Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) | Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) | 36 Hours Per Week | Respiratory Care

Great River Health•West Burlington, IA

About The Position

The Respiratory Therapist assesses patients with respiratory disorders, conducts diagnostic testing, develops treatment plans, and administers respiratory therapy. The role operates medical devices, monitors patient responses, and provides emergency care while working with healthcare teams to manage respiratory conditions and support lung function and respiratory health. The position provides respiratory care across patient populations and may include pulmonary rehabilitation and diagnostic or outpatient services. Duties include performing respiratory assessments and procedures, administering ordered treatments, educating patients and families, documenting care in the EMR, maintaining and troubleshooting equipment, responding to medical alerts, and communicating critical results to physicians. The role also supports and precepts respiratory care and EMS students and participates in quality assurance. The schedule is 36 hours per week, 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., with every third weekend and holiday rotations. A $10,000 sign-on bonus is available to qualified candidates. The RRT registry exam must be passed within one year; otherwise, the employee will move to the CRT wage scale.

Requirements

Associate’s degree and graduation from a CoARC-approved Respiratory Therapist program.
Iowa state license as a Respiratory Care and Polysomnography Respiratory Care Practitioner.
Registered Respiratory Therapist credential from the National Board of Respiratory Care.
Pass the RRT registry exam within one year, or move to the CRT wage scale.
Knowledge of customer and personal service principles, including assessing customer needs, meeting quality standards, and evaluating customer satisfaction.
Knowledge of techniques for diagnosing and treating injuries, diseases, and deformities, including symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive care.
Knowledge of curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and measuring training outcomes.
Knowledge of English language structure and content, including word meaning and spelling, composition, and grammar.
Effective written and verbal communication with healthcare personnel; clear information relay; ethical conduct; and communication of delays or wait times to patients or significant others.
Prompt administration of ordered treatments and medications according to hospital policy and timely response to clinical procedures and emergencies.
Ability to perform respiratory assessments, distinguish normal from abnormal findings, analyze abnormal findings, initiate appropriate responses, and anticipate potential problems.
Ability to evaluate patient response to care and education, evaluate response to therapy, and recommend changes to physicians.
Ability to document the respiratory care process legibly, concisely, clearly, and promptly in the EMR or appropriate forms using correct medical terminology and accepted abbreviations.
Sound judgment, critical thinking, problem-solving, and use of evidence-based practices when applicable.
Ability to use and troubleshoot appropriate respiratory care equipment according to department and hospital policies.
Professionalism, including following the hospital dress code, treating others with respect, maintaining current respiratory care knowledge, and working as a team member.
Ability to arrange things or actions in a specified order or pattern according to rules.
RRT credential required upon hire.
Driver’s license required upon hire.
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (American Heart Association) required within 90 days.
Neonatal Resuscitation Program (American Academy of Pediatrics) required within 90 days.
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (American Heart Association) required within 90 days.
Iowa Child Abuse Mandatory Reporter certification required within 90 days.
Iowa Dependent Adult Abuse Mandatory Reporter certification required within 90 days.
Current Iowa license and certification or registration by the National Board of Respiratory Care for respiratory therapy duties.
Current Iowa polysomnography board status for polysomnography duties.
Complete applicable child and adult mandatory reporter requirements within one year of hire for the listed outpatient respiratory therapy duties.

Nice To Haves

One to two years of prior acute care experience preferred.
BLS preferred upon hire for polysomnography duties, but required within three months of hire.
RPSGT certification through the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists, required at hire or within 12 months for candidates currently certified as a CRT or RRT; for candidates currently certified as an EEG technician with ABRET, required at hire or within 12 months.

Responsibilities

Conduct tests that support evaluation of cardiopulmonary function.
Educate patients and families about conditions and disease management, including breathing exercises and use of medications and respiratory equipment.
Determine treatment requirements, including method, duration, precautions, medication, and dosage, consistent with physician orders; enforce safety rules and adherence to orders.
Explain treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and reduce fears.
Maintain charts with pertinent patient identification and therapy information.
Perform oxygen requirement testing.
Instruct and perform bronchopulmonary drainage and assist or instruct patients in breathing exercises.
Provide emergency care, including artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, and assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Monitor patients' physiological responses to therapy, including vital signs, arterial blood gases, and blood chemistry, and consult physicians about adverse reactions.
Work with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to manage patient care and assist with medical procedures and related duties.
Maintain regular and reliable attendance.
Demonstrate respiratory care procedures to trainees and other healthcare personnel; teach, train, supervise, and utilize assistance from students, respiratory therapy technicians, and EKG technicians.
Inspect, clean, test, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment, and order repairs when necessary.
Perform pulmonary function testing and adjust equipment to obtain optimum therapy results.
Relay blood analysis results to physicians.
Set up, operate, evaluate, and communicate to providers about mechanical ventilators, NIV apparatus, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, and aerosol generators according to treatment parameters.
Give and receive adequate reports and perform ordered respiratory therapy for all patient populations, including chest percussion therapy, nebulizer treatments, oxygen titration and qualification, inhaler treatments, incentive spirometry, NIF and PEF measurements, peak flow measurement, tracheostomy care, ECGs, arterial blood gas collection and analysis, and suctioning.
Initiate, manage, and discontinue non-invasive and invasive ventilation per physician request or procedure.
Document accurately in the EMR and transport patients using respiratory machines.
Respond to medical alerts according to hospital procedure and notify physicians of critical results.
Complete quality assurance measures and precept respiratory care and EMS students.
For pulmonary rehabilitation, perform multidisciplinary assessments; develop treatment plans, exercise training, and patient education; communicate and make referrals to providers; and maintain competencies including ACLS and BLS.
Support diagnostic and outpatient services such as EEG, EKG, cardiac stress testing, Holter monitoring, pulmonary function testing, pulse oximetry, fit testing, six-minute walks, and pulmonary/cardiac rehabilitation.
Coordinate and assist with ventilator care, PAP therapy, and oxygen therapy; collect arterial blood gas specimens and administer therapeutic procedures for respiratory or cardiac insufficiency.
For cardiac rehabilitation, assist with patient hookup, vital-sign monitoring, equipment setup, education, and patient needs within licensure and scope of practice.
Perform and score physician-ordered polysomnography tests, document services, and measure brain-wave electrical activity and other physiological variables to support diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders.

Benefits

Competitive base pay.
Matching retirement programs.
Health, dental, and vision plans.
Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts.
Employee discounts, including car rental and cell-phone plans.
Employer-paid long-term disability, life, and AD&D coverage.
Paid time off (PTO).
Education Assistance Program.
Employee Assistance Program.
Employee Referral Bonus Program.
Discounted cafeteria meals.
Paid Parental Leave.
Employee Service Recognition program.
Voluntary life, AD&D, short-term disability, critical illness, accident, and hospital indemnity plans.
$10,000 sign-on bonus eligibility for qualified candidates.