Respiratory Care Practitioner III - Fairfield Hospital

Mercy Health • Fairfield, OH

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Respiratory Care Practitioner III provides respiratory care through patient assessment, planning, intervention, education, and evaluation. The practitioner performs respiratory care procedures such as oxygen and aerosolized medication delivery, ventilator care, bronchial hygiene therapy, and diagnostic services; educates patients and staff; monitors patient responses; and recommends changes to therapies based on assessment.

The role provides clinical leadership and support for professional respiratory practice across intensive care, general care, and outpatient services. Responsibilities may include clinical instruction, mentorship, clinical rounds, practice evaluation, staff coaching feedback, quality improvement and research initiatives, data collection, product evaluation, and participation in facility councils and committees. The practitioner may serve as shift Charge Therapist, helping ensure appropriate staffing and assigning or modifying work assignments.

The practitioner also performs and documents a range of respiratory procedures, maintains respiratory equipment and supplies, responds to cardiopulmonary resuscitations, and may assist physicians with procedures or perform pulmonary function tests and EKGs. The position is scheduled for 36 hours per week on the day shift at Fairfield Hospital.

Requirements

• Current respiratory care license in the state of employment.
• National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) credential.
• Current BLS Basic Life Support certification from the American Heart Association.
• Current ACLS Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification from the American Heart Association or Red Cross.
• Current PALS Pediatric Advanced Life Support certification from the American Heart Association.
• Two years of experience as a Registered Respiratory Therapist or five years as a CRT.
• Demonstrated clinical competency in at least two of the following environments: Nursery/NICU, PICU, ICU/CCU, ED, and general care areas.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to interact effectively with patients, families, physicians, and staff.
• Good communication, organizational, time-management, customer-service, oral, and written communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse people, 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, healthcare, healthcare administration, or business administration.
• Master's degree related to healthcare, healthcare administration, or business administration.
• Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential.
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification through 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 responses and recommend therapy modifications.
• Provide clinical instruction or in-service training to department staff, healthcare team members, and students.
• Mentor team members and students, participate in clinical rounds and practice evaluation, and provide clinical leadership across intensive care, general care, and outpatient services.
• Provide feedback for coaching and performance evaluations of team members.
• Help identify quality improvement initiatives and design programs with measurable outcomes; lead clinical research initiatives, including education, training, and implementation of study designs.
• Collect data and maintain accurate records; evaluate and assess products as needed.
• Participate in facility councils and committees.
• Serve as shift Charge Therapist, ensuring adequate respiratory staffing, assigning staff to work areas and duties, adjusting assignments, assisting with meal coverage, handling call-offs, and supporting staffing for the next shift.
• Assist physicians with procedures such as bronchoscopy, transtracheal catheter insertion, tracheotomy, intubation where performed by respiratory therapy, and invasive monitoring, as needed.
• Perform CPR, closed-chest compressions, and airway management in accordance with AHA ACLS protocol.
• Maintain patient airways using appropriate airway devices; manage humidification, secretion aspiration, extubation, and endotracheal tube cuff pressures; document procedures.
• Select, assemble, monitor, and evaluate mechanical ventilators; correct malfunctions, maintain cleanliness, and determine suitability for patient condition.
• Perform pulmonary function tests, as needed.
• Assess patients using inspection, palpation, auscultation, percussion, behavior, and review of the medical record.
• Perform ordered treatments, explain therapies and goals to patients, and modify procedures based on patient response.
• Assess the appropriateness of prescribed therapy and recommend methods to physicians to achieve therapeutic goals, including IPPB, aerosol therapy, postural drainage and percussion, ultrasonic nebulizers, incentive spirometry, and metered-dose inhalers and spacers.
• Set up and maintain oxygen therapy modes to support adequate PaO2 and accurate inspired oxygen levels.
• Administer IPPB or aerosol therapy, prepare prescribed medication, adjust equipment to individual clinical needs, document and monitor patient status and response, identify adverse reactions, and recommend therapy adjustments.
• Provide postural drainage, vibration, and percussion; review orders and X-rays, and assess and document patient response before and after treatment.
• Instruct patients and families in incentive spirometry, MDI administration, postural drainage and clapping, oxygen therapy, ventilator care, and home aerosol therapy.
• Obtain sputum specimens for culture and sensitivity or airway clearance through coaching, mucolytics, aerosol therapy, or endotracheal or nasopharyngeal suctioning.
• Evaluate normal and pathological blood and urine laboratory values.
• Perform arterial punctures and analysis, interpret ABGs, and perform arterial line procedures with appropriate safety precautions, sterile technique, flushing, and ABG aspiration.
• Perform EKGs as needed and understand 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, and 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