Respiratory Care Practitioner III - Respiratory Therapy - St. Rita's Medical Center

Bon Secours Mercy Health • Lima, OH

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Respiratory Care Practitioner III 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 therapy and recommends changes or modifications based on assessment findings.

The position provides clinical leadership and may support staff development through instruction, in-service training, mentorship, clinical rounds, practice evaluation, and precepting. It may also involve quality improvement and research initiatives, participation in facility committees, and serving as shift Charge Therapist to coordinate staffing and assignments. The practitioner performs and supports airway management, therapeutic procedures, diagnostic testing, emergency response, patient and family education, and respiratory equipment maintenance. The role is at St. Rita’s Medical Center on the Respiratory Therapy department’s night shift, with 30 scheduled hours per week.

Requirements

• Current respiratory care license in the state of employment.
• National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) credentialing.
• 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 Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT).
• Demonstrated clinical competency in at least two of these environments: Nursery/NICU, PICU, ICU/CCU, ED, and general care areas.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to interact effectively with patients, families, physicians, and other staff members.
• 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 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.
• 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 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, diagnostic services, and patient and staff education.
• Monitor patients’ responses to therapy and recommend changes or modifications based on assessment.
• Provide clinical instruction and in-service training to department staff, healthcare team members, and students, as needed.
• Support clinical learning through mentorship, clinical rounds, and practice evaluation, and provide clinical leadership to respiratory staff in 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, maintain records, and evaluate products as needed.
• Participate in facility councils and committees.
• Serve as shift Charge Therapist, ensuring adequate staffing and coordinating work areas, assignments, meal coverage, call-offs, and staffing for the next shift.
• Assist physicians with procedures such as bronchoscopy, transtracheal catheter insertion, tracheotomy, intubation when performed by respiratory therapy at the facility, and invasive monitoring.
• Perform CPR, including closed-chest compressions and airway management, in accordance with AHA ACLS protocol.
• Maintain patient airways using appropriate airway devices and techniques, including humidification, secretion aspiration, extubation, ETT cuff pressure maintenance, and documentation.
• Select, assemble, monitor, and evaluate mechanical ventilators; address malfunctions and cleanliness and determine suitability for the patient’s condition.
• Perform pulmonary function tests when needed.
• Serve as a preceptor to new team members and students.
• Assess patients through inspection, palpation, auscultation, percussion, observation of behavior, and review of patient records.
• Perform prescribed treatments, explain therapy and goals to patients, and modify procedures based on patient response.
• Evaluate prescribed therapy and recommend methods to physicians to meet therapeutic goals, including IPPB, aerosol therapy, postural drainage and percussion, ultrasonic nebulization, incentive spirometry, and metered-dose inhalers and spacers.
• Set up and maintain oxygen therapy modes to support adequate PaO2 levels with accurate inspired oxygen concentrations.
• Administer IPPB and aerosol therapy, prepare prescribed medications, adjust equipment to patient needs, document and observe patient responses and vital signs, identify adverse reactions, and recommend therapy adjustments as appropriate.
• Perform postural drainage, vibration, and percussion; review orders and X-rays, and assess secretion clearance and response to therapy before and after treatment.
• 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 assist with airway clearance through coaching, mucolytics, aerosol therapy, or endotracheal or nasopharyngeal suctioning.
• Evaluate normal and abnormal blood and urine laboratory values.
• Perform arterial punctures and analyses, interpret arterial blood gases, and perform arterial line procedures using appropriate safety and sterile techniques.
• Perform EKGs as needed and apply 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 a 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: Part-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed