Respiratory Therapy Residency Program
Duration: 5 Month(s)
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Course TypeResidency Program
Course Specialty
Respiratory Therapy
Overview
- The Respiratory Therapy Residency Program at Lurie Children’s Hospital is an innovative, paid transition-to-practice residency for new graduate respiratory care practitioners. It integrates real-world clinical experiences with structured education to help residents transition into independent pediatric respiratory clinicians. Approximately 80 % of the residency focuses on one-on-one precepted clinical training across high-acuity areas such as the NICU (Neonatal ICU), PICU (Pediatric ICU), CCU (Cardiac Care), general care units, PACU (Post-Anesthesia Care Unit), OR, and Emergency Department, and other respiratory care settings.
- The remaining ~20 % includes classroom instruction, lab practice, and simulation education, covering pediatric physiology, mechanical ventilation strategies, disease management, pharmacology, ECMO fundamentals, patient assessment, and critical care principles tailored to infants and children. Graduates from this program have successfully transitioned into roles such as ECMO specialists, team leaders, pulmonary habilitation specialists, preceptors, and clinical mentors within the Respiratory Care Department and broader care teams at Lurie Children’s.
Admission Intake
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Fee (INR):
-
Stipend (INR):
Compensation: Residency participants are employed full-time and receive a competitive hourly wage with benefits as hospital respiratory care staff.
Accomodation:
At Your Own
Scholarship:
-
Eligibility
- Graduate of a CoARC-accredited respiratory care training program
- Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential from NBRC
- Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
- Illinois state license (or application in progress) to practice respiratory care
- Commitment to full-time employment and participation in residency training modules.
Minimum Education
BLS CertificationCRT (Certificate in Radiology Technician)
Admission Process:
- Apply for a Respiratory Care Practitioner position on the Lurie Children’s careers portal when posted (new graduate cohort).
- Submit required documentation — proof of graduation from a respiratory care program, BLS certification, CRT credential, and Illinois licensure status.
- Interview — occupational interview with the Respiratory Care leadership team and hiring managers.
- Receive offer — if selected, formal employment offer with scheduled residency start (typically February or August).
- Credentialing and onboarding — complete hospital orientation, compliance, and credentialing prior to start date.
- Begin residency — orientation followed by structured clinical, didactic, and simulation training.
