Respiratory Care Practitioner I

June 6, 2026

Other Jobs To Apply

Salary : $126,349.60 - $152,871.68 Annually Location : Throughout the County of Santa Clara, CA Job Type: Full-Time/Part-Time Job Number: 25-R15-B Department: Santa Clara Valley Healthcare (SCVHC) Opening Date: 08/12/2025 Closing Date: 8/25/2025 11:59 PM Pacific Bargaining Unit: 01 Description Under clinical supervision, this position is responsible for managing the prescribed respiratory care and treatment of patients throughout Santa Clara Valley Healthcare (SCVH) and for assisting physicians with the technical aspects of respiratory care. Please note: All applicants are required to attach proof of a valid Respiratory Care Practitioner license or work permit issued by the State of California. The list established from this recruitment will be used to fill current and future vacancies throughout the SCVH, which may include full-time, part-time, and Extra Help positions. If you are interested in these opportunities, please ensure you complete the relevant application questions. The County of Santa Clara Health System proudly owns and operates Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, O'Connor Hospital, St. Louise Regional Hospital, and Regional Medical Center. The Power of WE: Together, we can make a greater impact-bringing better care and expanding healthcare services across the community. Santa Clara Valley Healthcare (SCVH) is the second-largest public health care system in California, encompassing four acute care hospitals, 14 clinics, and 60+ specialty and sub-specialty services. Our mission is to deliver high-quality, accessible healthcare and excellent service to all residents of Santa Clara County. Santa Clara Valley Medical Center - SCVMC is a full-service, tertiary acute care teaching hospital with 699 licensed beds, offering a broad range of specialized services, including Rehabilitation, Burn Care, Trauma, and Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU). SCVMC was ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the #6 Rehabilitation Hospital in the nation and #1 in the West, and was designated a 2024 High Performing Hospital for Maternity Care, Heart Failure, Stroke, Hip Fracture, and Pneumonia. O'Connor Hospital - O'Connor Hospital (OCH) is a 358-licensed-bed acute care facility that provides a comprehensive range of inpatient, outpatient, medical, surgical, and specialty services to the residents of Santa Clara County. Founded in 1889, OCH is one of the county's earliest hospitals and has experienced significant growth over the past five years, particularly in inpatient volume and Emergency Department visits. This increase has also extended to ancillary and clinical departments, including imaging, laboratory, pharmacy, and respiratory services. St. Louise Regional Hospital - Since 1989, St. Louise Regional Hospital (SLRH) has been caring for the residents in Santa Clara and San Benito Counties, offering a wide range of inpatient and outpatient medical specialties. Located in Gilroy, SLRH is a 93-bed facility, designated as a Primary Stroke Center, and is the only acute care hospital in the area. The hospital also maintains a CALSTAR 2 emergency helicopter base on-site, enhancing its ability to deliver critical care services to the community. Learn more about Santa Clara Valley Healthcare: https://www.scvh.org/home and follow us on: LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/company/county-of-santa-clara Facebook | www.facebook.com/sccjob Instagram | www.instagram.com/sccjobs Newsletter Subscription | Sign Up Typical Tasks <ul><li>Accepts clinical assignments in Medical/Surgical units, Emergency Department, Adult ICU units, Burn Unit and one of the specialty areas when assigned; <li>Manages Critical Care Life Support System; <li>Observes, monitors, evaluates, records and reports patient signs and symptoms, general behavior and general response to respiratory care treatment and diagnostic testing; <li>Initiates and monitors patients receiving oxygen/aerosol/mist therapy chest physiotherapy, sputum induction and humidification therapy; <li>Administers aerosolized pharmacological agents; <li>Transcribes, verifies and implements physician orders. Administers respiratory care related medication as ordered by physician; <li>Provides artificial airway care and assists other therapy services with evaluation procedures; <li>Identifies and evaluates abnormal respiratory characteristics; <li>Initiates appropriate therapy per Respiratory Protocols; <li>Attends and participates in MD rounds in patient care areas as needed; <li>Performs basic management of invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation; <li>Monitors and manages respiratory status during transport; <li>Participates in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation as a member of the code team; <li>Responds to Rapid Response Calls as member of Rapid Response Team; <li>Assists with orientation/precepting of students and new employees; <li>Reviews patient charts for Respiratory care