Resp Therapist RRT Lead

Forrest City Medical Center•Forrest City, AR

48d•Onsite

About The Position

This role involves coordinating daily respiratory therapy assignments, workload, and patient priorities. The lead therapist will provide direct respiratory care, including mechanical ventilation, BiPAP/NIV, oxygen therapy, aerosol treatments, airway care, arterial blood gases, and emergency response. Responsibilities also include performing pulmonary function testing, coaching patients, maintaining documentation, monitoring equipment, assisting with staff development, and identifying/escalating concerns. The position supports hospital policies, infection prevention, HIPAA, regulatory compliance, quality improvement, and survey readiness.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited respiratory care program.
Current Respiratory Care Practitioner license in the state of employment.
Current BLS certification required.
Previous respiratory therapy experience required.

Nice To Haves

ACLS, PALS, NRP, or other certifications may be required.
RRT credential preferred.
Lead, charge, critical-care, or PFT experience preferred.
PFT competency or ability to complete facility-approved training and validation.
Strong clinical judgment, communication, leadership, organization, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

Coordinate daily respiratory therapy assignments, workload, patient priorities, breaks, and coverage.
Provide direct respiratory care and assist with mechanical ventilation, BiPAP/NIV, oxygen therapy, aerosol treatments, airway care, arterial blood gases, and emergencies.
Participate in Code Blue, Rapid Response, trauma, and difficult-airway events.
Perform ordered pulmonary function testing, including spirometry and other studies supported by facility equipment and credentials.
Coach patients to obtain acceptable and reproducible testing results and complete preliminary technical quality reviews.
Maintain accurate documentation, patient charges, PFT logs, quality records, and departmental statistics.
Monitor respiratory and PFT equipment, calibration, cleaning, supplies, and maintenance needs.
Assist with staff orientation, precepting, competency validation, and clinical coaching.
Identify and escalate patient-safety, staffing, documentation, equipment, or performance concerns.
Support hospital policies, infection prevention, HIPAA, regulatory compliance, quality improvement, and survey readiness.
Perform other duties as assigned.