average 160 patients a day; 60,000+ visits per year
- Average 122 trauma patients a month
The Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders and Ortho/Rehab:
- 40 beds (Peckham Center) and 25 (Ortho/Rehab)
- Supportive Respiratory Care
Medical/Surgical:
- 72 beds
- Most commonly seen cases: pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma and cystic fibrosis
Neonatal Critical Care:
- 39 beds at Rady Children's - High level III & IV: cardiac, INO and high-frequency
- 14 beds at Scripps/La Jolla - Level III: premature infants, attends high-risk labor and delivery
Pediatric Critical Care:
- 54 beds total; 24 PICU and 30 IMU
- Common admissions include trauma injuries, near drowning, post op cardiac surgeries, poisonings and mixed gas therapy
Transport Team:
- Neonatal and pediatric based teams
- RT staff dedicated to transport shifts
Our Unique Five-Month RT Residency Includes:
- 75 percent of time spend in precepted clinical experiences
- 25 percent of time spent in classroom and skills lab education
- Expert one-on-one preceptors for all clinical experiences
- Dedicated mentors
- Supportive debriefing/self care groups
- Extensive, individualized rotation/orientation to all appropriate Hospital areas
Additional Benefits of the RT Residency Program
- Competitive pay
- Generous shift differentials
- Retirement plan, including tax-deferred savings
- Comprehensive, flexible employee benefits package
