Interview Questions for Respiratory Therapists

Why Structured Interviews Improve Respiratory Therapist Hiring Outcomes

In high-stakes respiratory care, seconds matter. Structured interviews reveal a candidate’s ability to act quickly, follow protocols, and support patients and teams during respiratory crises.

Common Types of Respiratory Therapist Interview Questions (with Examples)

Behavioral Questions

• Share a time you responded to a respiratory emergency. What was the outcome?
• Tell me about a difficult decision you had to make under pressure.

Situational Questions

• A ventilator alarm goes off while you’re managing another patient. What do you do?
• How would you handle a patient refusing to use a BiPAP machine?

Technical/Clinical Knowledge

• How do you adjust settings for a patient with acute COPD?
• Walk me through your steps when setting up and calibrating a CPAP.

Compassion and Empathy Questions

• How do you explain respiratory equipment to frightened patients?
• What does compassionate care look like during a code event?

Role-Specific Deep Dives

• NICU: How do you adapt your techniques for neonates?
• ER: How do you coordinate with nurses and physicians during trauma response?

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FAQs About Interviewing Respiratory Therapists

Q: Should clinical assessments be part of the interview?
A: Yes. Consider pairing interviews with practical demonstrations or case reviews.

Q: Can I use AI from Crosschq for technical healthcare roles?
A: Yes. Our AI interview agent adapts question depth to match the role—whether entry-level or advanced critical care.