Respiratory Care Practitioner III - Respiratory Therapy - St. Rita's Medical Center

Mercy Health • Lima, OH

1d

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 or modifications based on assessment.

The position also provides clinical leadership and support for staff and students through instruction, in-service training, mentorship, clinical rounds, precepting, and practice evaluation. As shift Charge Therapist, the practitioner helps ensure adequate staffing and coverage across patient care areas. The role may support physicians during procedures, participate in quality improvement and clinical research, and contribute to facility councils and committees.

Care duties include airway management, ventilator setup and monitoring, prescribed respiratory treatments, patient and family education, specimen collection, arterial blood gas procedures and interpretation, and responding to cardiopulmonary resuscitations. The practitioner maintains respiratory therapy equipment and records and may perform pulmonary function tests and EKGs. The position is scheduled for 30 hours per week on the night shift at St. Rita's Medical Center.

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 CRT.
• 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 skills, including oral and written communication.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse people.
• Good customer service, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Ability to 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.
• NRP Neonatal Resuscitation Program certification from AAP/AWHONN.
• Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist (CPFT) credential.
• Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist (RPFT) credential.
• ACCS Adult Critical Care Specialist credential from NBRC.
• EPIC Electronic Health Record 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 and in-service training to department staff, other healthcare team members, and students.
• Support clinical learning through mentorship, clinical rounds, and practice evaluation, and provide clinical leadership to respiratory therapy staff.
• Provide feedback for team member coaching and performance evaluations.
• 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 participate in product evaluation and assessment as needed.
• Participate in facility councils and committees.
• Serve as shift Charge Therapist, ensuring appropriate staffing and coverage, assigning or modifying work assignments, assisting with meal coverage, managing call-offs, and helping provide 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, as needed.
• 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 when appropriate, maintain correct endotracheal tube cuff pressures, and document procedures.
• Select, assemble, monitor, and evaluate mechanical ventilators; address malfunctions, cleanliness, and suitability for the patient's condition.
• Perform pulmonary function tests when needed.
• Serve as a preceptor to new team members and/or students.
• Assess patients using inspection, palpation, auscultation, percussion, behavioral observation, and review of existing 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, ultrasonic nebulizers, incentive spirometry, and metered-dose inhalers with spacers.
• Set up and maintain oxygen therapy modes to support adequate PaO2 levels and accurate inspired oxygen concentrations.
• Administer IPPB or aerosol therapy, prepare prescribed medications, adjust devices to individual clinical needs, document and observe patient response and vital signs, and identify adverse reactions or concerns about therapy appropriateness.
• Provide postural drainage, vibration, and percussion; review orders and X-rays before treatment and assess secretion clearance and response before and after the procedure.
• Instruct patients and families in incentive spirometry, MDI administration, postural drainage and clapping, oxygen therapy, ventilator care, and home aerosol therapy.
• Obtain sputum specimens for culture and sensitivity or airway clearance through 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 using safety precautions and sterile technique, including flushing and ABG aspiration.
• Perform EKGs as needed and apply knowledge of 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 a 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: Part-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed