Respiratory Care Practitioner II (RSP II) - Perrysburg Medical Center

Mercy Health BSMH • Perrysburg, OH

22d

About The Position

The Respiratory Care Practitioner II provides respiratory care through patient assessment, planning, intervention, education, and evaluation. The role performs respiratory care procedures including oxygen and aerosolized medication delivery, ventilator care, bronchial hygiene therapy, diagnostic services, and patient and staff education. The practitioner monitors patients’ responses to therapies and recommends changes or modifications based on assessment.

The practitioner may serve as shift Charge Therapist, helping ensure appropriate respiratory care staffing and assigning or adjusting work assignments. The role may assist physicians with procedures, precept new team members or students, maintain respiratory therapy equipment and supplies, and respond to cardiopulmonary resuscitations. Additional responsibilities include airway management, ventilator monitoring, therapeutic treatments, patient and family instruction, specimen procurement, arterial blood gas procedures and analysis, and—where applicable—pulmonary function tests and EKGs.

This description is not exhaustive. Employees may perform other job-related duties as required by their supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodation.

Requirements

• Two years of experience as a Respiratory Care Professional.
• Current Respiratory Care License in the state where working.
• National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) credential.
• BLS Basic Life Support certification from the American Heart Association.
• ACLS Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification from the American Heart Association or Red Cross.
• PALS Pediatric Advanced Life Support certification from the American Heart Association.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to interact effectively with patients, families, physicians, and staff.
• Good communication skills, including oral and written communication.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse people.
• Good customer service, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Ability to receive feedback, gather and interpret data, and demonstrate accountability.
• Knowledge of non-invasive respiratory therapy equipment, such as oximeters or end-tidal CO2 analyzers.
• Knowledge of therapeutic procedures including CPAP/BiPAP, jet aerosol, oxygen therapy, incentive spirometry, chest physiotherapy, pulse oximetry, high-flow oxygen, continuous aerosols, ventilator management, and diagnostic testing.
• Understanding of EKGs, electronic monitoring, lead placement, and basic arrhythmias.
• Ability to perform arterial blood gas punctures and testing, airway maneuvers, bedside pulmonary function testing, patient assessment, and patient education.
• Knowledge of chest suction equipment and chest X-ray interpretation.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree related to respiratory therapy, health care, healthcare administration, or business administration.
• Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential.
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification from AAP/AWHONN.
• Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist (CPFT) credential.
• Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist (RPFT) credential.
• Adult Critical Care Specialist (ACCS) credential from NBRC.
• EPIC Electronic Health Record (EHR) training.

Responsibilities

• Provide respiratory care through patient assessment, planning, intervention, education, and evaluation.
• Perform respiratory care procedures, including oxygen and aerosolized medication delivery, ventilator care, bronchial hygiene therapy, and diagnostic services.
• Monitor patients’ responses to therapy and recommend changes based on assessment.
• May serve as shift Charge Therapist, ensuring adequate staffing, assigning or modifying work assignments, assisting with meal coverage, fielding call-offs, and helping provide adequate staffing for the next shift.
• May assist physicians with procedures such as bronchoscopy, transtracheal catheter insertion, tracheotomy intubation where performed by respiratory therapy, tracheostomy or endotracheal tube changes, and invasive monitoring.
• Perform CPR, including closed-chest compressions and airway management, in accordance with AHA ACLS protocol.
• Maintain patient airways, including use of appropriate airways, humidification, secretion aspiration, extubation, ETT cuff-pressure maintenance, and documentation.
• Select, assemble, monitor, and evaluate mechanical ventilators; correct malfunctions, maintain cleanliness, and determine appropriate use for the patient’s condition.
• May perform pulmonary function tests.
• Precept new team members and/or students.
• Assess patients using inspection, palpation, auscultation, percussion, observation of behavior, and review of the patient record.
• Perform ordered treatments, explain therapies and goals to patients, and modify procedures based on patient response.
• Assess whether prescribed therapy is appropriate and recommend methods to physicians for achieving therapeutic goals.
• Set up and maintain oxygen therapy modes to maintain adequate PaO2 and accurate inspired oxygen levels.
• Administer IPPB or aerosol therapy, prepare prescribed medication, adjust equipment to clinical needs, document and observe patient response and vital signs, and identify adverse reactions or concerns about therapy appropriateness.
• Provide postural drainage, vibration, and percussion; review orders and X-rays before treatment and assess secretion clearance and patient response before and after the procedure.
• Instruct patients and families in incentive spirometry, MDI use, postural drainage and clapping, oxygen therapy, ventilator care, and home aerosol therapy.
• Obtain sputum for culture and sensitivity or airway clearance through patient coaching, mucolytics, aerosol therapy, or endotracheal/nasopharyngeal suctioning.
• Evaluate normal and pathologic blood and urine laboratory value ranges.
• Perform arterial punctures and analysis; interpret ABGs and perform arterial-line procedures, including safety precautions, sterile technique, flushing, and ABG aspiration.
• May perform EKGs and use knowledge of electronic monitoring, lead placement, and basic arrhythmias.
• Maintain respiratory therapy equipment and supplies.
• Respond to cardiopulmonary resuscitations and participate as indicated by clinical circumstances.

Benefits

• Competitive pay, incentives, referral bonuses, and 403(b) with employer contributions when eligible.
• Medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage, HSA/FSA options, life insurance, mental health resources, and discounts.
• Paid time off, parental and FMLA leave, short- and long-term disability, and backup care for children and elders.
• Tuition assistance, professional development, and continuing education support.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed