Pulmonary Function Technologist (PFT Tech) Recruiters

What do we check before you see anyone?

Ask: “How do you check the spirometer before the first patient?” Look for equipment-specific verification, review of recorded results, and a clear response when checks fall outside the laboratory’s accepted limits. Ask who receives notice and what gets documented. Ask: “What makes you repeat or reject a spirometry maneuver?”

• Useful answers identify observable problems such as an inadequate start, cough, early termination, or inconsistent efforts. Candidates should explain how they coach another attempt and record unresolved quality limitations.
• Ask: “Walk us through a diffusion study from preparation to documentation.” Listen for attention to patient instructions, test conditions, equipment checks, and factors affecting data quality. Candidates should describe the work they personally performed rather than reciting a procedure name.
• Ask: “How do you handle pre-test medication instructions or an unclear order?” Strong answers refer to your approved instructions and escalation route. The technologist should clarify uncertainty with the appropriate clinician, not independently change medication directions or expand the ordered testing.
• Ask: “What would you do if a patient became distressed during testing?” Look for stopping the procedure when appropriate, summoning clinical support, and following the laboratory’s response protocol. Ask how the candidate documents the interruption and communicates incomplete results.
• Ask: “Which credentials and test systems have you used?” We screen stated credentials, work history, and fit. Verify any license required for the assigned duties and jurisdiction. CPFT or RPFT credentials may support selection, but neither should be presented as a universal legal mandate.

Which mistakes stall the search?

A common mistake is treating general respiratory experience as proof of recent PFT practice. Ask when the candidate last performed each procedure and how frequently it appeared in their assignment. Another is listing every possible pulmonary test when the opening covers only some. Separate routine duties from occasional procedures and explain who provides training for unfamiliar equipment.