Respiratory Care Practitioner III - Southern Virginia Regional Medical Center

Bon Secours Mercy Health•Emporia, VA

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 including oxygen and aerosolized medication delivery, ventilator care, bronchial hygiene therapy, diagnostic services, and patient and staff education. They monitor patients’ responses to therapy and recommend changes based on assessment findings. The role provides clinical leadership and may include staff and student instruction, mentorship, clinical rounds, practice evaluation, coaching feedback, quality improvement initiatives, clinical research, and participation in facility councils and committees. The practitioner may serve as shift Charge Therapist, coordinating staff assignments and coverage to meet patient-care needs. Responsibilities also include assisting physicians with procedures, responding to resuscitations, conducting airway and ventilator care, administering therapies, performing arterial punctures and blood-gas analysis, educating patients and families, and maintaining respiratory therapy equipment and supplies. This position is in the Respiratory Therapy department at Virginia Regional Medical Center in Emporia. The scheduled workweek is 36 hours, on days and afternoons. The posted pay range is $33.31 to $51.63. Candidates accepting a full-time offer may be eligible for a sign-on bonus: $5,000 for new graduates or $15,000 for candidates with at least one year of experience, subject to rules and restrictions. Internal Bon Secours associates are not eligible.

Requirements

Current respiratory care license in the state of employment.
NBRC credentialing.
BLS Basic Life Support certification from the American Heart Association.
ACLS Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification from the American Heart Association or Red Cross.
At least 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 the ability to interact effectively with patients, families, physicians, and other staff.
Good communication, customer service, organization, and time-management skills; good oral and written communication.
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 and 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.
Skills in arterial blood-gas punctures and testing, airway maneuvers, bedside pulmonary function, 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 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 training.

Responsibilities

Provide respiratory care through patient assessment, care planning, intervention, education, and evaluation.
Perform respiratory procedures, including oxygen and aerosolized medication delivery, ventilator care, bronchial hygiene therapy, and diagnostic services.
Monitor patient responses to therapy and recommend changes or modifications based on assessment.
Provide or support clinical instruction, in-service training, mentorship, clinical rounds, and practice evaluation for staff, healthcare team members, and students.
Provide clinical leadership for respiratory practice in intensive care, general care, and outpatient services; provide feedback for coaching and performance evaluations.
Help identify quality improvement initiatives and design programs with measurable outcomes.
Lead clinical research initiatives and support study education, training, implementation, data collection, record keeping, and product evaluation as applicable.
Participate in facility councils and committees.
Serve as shift Charge Therapist, ensuring adequate respiratory staffing, assigning work areas and duties, arranging 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.
Perform CPR, closed-chest compressions, and airway management in accordance with AHA ACLS protocol.
Maintain patient airways, including airway device use, humidification, secretion aspiration, extubation, ETT cuff-pressure maintenance, and documentation.
Select, assemble, monitor, and evaluate mechanical ventilators; correct malfunctions, maintain cleanliness, and assess suitability for the patient’s condition.
Perform pulmonary function tests when applicable.
Serve as a preceptor to new team members and/or students.
Assess patients using inspection, palpation, auscultation, percussion, behavioral observation, and review of medical records.
Perform ordered treatments, explain therapy and goals to patients, and modify procedures based on patient response.
Assess whether prescribed therapy is appropriate and recommend methods to physicians to achieve therapeutic goals.
Set up and maintain oxygen therapy modes to support adequate oxygenation and accurate inspired oxygen levels.
Administer IPPB and aerosol therapy, prepare prescribed medications, adjust devices to individual clinical needs, document and monitor patient response and vital signs, and identify possible adverse reactions.
Provide postural drainage, vibration, and percussion; review orders and X-rays, and assess secretion clearance and response to therapy.
Instruct patients and families in incentive spirometry, MDI use, postural drainage and clapping, oxygen therapy, ventilator care, and home aerosol therapy.
Obtain sputum specimens or support airway clearance through coaching, mucolytics, aerosol therapy, or endotracheal/nasopharyngeal suctioning.
Evaluate normal and pathologic blood and urine laboratory values.
Perform arterial punctures and analysis, interpret ABGs, and perform arterial line procedures using appropriate safety and sterile techniques.
Perform EKGs when applicable 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.
Perform other job-related duties as required by a supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodation.

Benefits

Competitive pay, incentives, and referral bonuses.
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.
Backup care for children and elders.
Tuition assistance.
Professional development and continuing education support.
Potential sign-on bonus for eligible full-time hires; internal Bon Secours associates are not eligible.