Weekend Option Respiratory Care Practitioner III - Fairfield Hospital

Mercy Health•Fairfield, OH

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 changes to care based on assessment. The position also provides clinical leadership and education, supports staff and student learning, participates in quality improvement and research initiatives, and may serve as the shift Charge Therapist. It involves coordination of respiratory staffing and assignments, maintenance and operation of respiratory equipment, and collaboration with physicians and other healthcare team members. The role responds to cardiopulmonary emergencies and performs procedures and therapies within the scope of the practitioner’s training and facility practice.

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.
Demonstrated clinical competency in at least two of the following 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, 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 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

Assess patients, plan and provide respiratory interventions, educate patients and families, and evaluate responses to therapy.
Perform respiratory care procedures, including oxygen and aerosolized medication delivery, ventilator care, bronchial hygiene therapy, and diagnostic services.
Monitor patient responses to therapies and recommend modifications based on assessment.
Provide clinical instruction and in-service training to department staff, healthcare team members, and students.
Support clinical learning through mentorship, clinical rounds, and practice evaluation; provide clinical leadership in respiratory practice.
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 when assigned.
Participate in facility councils and committees.
Serve as shift Charge Therapist, ensuring adequate respiratory staffing, assigning work areas and tasks, modifying assignments, helping with meal coverage, addressing call-offs, and supporting 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, closed-chest compressions, and airway management according to AHA ACLS protocol.
Maintain patient airways using appropriate airway devices; manage humidification, suction secretions, extubate when appropriate, maintain ETT cuff pressures, and document procedures.
Select, assemble, monitor, and evaluate mechanical ventilators; correct malfunctions, maintain cleanliness, and determine suitability for the patient’s condition.
Perform pulmonary function tests when assigned.
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 ordered treatments, explain therapies and goals to patients, and modify procedures according to patient response.
Evaluate prescribed therapies and recommend methods to physicians for achieving therapeutic goals, including IPPB, aerosol therapy, postural drainage and percussion, ultrasonic nebulizers, incentive spirometry, and metered-dose inhalers with spacers.
Set up and maintain oxygen therapy to support adequate PaO2 levels with accurate inspired oxygen concentrations.
Administer IPPB and aerosol therapy, prepare prescribed medications, adjust devices to individual needs, document and observe patient response and vital signs, identify adverse reactions, and recommend appropriate therapy.
Provide postural drainage, vibration, and percussion; review orders and X-rays, and assess patients 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 samples for culture and sensitivity or airway clearance through coaching, mucolytics, aerosol therapy, or endotracheal or nasopharyngeal suctioning.
Evaluate normal and pathologic blood and urine laboratory values.
Perform arterial punctures and analysis; interpret ABGs and perform arterial line procedures using sterile technique and safety precautions, including flushing and ABG aspiration.
Perform EKGs when 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.