Respiratory Therapist Lead - Nights

Wellstar Health System•Griffin, GA

About The Position

Wellstar Spalding is seeking a Lead Respiratory Therapist with NICU experience. This role directs and oversees the daily activities of an assigned shift, using independent judgment to support safe and effective care delivery. The Lead Respiratory Therapist serves as a clinical resource for staff, physicians, patients, families, and other departments, and may also carry a patient assignment. The position supports onboarding and precepting under the guidance of the direct lead and promotes performance improvement, customer service, and safety and quality initiatives for the shift. The position coordinates staffing and work assignments, supports interdisciplinary communication, monitors equipment availability and function, and assists with staff orientation, training, and competency development. It also involves direct patient care, medication administration, quality rounds, and participation in performance improvement activities. The role must comply with Wellstar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.

Requirements

Associate's degree in Respiratory Therapy or Bachelor's degree in Respiratory Therapy; an associate's or bachelor's degree is listed, with the bachelor's degree preferred.
Hold an active Georgia Respiratory Care Professional License.
Current advanced credential and a minimum of two years of clinical experience in critical care areas, including areas such as Adult ICU, CVICU, burn, NICU, and adult or pediatric emergency departments, as relevant to the facility.
Required certifications upon hire: BLS (or listed American Red Cross or instructor equivalent); ACLS (or listed American Red Cross or instructor equivalent); PALS (or listed American Red Cross, instructor, or provisional equivalent, with provisional certification within 180 days); NRP (or listed American Red Cross, instructor, or provisional equivalent, with provisional certification within 180 days); NBRC-RRT; and RCP.
Strong customer service and interpersonal skills.
Ability to coordinate patient-care activities within and between departments.
Delegation skills.
Ability to multitask and function in stressful and emergency situations.
Strong attention to detail.
Computer skills.
Time management skills.

Nice To Haves

NICU experience; identified as ideal for candidates.
Bachelor's degree in Respiratory Therapy.
NBRC credential: RRT, Registered Respiratory Therapist.
One or more of the following NBRC credentials: ACCS, AE-C, NPS, or RPFT. AE-C certifications issued before September 1, 2022, by the National Asthma Educator Certification Board are specified.

Responsibilities

Direct and oversee daily activities of the assigned shift and lead shift operations.
Analyze patient needs and staff competencies when making patient assignments to promote safe patient care.
Facilitate interdisciplinary communication and planning to support timely care delivery, including discharge.
Communicate patient-care needs and concerns, and employee performance issues, to the direct leader.
Assist with staff evaluations by providing the Supervisor input on clinical performance and teamwork.
Assign shift workload and preceptors.
Maintain financial stewardship in relation to productivity.
Maintain daily equipment function and calibration.
Monitor equipment inventory, location, and utilization to ensure staff have needed tools and equipment.
Assist in acquiring appropriate staffing levels and provide clinical assistance to staff as needed.
Assist with orientation and training for new employees and student clinical rotations, and with annual skill competencies.
Communicate staff education needs, support huddles and in-services, and maintain staff education records.
Maintain current knowledge of the patient population and identify workgroup learning needs for communication to the direct leader.
Promote process improvement and participate in committees.
Round on patients to evaluate the quality and appropriateness of care and take corrective action when needed using peer coaching and accountability.
Provide direct respiratory care consistent with the highest standard of practice.
Participate in implementation and monitoring of performance improvement, customer service, and safety and quality initiatives.
Perform other duties as assigned and comply with Wellstar policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.