RESPIRATORY THERAPIST (36 HRS/WEEK, DAY SHIFT)

Riverside Healthcare • Kankakee, IL

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Respiratory Therapist provides comprehensive respiratory care for patients in an acute hospital setting, including care for critically ill patients. The role involves assessing respiratory status, administering and adjusting respiratory therapies, performing diagnostic tests, responding to emergencies, and educating patients and families. The therapist collaborates with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers, documents care in electronic health records, maintains respiratory equipment, and follows hospital protocols, safety standards, and regulatory requirements. The role also includes flexibility with assignments within professional scope, duties, and licensure, and may involve related duties beyond those listed.

The position is listed as 36 hours per week on the day shift. Riverside Healthcare describes its Total Rewards offering as including competitive compensation, premium pay such as shift differential and on-call pay, potential annual performance-based increases, paid time off, health and welfare benefits, retirement plans with employer match, financial wellness programs, educational assistance, and employee well-being and career-development programs. Benefits vary by FTE.

Work takes place in a hospital environment and includes exposure to blood and body fluids, chemicals, and special hazards such as oxygen, radiation, and chemotherapy-related materials. Protective clothing is used as required, including for isolation. The role requires frequent lifting of items up to 35 pounds and occasional lifting up to 60 pounds; assistive equipment is used to move patients who cannot move independently. Duties also include standing, walking, bending, patient assessment, communication, and use of respiratory equipment and computer-based documentation.

Requirements

• Graduate of an AMA-approved Respiratory Therapist program.
• Current Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) license in the state of Illinois.
• Certification by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) or Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT).
• BLS certification required.
• NRP, ACLS, and PALS required within six months of hire.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in respiratory care preferred.
• Demonstrated experience with advanced respiratory support and critical care procedures.

Responsibilities

• Assess patients’ respiratory status, including lung sounds, breathing patterns, and oxygenation levels.
• Administer oxygen, aerosolized treatments, and mechanical ventilation according to protocols and patient needs.
• Adjust ventilator settings and manage endotracheal or tracheostomy tubes as needed.
• Conduct and interpret arterial blood gas and pulmonary function tests as ordered by providers.
• Respond to respiratory emergencies, provide advanced airway management and emergency resuscitation, and assist with intubation and extubation as needed.
• Educate patients and families about respiratory care techniques, disease management, and care plans.
• Collaborate with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers to coordinate patient care.
• Document patient assessments, treatments, and outcomes accurately and promptly in electronic health records.
• Ensure respiratory care equipment and supplies function properly and are maintained; support equipment troubleshooting.
• Follow hospital protocols, safety standards, and regulatory requirements, and participate in quality improvement and continuing education.
• Demonstrate flexibility with assignments within professional scope, duties, and licensure.
• Participate in departmental meetings and contribute to quality improvement initiatives.
• Assist with training and mentoring new staff and respiratory therapy students.
• Engage in professional development and stay current with advancements in respiratory care.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Benefits

• Paid time off programs (for 0.5 to 1.0 FTE); paid leave hours accrued as worked (for 0.001 to 0.49 FTE).
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and short- and long-term disability benefits.
• Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible healthcare and dependent-care expenses.
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs.
• Educational Assistance Program.
• Premium pay such as shift differential and on-call pay.
• Opportunity for annual increases based on performance.
• Employee well-being programs and career-development programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed