Respiratory Therapist Manager (RRT)

Select Specialty Hospital - Des Moines•Des Moines, IA

32d

About The Position

The Respiratory Therapy Manager is responsible for the overall function and professional growth of the respiratory therapy department at Select Specialty Hospital - Des Moines, a critical illness recovery hospital providing inpatient post-ICU care to chronically and critically ill patients requiring extended healing and recovery. The manager consults on pulmonary disorders and respiratory therapy practice, provides quality respiratory care, and ensures its development and routine monitoring. The role provides discipline-specific education to patients, families, and staff and collaborates with the Chief Nursing Officer to meet departmental standards and regulatory requirements. The manager oversees department operations, including staffing, recruitment and retention, employee development, equipment and inventory, clinical scheduling, and cost control. The role supports pulmonary rounds and ventilator-weaning efforts, promotes clinical excellence and continuous quality improvement, teaches and counsels patients and families, and maintains competency in rapid response and code events. Depending on the site, the manager may also serve as Moderate Complexity Lab Manager for point-of-care testing and as Safety Officer overseeing the Environment of Care.

Requirements

Current state license.
Active Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential from the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC).
Proof of graduation: college transcript or diploma preferred, or high school transcript or diploma or GED.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification by the start date.
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification within six months of employment.
Associate degree in Respiratory Therapy required.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree preferred.
Five years of experience as a Respiratory Therapist in an acute care setting preferred.
Two years of supervisory experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Oversee daily respiratory therapy department operations, including staff interviews, employment decisions, orientation, performance evaluations, employee training and development, and inventory, equipment, and instrument issues.
Share responsibility for employee engagement, recruitment, and retention.
Implement company standards of care, policies, and procedures.
Ensure regulatory requirements are met for respiratory care and point-of-care testing.
Create and maintain clinical schedules to support safe staffing.
Maintain clinical cost control.
Coordinate and actively participate in Wean Team/Pulmonary Rounds and communicate with pulmonary physicians to facilitate, implement, and monitor ventilator-weaning patients; work toward site-specific protocol implementation when protocols do not exist.
Promote clinical excellence through staff development and continuous quality improvement.
Teach and counsel patients and their families.
Maintain competency in Rapid Response and code events.
When applicable, function as Moderate Complexity Lab Manager for point-of-care testing and as Safety Officer overseeing the Environment of Care.
Provide consultation regarding pulmonary disorders and respiratory therapy practice, deliver quality respiratory care, and provide discipline-specific education to patients, families, and staff.
Collaborate with the Chief Nursing Officer to meet departmental standards and ensure regulatory compliance.