Location: Santa Cruz, CA

Start Date: 05-11-2026

End Date: 08-10-2026

Contract Type: Travel Contract

Shift Type: Rotating 12-hour shifts (Day: 6:00 AM - 6:30 PM; Night: 6:00 PM - 6:30 AM), includes every-other-weekend (Saturday/Sunday) coverage and holiday rotation; 36 guaranteed hours/week

Hours per Week: 36

Candidate Pay Rate: $65 per hour

About United Health Care Staffing

At United Health Care Staffing (UHC Staffing), we believe healthcare staffing should be more than just finding a job. We are here to connect amazing professionals with opportunities that make their careers exciting, rewarding, and meaningful. With us, you're not just signing up for a contract you are joining a team that's got your back, answers your calls, and maybe even cracks a joke or two to brighten your day. Think of us as the travel buddy who handles the logistics while you focus on what you do best helping people heal.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Assess and deliver high-quality respiratory care across acute inpatient settings including ICU, ER and MedSurg
• Provide 15–25 therapies per day as needed, prioritizing patient safety and effective treatment
• Manage and troubleshoot mechanical ventilation, including use of Drager V500 ventilators in ICU
• Perform airway management, ventilator adjustments, ABG interpretation and emergency interventions
• Document patient care accurately in Cerner EMR and communicate changes to the interdisciplinary team
• Collaborate with hospitalists and intensivists (in-house by day, on-call at night) for complex cases
• Participate in holiday rotations and staffing coverage to ensure 24/7 respiratory care
• Complete unit-specific orientation after hospital orientation and act as a reliable team member

Qualifications

• Active California Respiratory Therapist license required
• Current BLS, ACLS, NRP and PALS certifications required
• Minimum 2 years of respiratory therapy experience; diverse critical care background desired
• Experience with mechanical ventilation and ICU/ER coverage
• Familiarity with Cerner EMR and charting required
• Comfortable working 12-hour shifts and participating in weekend/holiday rotations
• First-time travelers are welcome

Knowledge & Skills

• Mechanical ventilation management and weaning strategies
• Proficiency with Drager V500 ventilators
• Acute inpatient respiratory care across ICU, ER and MedSurg
• Airway management, suctioning, and emergency respiratory interventions
• ABG analysis and pulmonary function assessment
• Strong clinical documentation skills in Cerner
• Prioritization and time-management to manage 15–25 therapies per day
• Team communication and collaboration with interdisciplinary clinicians

Benefits

• Supportive team environment where your critical care skills are valued
• Licensure assistance and certification reimbursement to keep you current
• Flexible scheduling with predictable every-other-weekend rotation
• Paid orientation and a focused unit-specific training week
• Professional growth opportunities working across ICU, ER and MedSurg
• Comprehensive onboarding with experienced preceptors
• Work with modern equipment including Drager V500 ventilators
• Opportunity to build diverse critical care experience in a beautiful coastal community

Travel Perks: Explore Santa Cruz, CA

Santa Cruz is a gem on the Northern California coast — think surf breaks, sandy beaches, and the iconic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for off-shift fun. Explore the redwoods at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, hike coastal trails at Wilder Ranch, or enjoy the charming shops and restaurants on Pacific Avenue. Capitola Village and its seaside cafes are a short drive away, and Monterey Bay (including the Monterey Bay Aquarium) is perfect for a weekend trip. If you like quick city escapes, San Francisco and Carmel-by-the-Sea are both accessible for a day or weekend adventure.

Hashtags

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