Respiratory Therapist - Full-time Night Shift - $10K Sign-On Bonus
Company : Select Medical
Location : Des Moines, IA, 50314-2610
Job Type : Full Time
Date Posted : 13 January 2026
Overview
Position: Respiratory Therapist (RT)
Location: Des Moines, IA
Schedule: Full Time, 12-Hour Shift, Night Shift (We are only One Floor - No need to float to a different floor)Compensation: $26.74 - $36.00 per hour plus shift differentials for nights and weekends
Sign-On Bonus: $10,000
Select Specialty Hospital is a critical illness recovery hospital committed to providing world-class inpatient post-ICU services to chronic, critically ill patients who require extended healing and recovery. We help patients during some of the most vulnerable, painful moments of their lives – and Respiratory Therapists (RT) play a central role in providing compassionate, excellent treatment every step of the way.
We support your career growth and personal well-being:
- Start Strong: Extensive Respiratory Therapist (RT) orientation program to ensure a smooth transition into our setting.
- Advance Your Career: Tuition reimbursement, and continuing education.
- Elevate Your Skills: Clinical ladder program.
- Ease the Burden: Student debt benefit program.
- Recharge & Refresh: Generous PTO for full-time team members to maintain a healthy work-life balance
- Your Health Matters: Comprehensive medical/RX, health, vision, and dental plan offerings for full-time team members
- Invest in Your Future: Company-matching 401(k) retirement plan, as well as life and disability protection for full-time team members
- Your Impact Matters: Join a team of over 44,000 committed to providing exceptional patient care
Responsibilities
Responsibilities
- Evaluating patients and recommending an appropriate treatment plan.
- Providing respiratory care to patients with critical and complex medical and surgical conditions.
- Performing insertion and removal of endotracheal tubes.
- Promoting continuous quality improvement.
- Teaching and counseling patients/families.
Qualifications
Minimum requirements:
- Must possess "Active" CRT or RRT credential from the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) or state equivalent.
- Proof of graduation required: college transcript/diploma (preferred) or high school transcript/diploma or GED.
- Possess a Basic Life Support (BLS) certification by start date.
- Current state licensure is required.
- ACLS is required within 6 months of hire. (Agency RT must have ACLS upon first shift, PRN staff must have ACLS upon hire).
Preferred qualifications:
- One (1) year of related experience is preferred.
Additional Data
Equal Opportunity Employer/including Disabled/Veterans
Related Jobs
Top trending job titles hiring now
Popular Searches for Respiratory Therapist
Frequently asked questions
The $10K sign-on bonus significantly outpaces typical local healthcare incentives in Des Moines, making it a strong draw for respiratory therapists seeking night shifts. This bonus reflects Select Medical’s commitment to attracting skilled professionals in a competitive market where critical care expertise is highly valued.
In Iowa, holding an active CRT or RRT credential from the NBRC is essential for respiratory therapy positions, including night shifts. Additionally, current state licensure and BLS certification are mandatory, with ACLS certification expected within six months, aligning with regional healthcare standards.
Night shifts in Des Moines hospitals, such as Select Medical, often come with shift differentials boosting hourly pay. However, therapists face challenges like managing critically ill patients during off-hours without floor floating, which can enhance focus but requires strong autonomy and specialized skills.
Select Medical in Des Moines offers respiratory therapists structured career advancement through clinical ladder programs and tuition reimbursement. The hospital’s focus on post-ICU recovery provides exposure to complex cases, enriching skillsets and positioning therapists for specialized roles in critical care.
Therapists on night shifts handle complex respiratory care, including managing endotracheal tubes and creating patient-specific treatment plans. The role demands vigilance in critical illness recovery, promoting quality improvements, and providing patient/family counseling during vulnerable recovery stages.
The listed pay scale is competitive for Des Moines, especially with added night and weekend differentials. It reflects the high demand for skilled respiratory therapists in specialty post-ICU settings, balancing local cost of living with the need for experienced clinicians on night shifts.
Select Medical’s night shift roles focus exclusively on a single floor dedicated to critical illness recovery, reducing the need to float and fostering deeper patient relationships. The comprehensive benefits and sign-on bonus further differentiate it from general hospital night shift positions in the region.
Full-time night shift respiratory therapists at Select Medical benefit from generous PTO, health and dental plans, and programs supporting wellbeing like student debt relief. These perks address the demands of overnight schedules, helping maintain personal health and career sustainability.
Select Medical facilitates smooth transitions with an extensive orientation tailored for respiratory therapists, plus ongoing education and clinical ladder programs. This approach equips night shift therapists with critical skills and fosters career advancement within the hospital’s specialty care environment.
Des Moines exhibits strong demand for certified respiratory therapists on night shifts, driven by the presence of specialty hospitals like Select Medical. This demand stems from the need for skilled care in chronic and critical illness recovery, making night roles attractive with competitive pay and benefits.