Respiratory Care Practitioner III - Southside Regional Medical Center - PRN

Bon Secours Mercy Health•Petersburg, VA

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 responses to therapy and recommends changes or modifications based on assessment. The position provides clinical leadership and support through staff and student instruction, mentorship, clinical rounds, practice evaluation, precepting, quality improvement, and research initiatives. It may also serve as the shift Charge Therapist, coordinating staff assignments and coverage. Clinical duties include airway management, ventilator setup and monitoring, CPR, therapeutic procedures, patient and family education, blood gas analysis, arterial line procedures, and maintenance of respiratory equipment. The role may assist physicians with procedures, perform pulmonary function tests and EKGs, and respond to cardiopulmonary resuscitations. The listed pay range is $33.31 to $51.63. Benefits may vary by market and employment status.

Requirements

Current respiratory care license in the state of employment.
National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) credentialing.
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, and general care areas.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to interact effectively with patients, families, physicians, and other staff.
Good communication, customer service, organizational, and time-management 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 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 and airway maneuvers.
Knowledge of bedside pulmonary function testing, patient assessment and education, 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, and diagnostic services.
Monitor patient 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, practice evaluation, and precepting.
Provide clinical leadership for respiratory practice 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 and maintain records as needed.
Participate in facility councils and committees.
Serve as shift Charge Therapist when assigned, ensuring adequate staffing and coordinating work assignments, coverage, and call-offs.
Assist physicians with procedures such as bronchoscopy, transtracheal catheter insertion, tracheotomy, intubation where performed by respiratory therapy, 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; provide humidification, suction secretions, extubate as appropriate, maintain ETT cuff pressure, and document procedures.
Select, assemble, monitor, and evaluate mechanical ventilators; address malfunctions and cleanliness and determine appropriateness for the patient's condition.
Perform pulmonary function tests when assigned.
Assess patients using inspection, palpation, auscultation, percussion, behavior, and review of existing medical record data.
Perform ordered treatments, explain therapies and goals, and modify procedures according to patient response.
Evaluate the appropriateness of prescribed therapies and recommend methods to physicians to achieve therapeutic goals.
Set up and maintain oxygen therapy modes to maintain adequate oxygen levels at accurate inspired oxygen concentrations.
Administer IPPB and aerosol therapy, prepare prescribed medications, adjust devices for individual needs, monitor and document patient response and vital signs, and identify possible adverse reactions.
Provide postural drainage, vibration, and percussion; review orders and X-rays and assess secretion clearance and response to therapy.
Instruct patients and families in incentive spirometry, MDI use, postural drainage, oxygen therapy, ventilator care, and home aerosol therapy.
Obtain sputum specimens or promote airway clearance through coaching, mucolytics, aerosol therapy, or suctioning.
Evaluate normal and pathologic blood and urine laboratory values.
Perform arterial punctures and analysis and interpret arterial blood gases.
Perform arterial line procedures using safety and sterile technique, including flushing and ABG aspiration.
Perform EKGs when assigned and apply understanding of electronic monitoring, lead placement, and basic arrhythmias.
Maintain respiratory therapy equipment and supplies.
Respond to cardiopulmonary resuscitations and participate as clinically indicated.
Perform other job-related duties as required by the supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodation.