Respiratory Care Practitioner III - Fairfield Hospital

Mercy Health • Fairfield, OH

1d

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 therapies and recommend changes or modifications based on assessment.

The role provides clinical leadership and support for professional respiratory practice across intensive care, general care, and outpatient services. It may include clinical instruction, in-service training, mentorship, clinical rounds, practice evaluation, coaching feedback, research, quality improvement, 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.

The position also involves airway management, ventilator setup and monitoring, prescribed respiratory treatments, patient and family education, arterial blood gas procedures and interpretation, equipment maintenance, and responding to cardiopulmonary resuscitations. Additional duties may be assigned by a supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodation.

Requirements

• Current respiratory care license in the state of employment.
• National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) credential.
• 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 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.
• Good communication, customer service, organization, and time-management skills, including 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 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 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 or in-service training to department staff, healthcare team members, and students.
• Support clinical learning through mentorship, clinical rounds, and practice evaluation; provide clinical leadership for respiratory practice 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 and support study education, training, and implementation.
• Collect data, maintain accurate records, and evaluate products as assigned.
• Participate in facility councils and committees.
• Serve as shift Charge Therapist, ensuring adequate respiratory care staffing, assigning work areas and assignments, modifying assignments, assisting with meal coverage, responding to call-offs, and helping ensure adequate 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 assigned.
• Perform CPR, including closed-chest compressions and airway management, according to AHA ACLS protocol.
• Maintain patient airways using appropriate airway devices and techniques, including humidification, secretion aspiration, extubation, and ETT cuff pressure maintenance; document procedures.
• Select, assemble, monitor, and evaluate mechanical ventilators; correct malfunctions, maintain cleanliness, and assess appropriateness for the patient’s condition.
• Perform pulmonary function tests (PFTs), as assigned.
• Serve as a preceptor to new team members and/or students.
• Assess patients through inspection, palpation, auscultation, percussion, observation of behavior, and review of existing records.
• Perform treatments according to physician orders, explain therapy 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.
• Set up and maintain oxygen therapy modes to support adequate PaO2 levels and accurate inspired oxygen levels.
• Administer IPPB or aerosol therapy; prepare prescribed medication, adjust devices to patients’ needs, monitor and document vital signs and treatment responses, and identify adverse reactions or concerns about therapy appropriateness.
• Provide postural drainage, vibration, and percussion; review orders and X-rays, and assess secretion clearance and 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 samples for culture and sensitivity or airway clearance using patient coaching, mucolytics, aerosol therapy, or endotracheal/nasopharyngeal suctioning.
• Evaluate normal and pathologic blood and urine laboratory value ranges.
• Perform arterial punctures and analysis; interpret ABGs; and perform arterial line procedures, including safety precautions, sterile technique, flushing, and ABG aspiration.
• Perform EKGs as assigned 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. Benefits may vary by market and employment status.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed