Respiratory Therapist

PeaceHealth•Bellingham, WA

About The Position

PeaceHealth is seeking a Respiratory Therapist for a 0.90 FTE day position in clinical support. The role provides care for the cardiopulmonary needs of assigned patients, from routine diagnostic procedures to complex critical care support, intervention, and transport support as applicable to the care setting. The therapist works collaboratively with the healthcare team to support positive patient and organizational outcomes. The position provides respiratory care and patient assessment, plans and evaluates age-appropriate care, and maintains respiratory and pulmonary function equipment. It also includes participation in education, department projects, audits, quality assurance, recordkeeping, and charting. Depending on the hospital or department, responsibilities may include trauma, resuscitation, and rapid response teams; ventilator and non-invasive positive pressure ventilation management; and training in intensive care, diagnostic services, or pulmonary rehabilitation. The role is based in a medical or hospital setting, or an office environment, and may involve exposure to biohazards, body fluids, and airborne particles. Physical duties include handling patients and equipment, occasional lifting and carrying, pushing and pulling equipment, and occasional bending, squatting, kneeling, or stooping. Patient handling over 35 pounds requires assistive equipment or devices.

Requirements

Completion of an accredited two-year AMA-approved Respiratory Care Program or an approved alternative education pathway under applicable state requirements.
Pass the NBRC Registered Respiratory Therapist examination within six months of hire.
At least two years of experience; acute-care Respiratory Therapist experience is preferred.
Required state credential: Respiratory Care Practitioner license in Oregon or Washington, subject to the stated grandfathering provision for eligible Washington caregivers.
Obtain Registered Respiratory Therapist credential within six months where specified; RRT is required at hire for applicants who graduated more than one year before hire at the specified facilities.
Basic Life Support certification.
Proficiency with MS Office applications.
Ability to set up, operate, and troubleshoot respiratory or pulmonary function equipment efficiently, as applicable.
Ability to rapidly assess acute and critical-care situations and respond with a decisive, appropriate course of action.
Good time-management skills.
For pulmonary rehabilitation positions, at least one year of pulmonary rehabilitation experience is required; alternatively, applicants may be considered with relevant experience developing and monitoring exercise plans for patients with cardiovascular or pulmonary disease or other comorbidities, ECG recognition skills, knowledge of the pulmonary rehabilitation industry, an AACVPR-AARC Pulmonary Rehab Certificate, and knowledge of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation monitoring equipment.
Location-specific credentials may apply: ACLS is required for staff conducting stress tests at Ketchikan Medical Center; PALS, ACLS, and BLS are required upon hire at St. Joseph Medical Center; ACLS and BLS are required at hire at United General Medical Center and PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center; additional NRP, PALS, or ACLS credentials are required within specified grace periods at listed locations.
At Sacred Heart Medical Center - RiverBend and University District, temporary licensure is acceptable for new hires, but permanent licensure must be obtained before the temporary license expires; employment is contingent upon obtaining permanent licensure.
For PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Group, working knowledge of electronic medical records and EPIC is required as described for the location.
For PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, NRP and PALS must be obtained within the applicable standard grace period or upon hire, as specified by policy.
At St. John Medical Center and Sacred Heart Medical Center - RiverBend and University District, ACLS, NRP, and PALS must be obtained within the applicable standard grace period or upon hire, as specified by policy.
At Peace Harbor Medical Center, ACLS, NRP, and PALS must be obtained within three months of hire or transfer.
Vision and hearing within normal limits, with glasses, contact lenses, and hearing aids permitted; ability to communicate and exchange accurate information.
Ability to handle patients up to 35 pounds without assistive equipment or devices and to perform the stated physical tasks.

Nice To Haves

At least one year of experience in a pulmonary function laboratory.
Experience in intensive care, pediatrics, or obstetrics.
CPFT or RPFT certification, preferred for the specified locations.
Working knowledge of electronic medical records and EPIC, where specified.
Knowledge of Medgraphic equipment, a plus at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Group.
Knowledge of Sensormedics equipment, a plus at Peace Harbor Medical Center.
PALS and NRP are preferred at United General Medical Center.
May train as a pulmonary rehabilitation therapist or in cardiopulmonary diagnostic testing to meet outpatient needs at Peace Harbor Medical Center.

Responsibilities

Provide respiratory care, including diagnostic testing, oxygen and medication delivery, bronchial hygiene, arterial or capillary blood gas collection and analysis, advanced airway care, and life support.
Assess patients, including monitoring laboratory results, hemodynamics, and radiology findings.
Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate individualized patient care appropriate to patient age.
Calibrate, clean, set up, maintain, and troubleshoot patient-related equipment and instruments; assemble and store cleaned equipment.
Participate in in-house educational in-services and, as requested by the Manager, attend outside seminars and workshops.
Participate in department tasks such as audits, quality assurance, statistical recordkeeping, patient charting, and special projects.
Perform other duties as assigned.
In inpatient hospital settings, may participate in trauma, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and rapid response teams.
Manage ventilators and non-invasive positive pressure ventilation, ensuring safe, evidence-based settings and appropriate changes.
May train as a core therapist in an ICU or diagnostics area, such as pulmonary function testing or a sleep lab, to meet department needs.
For applicable pulmonary rehabilitation roles, exercise, monitor, and develop exercise prescriptions and individualized treatment plans for patients.
Perform EEGs at Ketchikan Medical Center, as specified for that location.