Respiratory Care Practitioner III - Fairfield Hospital

Mercy Health BSMH • Fairfield, OH

4h • 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 patient responses and recommends therapy changes or modifications based on assessment.

The position provides clinical leadership and may instruct or mentor department staff, other healthcare team members, and students. It also serves as the shift Charge Therapist, helping ensure appropriate staffing across patient care areas and supporting assignments, meal coverage, call-offs, and staffing for the next shift. The practitioner may participate in clinical research, quality improvement, committees, and product evaluation.

Clinical duties include airway management, ventilator setup and monitoring, prescribed respiratory treatments, patient and family education, pulmonary function testing when applicable, arterial punctures and blood gas analysis, and response to cardiopulmonary resuscitations. The practitioner maintains respiratory therapy equipment and records and evaluates patient response to care. The position is at Fairfield Hospital.

Requirements

• Current respiratory care license in the state of employment.
• Credentialing by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).
• 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.
• 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 areas: Nursery/NICU, PICU, ICU/CCU, ED, or general care areas.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to interact effectively with patients, families, physicians, and staff.
• Good communication, customer service, organizational, time management, 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 and end-tidal CO2 analyzers.
• Knowledge and ability in 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 training.

Responsibilities

• Provide respiratory care through patient assessment, 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 clinical instruction and in-service training to staff, healthcare team members, and students as needed.
• Support clinical learning through mentorship, clinical rounds, and practice evaluation; provide clinical leadership to respiratory staff.
• 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 accurate records, and evaluate products as needed.
• Participate in facility councils and committees.
• Serve as shift Charge Therapist, ensuring appropriate respiratory care staffing, assigning work areas and tasks, adjusting assignments, assisting with meal coverage, responding to 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 protocols.
• Maintain patient airways, including use of appropriate airways, humidification, secretion aspiration, extubation, ETT cuff pressure monitoring, and documentation.
• Select, assemble, monitor, and evaluate mechanical ventilators; address malfunctions, cleanliness, and suitability for patient needs.
• Perform pulmonary function tests when applicable.
• Serve as a preceptor to new team members and students.
• Assess patients using inspection, palpation, auscultation, percussion, observation of behavior, and review of medical records.
• Perform physician-ordered treatments, explain therapy and goals to patients, and modify procedures based on patient response.
• Evaluate prescribed therapy and recommend methods to physicians to achieve therapeutic goals, including IPPB, aerosol therapy, postural drainage and percussion, nebulizer therapy, incentive spirometry, and inhaler use.
• Set up and maintain oxygen therapy modes to support adequate PaO2 and accurate inspired oxygen levels.
• Administer IPPB and aerosol therapy; prepare prescribed medications, adjust devices to patient needs, document and observe patient responses, and identify adverse reactions or therapy concerns.
• Perform postural drainage, vibration, and percussion; review orders and X-rays, and assess patients before and after treatments.
• Instruct patients and families on incentive spirometry, MDI administration, postural drainage, oxygen therapy, ventilator care, and home aerosol therapy.
• Obtain sputum samples for culture and sensitivity or support airway clearance through coaching, mucolytics, aerosol therapy, and 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 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, and referral bonuses.
• 403(b) with employer contributions when eligible.
• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage.
• HSA/FSA options and 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: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed