Respiratory Care Professional 3 - Respiratory Therapy - St. Vincent Medical Center

Mercy Health•Toledo, OH

About The Position

Provides invasive and non-invasive respiratory care under minimal and indirect supervision. Under physician supervision, evaluates cardiopulmonary function, treats cardiopulmonary impairment, assesses treatment effectiveness, and cares for patients with cardiopulmonary deficiencies and abnormalities. The role requires professional judgment in complex technical situations and independent decision-making. Provides care to neonatal, pediatric, adult, and geriatric patients, generally in assigned ICU areas. The position performs prescribed respiratory treatments and diagnostic procedures, evaluates patient response, documents care, and recommends approaches to achieve therapeutic goals. It includes airway management, oxygenation and ventilation support, blood gas sampling and analysis, ventilator management and weaning, emergency respiratory care, and assistance with physician procedures. The role also includes clinical instruction and staff training, possible preceptor duties, and occasional team leader or charge therapist responsibilities. This is a collective bargaining unit position. The work may involve high stress and fluctuating workloads, high noise levels, bright lights, limited exposure to hazardous substances or body fluids, and frequent interruptions. Universal precautions and personal protective equipment are required.

Requirements

Maintain Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support status through the American Heart Association or its affiliate.
Hold and maintain an active Ohio license to practice Respiratory Care.
Be registered by the National Board of Respiratory Care.
Successfully complete an educational program in Respiratory Therapy approved by the Ohio Respiratory Care Board.
Have one year of experience as a Respiratory Therapist in areas such as emergency airway management, extubation, tracheotomies, and nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal airways.
Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide age-appropriate care to patients served on the assigned unit.

Responsibilities

Perform respiratory treatments according to physician orders or protocols, explain therapies and goals to patients, modify procedures based on patient response, and document assessments and treatments.
Evaluate prescribed therapies and recommend methods to physicians to achieve therapeutic goals, including aerosol therapy, postural drainage and percussion, incentive spirometry, and metered-dose inhalers.
Maintain patient airways using endotracheal tubes, tracheostomies, and nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal airways; manage humidification, secretions, extubation, and cuff pressures, and document procedures.
Perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to achieve or document adequate oxygenation, including metering, analyzing, and administering gases.
Obtain and analyze blood gases through arterial or capillary punctures or line draws, record and report results, and perform required quality controls.
Accept and transcribe physician orders according to departmental policies and procedures.
Select, assemble, monitor, and evaluate mechanical ventilators; correct malfunctions and assess cleanliness, operation, and suitability for the patient's condition.
Perform procedures to assess ventilation and oxygenation, including measurement of lung volumes and evaluation of oxygen, PEEP/CPAP, and ventilation modes and their effects on patients.
Apply ventilator-weaning protocols and physician orders.
Initiate, perform, and modify respiratory care techniques in pre-emergency situations, including non-invasive ventilation, ventilator and gas-delivery-system modifications, and airway management, working independently until a physician arrives.
Perform CPR, including chest compressions and airway management, according to AHA, ACLS, PALS, and NRP protocols or physician direction.
Assist physicians with bronchoscopy, tracheostomy, intubation, and invasive monitoring procedures.
Provide clinical instruction, direction, and in-service training to staff, physicians, patients, and allied health students, including respiratory therapy students.
May serve as a preceptor, maintain preceptor requirements, and complete required documentation.
May fill in as Team Leader or Charge Therapist, assign work, and facilitate daily duties throughout the shift.
Maintain instructor status in one or more of NRP, ACLS, PALS, and BLS.
Follow Corporate Responsibility Program standards and policies, comply with applicable laws and regulations, and report suspected unethical, fraudulent, or unlawful conduct.