orders, patient history and condition; utilizes data to formulate Respiratory Care Plan for patient; <li>Gathers, assembles and transports necessary equipment; <li>Monitors and evaluates patients receiving mechanical ventilation by means of assessing patients' condition, interpreting lab data and communicating with physicians and nursing staff; <li>Assists with patient and family teaching of Respiratory Care equipment and procedures to expedite discharge; <li>Communicates persuasively with physicians and nurses to achieve goal oriented patient outcome; <li>Follows priorities as established by the Medical Directors of Respiratory Care Services; <li>Assists in the review/revision of departmental policies/competencies and procedures under the guidance of the Chief Respiratory Care Practitioner; <li>Gives and receives shift reports; <li>Participates in in-service education and other forms of knowledge enhancement in respiratory care; <li>Obtains and interprets Arterial Blood Gases; <li>Explains procedure to patient and provides patient and family education; <li>Sets up, monitors and evaluates patients receiving mechanical ventilation; <li>Assesses patient condition, interprets lab data, and communicates effectively with physicians and nursing staff; <li>Takes an assertive role in advancing patients per protocol; <li>Assists with ordering of home care patient equipment and provides discharge instructions; <li>Attends in-services and other forms of knowledge enhancement in respiratory care; <li>Performs arterial punctures; <li>Performs bedside pulmonary function diagnostic procedures; <li>Performs related work as required.</li></ul> Employment Standards Possession of a valid license to practice as a Respiratory Care Practitioner issued by the State of California is required for all Respiratory Care Practitioner I positions; -OR- A valid Applicant Work Permit issued by the Respiratory Care Board of California subject to successful completion of the RCP licensing exam within 60 days of employment. Failure to pass the RCP licensing exam voids the work permit and will result in release from position. Sufficient education, training and experience to demonstrate possession of the knowledge and abilities listed below. Knowledge of:<ul><li>Principles, methods and techniques of administering sustaining gases and their effect on the human body; <li>Anatomy, physiology, physics, chemistry, mathematics and pharmacology pertinent to respiratory care; <li>Clinical applications including but not limited to gas, humidity and aerosol therapy, positive pressure breathing treatments, assisted and controlled mechanical ventilation, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, and chest physical therapy; <li>Ethics and history of respiratory care; <li>Sterilization, microbiology and infection control measures; <li>Uses, care and maintenance of equipment used in respiratory care; <li>Effects of spinal cord injury and head injury on the respiratory system.</li></ul>Ability to: <ul><li>Work independently with minimum supervision; <li>Work with a variety of technical and clinical variables; <li>Apply medical theory to the practice of respiratory care; <li>Select proper equipment to perform normal and emergency procedures; <li>Remain calm under stresses of workload, emergencies and patient emotions; <li>Analyze clinical patient information and make appropriate decisions regarding level and priority of treatments; <li>Communicate effectively with patients, staff and the public from varying educational, technical and cultural backgrounds; <li>Organize time to perform assignments; <li>Work proficiently with equipment specific to rehab including but not limited to roto-rest beds, wheelchair ventilators, liquid oxygen systems and phrenic nerve stimulator; <li>Function as preceptor for new employees and students in Spinal Cord and Head Injury Units, ER, ICUs, TCU and Medical/Surgical Floors; <li>Communicate persuasively with physicians and nurses to achieve goal oriented patient outcomes; <li>Assist physician with the technical aspects of respiratory therapy; <li>Obtain Arterial Blood Gases.</li></ul> The County offers comprehensive first-class medical, dental, and vision benefits plans for County employees and their dependents, including plans with no deductibles, no co-pays, no co-insurance, and no prescription drug co-pays. Learn more The County also offers generous paid time off with significant vacation, sick time, and 13 paid County holidays annually! Details are included in the with the bargaining unit applicable to the job classification. In addition to the amazing perks above, the County also offers the additional benefits below. Retirement Benefits The County offers robust retirement plans including a (similar to the private sector's 401(k) plan) and the In addition to lifetime retirement income available through the CalPERS pension plan, the 457(b) Deferred Compensation plan provides a great way to save for retirement and supplement the defined benefit pension available to employees. These plans help our employees build a plan for their future and contribute to their family's long-term financial well-being. Health Flexible Spending Account The empowers employees to manage healthcare expenses efficiently with tax-free contributions (up to $3,200 for the 2024 calendar year). Secure tax-free solutions for your healthcare expenses and enjoy the flexibility to manage your healthcare finances effectively with the HFSA. Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) The enables employees to utilize tax-free funds for dependent care services, facilitating a convenient and cost-effective approach for managing your dependent care expenses. The County also offers the , an employer-funded DCAP, for employees with annual income under $120,000. Life and AD&D The County offers life and disability benefits including , Insurance, These benefits ensure financial security and income support when you and your family need it most. Employee Assistance Program (EAP) The County prioritizes employee mental health and well-being and offers a top-tier through Concern providing confidential counseling sessions covering stress, anxiety, relationships, grief, as well as financial/legal services, personal coaching, child and elder care referrals, and comprehensive crisis support. Employee Wellness The offers free wellness programing, fitness classes and resources; including Elevate My Wellness an all-in-one platform designed to elevate your well-being journey. Education Reimbursement A generous program is available, including Education Reimbursement for employees seeking additional training and professional development. NOTE: Benefit and Retirement information may vary from bargaining unit to bargaining unit. Due to changes in State Law, current pension provisions described in the union contracts are not automatically applied. Specific pension benefits for new hires who start on or after January 1, 2013 may be different than indicated in the union contracts. Click here to access all Memoranda of Understanding and most recent Summary of Changes. 01 Please answer the following questions. Completion of the following supplemental questions is REQUIRED and is an integral part of the evaluation process. Initially, it will be used to determine minimum qualifications. For those applicants meeting the employment standards, this information will be critical in the subsequent competitive assessment to identify those candidates to be invited to continue in the examination process. Your responses to the questions may also be reviewed and scored in a Competitive Rating evaluation process based on pre-determined rating criteria. Your answers should be as complete as possible, as no additional information will be accepted from applicants once the Competitive Rating evaluation has begun. A response of "see resume" or "see application" will deem your application incomplete. Please include the name of employers, job titles, dates of employment, and hours worked per week for questions asking about work experience. Do you understand these requirements? <ul> <li>Yes</li> <li>No</li> </ul> 02 What is the highest level of education you have completed? <ul> <li>None</li> <li>High School or GED equivalent</li> <li>College (1 to 29 semester units / 1 to 44 quarter units)</li> <li>College (30 to 59 semester units / 45 to 89 quarter units)</li> <li>College (60 to 89 semester units / 90 to 134 quarter units)</li> <li>College (90 to 119 semester units / 135 to 179 quarter units)</li> <li>College (120 or more semester units / 180 or more quarter units)</li> <li>Associate's Degree</li> <li>Bachelor's Degree</li> <li>Master's Degree</li> <li>Doctoral Degree</li> </ul> 03 Do you have a valid California Respiratory Practitioner License? <ul> <li>Yes</li> <li>No</li> </ul> 04 REQUIRED:If you answered yes, please list your California Respiratory Practitioner License number and the expiration date. 05 How many year(s) of experience do you have working as a Respiratory Care Practitioner? <ul> <li>None</li> <li>Less than one year</li> <li>One to less than two years or Clinical rotation done at SCVMC</li> <li>Two to less than three years</li> <li>Three to less than four years</li> <li>Four to less than five years</li> <li>Five to less than six years</li> <li>Six to less than seven year</li> <li>Seven to less than eight years</li> <li>Eight to less than nine years</li> <li>Nine to less than ten years</li> <li>Ten years or more</li> </ul> 06 Select your current training background. <ul> <li>Graduate of a 4 year program with a BS from a RCP program</li> <li>Graduate of a 2 year program with an AS from a RCP Program</li> <li>Graduate of a 1 year program with a RCP Program</li> <li>Other training program</li> </ul> 07 Do you have experience working as a Respiratory Care Practitioner at Valley Medical Center (VMC), O'Connor Hospital or St. Louise Regional Hospital? <ul> <li>Yes</li> <li>No</li> </ul> 08 If you answered yes to the above question, please give the month and year in which you worked at Valley Medical Center (VMC), O'Connor Hospital or St. Louise Regional Hospital. 09 Please select all of the credentials/certifications you currently possess. <ul> <li>RRT</li> <li>RPFT/CPFT</li> <li>NPS</li> <li>AE-C</li> <li>ACCS</li> <li>ACLS</li> <li>ABLS</li> <li>PALS</li> <li>NRP</li> <li>BLS</li> <li>CRT</li> <li>None</li> </ul> 10 Do you have experience with ambulatory sleep studies? <ul> <li>Yes</li> <li>No</li> </ul> 11 Do you have experience in assisting with bronchoscopies? <ul> <li>Yes</li> <li>No</li> </ul> 12 Do you have experience with high frequency ventilation in adults? <ul> <li>Yes</li> <li>No</li> </ul> 13 If you answered yes to the above question, please list the devices you have knowledge of, if you answered no please put N/A. 14 Please select all of the areas which you possess experience providing respiratory care services in: <ul> <li>Medical/Surgical Units</li> <li>Emergency Department</li> <li>Emergency Department including trauma services</li> <li>Adult Intensive Care Unit</li> <li>Burn Unit</li> <li>Neonatal Intensive Care Unit</li> <li>Pediatrics</li> <li>Pediatric Intensive Care Unit</li> <li>Spinal Cord Rehab Trauma Unit</li> <li>Neonatal unit</li> <li>Sub-Acute/Skilled Nursing Facility</li> <li>Other</li> <li>None</li> </ul> 15 Describe your experience in providing respiratory care in the following areas you have selected in the above question. Include the name of the employer, job title, dates of employment and hours worked. If no experience put N/A 16 Do you have experience with ordering durable medical equipment (DME) supplies and working with DME providers? <ul> <li>Yes</li> <li>No</li> </ul> 17 Describe your experience ordering durable medical equipment (DME) supplies and working with DME providers. Include the name of your employer, dates of employment, and hours worked per week. 18 Do you have experience treating patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)? <ul> <li>Yes</li> <li>No</li> </ul> 19 Describe your experience treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Include the name of the employer, job title, dates of employment and hours worked. If no experience put N/A 20 Do you have experience with patient/family education for patients who have COPD, Long Term Covid and or Asthma? <ul> <li>Yes</li> <li>No</li> </ul> 21 Describe your experience treating patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In your response, please indicate the name of your employer(s), job title(s), and how the software was used in your role. If you do not have such experience, type N/A. 22 Please select all of the programs/procedures/systems that you have experience using: <ul> <li>ARCIS</li> <li>EPIC/ HealthLink</li> <li>Electronic Medical Record (EMR)</li> <li>Electronic Health Record (EHR)</li> <li>IBEX</li> <li>Microsoft Word</li> <li>Office 365 or Outlook Email</li> <li>Pathways Materials Management (PMM)</li> <li>Other</li> <li>None</li> </ul> 23 Describe your experience in each program/system that you selected in the previous question. Include the name of the program/system, name of employer(s), job title(s), dates of employment, the number of hours worked per week, job duties performed. If you do not have any write "none." 24 Please identify the hospital you are currently working at. If none, please select n/a. <ul> <li>El Camino</li> <li>Fremont</li> <li>Good Samaritan</li> <li>Kaiser</li> <li>O'Connor</li> <li>San Francisco General</li> <li>San Jose Regional</li> <li>St Louise</li> <li>Stanford</li> <li>VA Health Care System</li> <li>Washington</li> <li>Valley Medical Center Health System</li> <li>Other</li> <li>N/A</li> </ul> 25 Please complete this survey carefully. Your responses will determine whether or not you will be referred for a specific position (i.e., geographical location). Please place a mark next to the location(s) in which you would be willing to work. <ul> <li>Hospital System - Valley Medical Center</li> <li>Hospital System - O'Connor</li> <li>Hospital System - Saint Louise Regional</li> <li>Hospital System - O'Connor Sub-Acute</li> <li>Hospital System - Regional Medical Center</li> </ul> 26 How did you find out about this job? <ul> <li>Contacted by County Recruiter</li> <li>Contacted by a Recruitment Firm</li> <li>County Employee Referral</li> <li>County of Santa Clara Career Website</li> <li>County of Santa Clara Job Interests Email Notification</li> <li>Facebook</li> <li>Instagram</li> <li>LinkedIn</li> <li>Indeed</li> <li>Virtual Job Fair</li> <li>In Person Job Fair</li> <li>In-Person Networking Professional Event</li> <li>Virtual Networking Event</li> <li>Community Event</li> <li>Glassdoor</li> <li>Governmentjobs.com</li> <li>Professional Association</li> <li>Search Engine (Google, Bing, online search, etc.)</li> <li>Hospital Website: SCVMC, O'Connor Hospital, St. Louise Regional Hospital Website</li> <li>Handshake</li> <li>Student Career Center</li> <li>County Text Message</li> <li>Other (Specify in the next question)</li> </ul> 27 If you selected an event/fair or other in the question above, please specify. If not, type n/a. Required Question

Back to blog

Common Interview Questions And Answers

1. HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR DAY?

This is what this question poses: When do you focus and start working seriously? What are the hours you work optimally? Are you a night owl? A morning bird? Remote teams can be made up of people working on different shifts and around the world, so you won't necessarily be stuck in the 9-5 schedule if it's not for you...

2. HOW DO YOU USE THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION TOOLS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS?

When you're working on a remote team, there's no way to chat in the hallway between meetings or catch up on the latest project during an office carpool. Therefore, virtual communication will be absolutely essential to get your work done...

3. WHAT IS "WORKING REMOTE" REALLY FOR YOU?

Many people want to work remotely because of the flexibility it allows. You can work anywhere and at any time of the day...

4. WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR PHYSICAL WORKSPACE TO SUCCEED IN YOUR WORK?

With this question, companies are looking to see what equipment they may need to provide you with and to verify how aware you are of what remote working could mean for you physically and logistically...

5. HOW DO YOU PROCESS INFORMATION?

Several years ago, I was working in a team to plan a big event. My supervisor made us all work as a team before the big day. One of our activities has been to find out how each of us processes information...

6. HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE CALENDAR AND THE PROGRAM? WHICH APPLICATIONS / SYSTEM DO YOU USE?

Or you may receive even more specific questions, such as: What's on your calendar? Do you plan blocks of time to do certain types of work? Do you have an open calendar that everyone can see?...

7. HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE FILES, LINKS, AND TABS ON YOUR COMPUTER?

Just like your schedule, how you track files and other information is very important. After all, everything is digital!...

8. HOW TO PRIORITIZE WORK?

The day I watched Marie Forleo's film separating the important from the urgent, my life changed. Not all remote jobs start fast, but most of them are...

9. HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A MEETING AND PREPARE A MEETING? WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING DURING THE MEETING?

Just as communication is essential when working remotely, so is organization. Because you won't have those opportunities in the elevator or a casual conversation in the lunchroom, you should take advantage of the little time you have in a video or phone conference...

10. HOW DO YOU USE TECHNOLOGY ON A DAILY BASIS, IN YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR PLEASURE?

This is a great question because it shows your comfort level with technology, which is very important for a remote worker because you will be working with technology over time...

DISCLAIMER