Respiratory Therapist - Graduate

Children's Wisconsin•Milwaukee, WI

About The Position

Children’s Wisconsin is seeking a Respiratory Therapist to provide therapeutic, diagnostic, consultative, and supportive respiratory care to neonatal through adult patients and their families. The role applies scientific knowledge, technical expertise, and theory to clinical problems and may require clinical judgment. The therapist participates in resuscitative and emergency situations and works within professional and hospital standards. The therapist adapts communication and care to patients’ developmental stages, helps explain procedures and treatments, and supports patients and families through education and discharge planning. The role collaborates with the health care team, contributes to case management and quality improvement, and maintains professional competencies and departmental responsibilities.

Requirements

Associate degree in Respiratory Therapy.
New graduates must obtain either a valid Wisconsin Respiratory Care Practitioner license or a New Graduate Temporary Certificate, subject to Wisconsin requirements, before the start date.
Wisconsin Respiratory Care Practitioner license required.
Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care required within 180 days.
BLS–Basic Life Support Healthcare Provider certification required.
PALS–Pediatric Advanced Life Support certification required within 180 days.
Basic personal computer skills.
Analytical skills to resolve complex clinical problems involving respiratory care, patient safety, and patient welfare.
Ability to work independently and use time management, prioritization, and multitasking skills.
Ability to cope with physically and mentally stressful situations.
Interpersonal skills to collaborate with peers, supervisors, and medical staff on patient-care objectives.
Ability to stand and walk for up to 80% of work time when performing assignments or responding to emergency calls.
Ability to push or pull equipment weighing up to 170 lb and lift equipment or supplies up to 25 lb; ability to lift or move patients from neonatal through adult populations.
Ability to assemble complex equipment and perform fine motor skills.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Respiratory Therapy preferred.
Membership in professional associations is encouraged.

Responsibilities

Assess and address the growth, development, communication, and care needs of patients from neonatal through adult populations, adapting approaches to reduce fear and explain procedures and treatments.
Initiate, perform, and maintain respiratory care competencies in accordance with quality and safety standards; use clinical judgment, prioritization, critical thinking, and decision-making to support optimal patient care.
Respond to urgent and emergent situations and maintain applicable emergency-care competencies, including BLS, C-spine immobilization, Trauma class, NRP, and PALS as applicable.
Perform assigned duties such as orientation, student and staff precepting, and relief charge; accurately bill for respiratory care modalities.
Collaborate with patients, families, and the health care team in the discharge process; provide and document education that promotes wellness and adaptation to illness, injury, health conditions, or special health care needs.
Participate actively in case management and coordinate efficient patient care with the health care team.
Communicate and collaborate in a timely manner, maintain working relationships, provide constructive feedback, resolve conflicts and issues, and refer matters to management when appropriate.
Keep the supervisor or charge therapist informed about shift activities and workflow issues; seek assistance from the RCS Leadership Team and Medical Director when appropriate.
Attend educational offerings, in-services, and department and hospital meetings; identify professional growth goals with the supervisor and stay current on respiratory care developments.
Work toward department and hospital goals and represent the department on interdisciplinary committees or work groups as applicable.
Participate in evaluation of new products and procedures, unit improvement activities, continuing education, research, quality assurance, and cost-reduction measures.