Lead Respiratory Therapist, RRT - UPMC Children's

UPMC•Pittsburgh, PA

About The Position

UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh is seeking a Lead Respiratory Therapist to support clinical excellence and the delivery of respiratory care to pediatric patients. The Lead serves as a clinical resource and mentor for respiratory staff and partners with multidisciplinary teams. Under general direction, this role helps build a culture of excellence and patient care, completes and delivers employee evaluations, may assist with staff selection and hiring, and manages the daily performance of a group of direct reports. The Lead may provide service-based education and clinical expertise, including orientation and training, consultation on practice issues, and coordination of clinical activities. The position may also have shift accountability for respiratory care delivery. The Lead takes part in leadership, quality improvement, onboarding, evidence-based practice, and unit- or system-level initiatives. The role coordinates scheduling and shift assignments, coaches staff and students, and may function as a supervisor based on department needs. The Lead also performs expert respiratory therapist duties, including assessing patients, administering and monitoring respiratory therapies, operating and inspecting respiratory equipment, maintaining patient and equipment records, responding to code situations, and assisting with mechanically ventilated patient transport. The position is responsible for departmental resource utilization and participates in equipment evaluation, purchasing, repair coordination, and preventive maintenance.

Requirements

Graduate of a Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)-approved respiratory program.
Associate's degree required.
Four years of total respiratory care experience, including a minimum of two years in critical care.
Successfully complete two approved projects from the department's Project List during each annual performance review period.
Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) license in the practicing state required.
Basic Life Support (BLS) or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) required.
Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) required.
Respiratory therapists who received their NBRC RRT credential after July 1, 2002, must maintain certification according to NBRC requirements.
CPR must meet AHA standards and include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire.
Required clearances include Act 33 with renewal, Act 34 with renewal, and Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Take formal leadership roles in quality improvement, onboarding, or evidence-based practice.
Assist with or complete staff performance evaluations and support staff through clinical practice improvements and change.
Participate in shared leadership and drive unit- or system-level initiatives.
Complete required development courses offered by Learning & Development.
Coordinate scheduling needs and direct shift assignments; resolve problems, complete records and reports, and ensure hospital and department policies and procedures are followed.
Function as a supervisor based on department needs.
Coach new Respiratory Therapists and students during orientation and training, and assist with their evaluation.
Participate in quality improvement activities and initiatives and assist with special projects as needed.
Assist with planning and implementing clinical research activities and initiatives as needed.
Perform expert Respiratory Therapist duties, including reviewing prescriptions and patient information, measuring arterial blood gases, and assessing treatment requirements.
Select appropriate inhalant administration methods and determine precautions and modifications compatible with physician orders.
Set up, operate, observe, adjust, inspect, and test respiratory therapy equipment and devices to support safe and effective treatment.
Monitor patient responses to therapy, perform bronchopulmonary drainage and breathing exercises, and perform pulmonary function tests.
Consult with physicians about adverse reactions; maintain patient charts containing identification and therapy information.
Order equipment repairs when needed and demonstrate respiratory care procedures to trainees and other healthcare personnel.
Supervise students during training, assist with transport of mechanically ventilated patients, and respond to all code situations.
Manage utilization of departmental resources under indirect supervision.
Participate in evaluating and purchasing new equipment, coordinate major equipment repair and preventive maintenance, and maintain equipment maintenance records and reports.