Respiratory Care Practitioner III - Respiratory Therapy - Lorain Hospital

Bon Secours Mercy Health•Lorain, OH

17h

About The Position

The Respiratory Care Practitioner III provides respiratory care through patient assessment, planning, intervention, education, and evaluation, and performs procedures within the scope of their license. The practitioner monitors patient responses to therapies and recommends changes based on assessment. The role also provides clinical leadership, supports staff development, and helps identify quality-improvement initiatives across intensive care, general care, and outpatient services. Working with the interdisciplinary care team, the practitioner assesses patients, develops and implements plans of care, evaluates treatment effectiveness, performs physician-ordered therapies, and explains treatment goals to patients. They set up and maintain respiratory therapies and equipment, assess the appropriateness of prescribed therapy, make recommendations to physicians, document care, and educate patients and caregivers about cardiopulmonary conditions and treatments. The practitioner responds to cardiopulmonary resuscitations as indicated. The role supports clinical learning through mentorship, clinical rounds, practice evaluation, precepting, and potentially instruction or in-service training. It may include coaching and performance-evaluation feedback, quality-improvement program design, clinical research leadership, data collection, product evaluation, committee participation, and serving as a shift Charge Therapist responsible for staff assignments and coverage. The position serves patients ranging from neonates through geriatrics. This is a full-time position scheduled for 40 hours per week, with rotating day and night shifts and rotating weekends and holidays. The work may involve high stress and fluctuating workloads, interruptions, noise, bright lights, physical altercations or verbal abuse, and exposure to hazardous substances, body fluids, blood, or other potentially infectious materials. Universal precautions and personal protective equipment are required.

Requirements

Current respiratory care license in the state of employment.
Credentialing by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).
At least two years of experience as a Respiratory Care Professional.
Competency in at least two of these environments: 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, and time-management skills; effective 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, including 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.
Knowledge and skills in arterial blood gas punctures and testing, airway maneuvers, bedside pulmonary function, patient assessment and education, chest suction equipment, and chest X-ray interpretation.
Ability to assess and provide care appropriate to patients’ developmental stages and ages, from neonates through geriatrics.
Ability to exercise universal precautions and use personal protective equipment and devices.

Nice To Haves

Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential.
BLS, ACLS, or PALS certification at hire; certification must be obtained from an approved source before direct patient care.
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 through NBRC.
Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
Master’s degree in a related field.
EPIC Electronic Health Record (EHR) training.
Valid driver’s license for Home Care/DME work.

Responsibilities

Assess patients initially and on an ongoing basis; analyze assessment data, develop plans of care, implement treatment, and evaluate its effectiveness.
Perform respiratory treatments and therapies according to physician orders and modify procedures based on patient response.
Explain therapies and therapeutic goals to patients and recommend treatment methods to physicians when appropriate.
Set up and maintain respiratory therapy equipment, supplies, and different modes of therapy.
Maintain patient documentation, medical charting, and records.
Provide education to patients and caregivers about cardiopulmonary diseases, treatments, and applicable equipment or therapies, including incentive spirometry, MDI use, oxygen, home aerosol therapy, and ventilator care.
Mentor and precept team members and students, support clinical learning through rounds and practice evaluation, and provide feedback for coaching and performance evaluations.
Provide clinical leadership for respiratory practice in intensive care, general care, and outpatient services; may provide clinical instruction or in-service training.
Help identify quality-improvement initiatives and design programs with measurable outcomes.
Lead clinical research initiatives and support study education, training, implementation, data collection, recordkeeping, and product evaluation as applicable.
Participate in facility councils and committees.
May serve as Charge Therapist, assigning staff and work areas, coordinating coverage, responding to call-offs, and helping ensure staffing for the next shift.
Follow established policies, procedures, quality-assurance, safety, environmental, and infection-control standards.
Respond to cardiopulmonary resuscitations and participate as indicated by clinical circumstances.

Benefits

Sign-on bonus of $8,000 for experienced full-time new hires with at least one year of Respiratory Therapist experience.
Sign-on bonus of $5,000 for new-graduate full-time new hires.
Referral bonus incentive programs.
Competitive paid time off accrual.
Health benefits through UMR.
Competitive tuition assistance for continued career growth.
Competitive pay and incentives.
403(b) with employer contributions when eligible.
Medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage.
HSA/FSA options.
Life insurance.
Mental health resources and discounts.
Parental and FMLA leave.
Short- and long-term disability.
Backup care for children and elders.
Professional development and continuing education support.