Registered Respiratory Therapist - Neonatal Intensive Care

NICU Respiratory Therapist Opportunity in Birmingham, Alabama

Join a high-acuity Neonatal Intensive Care Unit as a Respiratory Therapist in Birmingham, Alabama. Birmingham is a dynamic city known for its medical leadership, warm Southern hospitality, and revitalized urban core. The city offers a welcoming community with a thriving food and arts scene, historic neighborhoods, and easy access to nearby mountains, lakes, and parks. Residents enjoy a balance of city amenities and outdoor lifestyle, with museums, music venues, festivals, and collegiate sports all within close reach. The area's relatively affordable cost of living and diverse housing options make it an appealing place to live, work, and grow your career.

In this NICU Respiratory Therapist role, you will be part of a collaborative, multidisciplinary team dedicated to providing advanced, family-centered care for fragile newborns and premature infants. The NICU serves as a regional resource, caring for critically ill neonates with complex respiratory and medical needs. You will work closely with neonatologists, neonatal nurses, and other specialists to support optimal outcomes for some of the most vulnerable patients.

Typical responsibilities include performing comprehensive respiratory assessments, implementing and adjusting ventilator support, and delivering evidence-based respiratory therapies tailored to neonatal physiology. You will manage conventional and noninvasive ventilators, perform arterial blood gas sampling and interpretation in collaboration with providers, and assist with high-risk deliveries when respiratory support is anticipated. Additional duties may include administering aerosolized medications, managing oxygen therapy, assisting with surfactant administration, and supporting weaning and extubation processes.

A typical day may involve caring for a caseload of neonates with varying levels of acuity, from premature infants requiring respiratory support to term infants with complex respiratory or cardiac conditions. You will collaborate in daily interdisciplinary rounds, contribute to individualized care plans, and provide education and reassurance to families navigating the NICU experience. Documentation is completed in an electronic medical record system, with an emphasis on accuracy, clarity, and timely communication.

The NICU environment features advanced monitoring and respiratory technology, with a strong emphasis on safety, continuous quality improvement, and best practices in neonatal care. Patient acuity is high, and staffing is designed to support safe, effective care with appropriate respiratory therapist coverage aligned with unit volume and complexity. Shifts may include days, nights, weekends, and holidays to provide 24/7 coverage, with shift lengths typically organized in 8-hour or 12-hour blocks depending on unit needs.

You will join a culture that values teamwork, professional development, and ongoing learning. Respiratory therapists are respected clinical partners in the NICU, actively involved in protocols, performance improvement initiatives, and the implementation of new technologies and therapies. There are opportunities to grow your skills in advanced neonatal respiratory modalities, participate in education for students and new staff, and align your work with meaningful goals in neonatal and family-centered care.