Respiratory Therapist (RT)

Advocate Health•West Allis, WI

32d•$33 - $50•Onsite

About The Position

The Respiratory Therapist (RT) will use respiratory therapy processes to support patient assessment, including pulmonary diagnostics, chest radiograph, hemodynamic values, and laboratory values, correlating blood gases and electrolytes. The RT will identify and address the special needs of patient populations specific to department services. This role involves operating specialized ventilators in critical and non-critical care settings, assisting physicians with bedside procedures, and providing medication treatments per physician order or patient-driven respiratory protocols. The RT is responsible for cleaning, maintaining, and ensuring the proper functionality of equipment, troubleshooting as necessary, and identifying needs for service or repair. Additionally, the RT will educate and instruct patients on therapy, self-care, and disease management, facilitate clinical problem-solving, and collaborate with other departments. The role requires adapting to policies and procedures, performing required tasks, and maintaining performance standards. Effective communication, feedback, and conflict resolution skills are essential, as is promoting a culture of safety by applying proper safety measures and reporting patient safety events. The RT will also teach, educate, and precept new teammates, orientees, and students, demonstrating knowledge and skills appropriate for the age of patients served and understanding principles of growth and development.

Requirements

Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) license issued by the state in which the team member practices.
Active Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential issued by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) within 12 months OR active Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential issued by the NBRC if credential received prior to January 1, 2023.
Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification issued by the American Heart Association (AHA).
Graduate from an accredited respiratory care program, with a minimum of an associate degree.
No experience required.
Effective organizational, interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
Problem solving and decision making for patient care and equipment use.
Proficient computer skills, use of e-mail and electronic medical record systems.
Excellent communication (written and verbal), listening and interpersonal skills.
Demonstrates human relation skills with the ability to develop rapport and maintain positive, professional relationships with a variety of patients, team members, and physicians.
Ability to take initiative and work collaboratively with others.
Demonstrates time management skills with an ability to multi-task and prioritize in an environment with frequent interruptions.
Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served.
Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs.
Must be able to lift 50 lb object from knee to waist.
Must be able to lift 50 lb from floor to waist height occasionally.
Must be able to lift 40 lb at waist height and carry it across various distances.
Must be able to lift 20 lb from waist to overhead.
Must be able to push/pull while utilizing 30# of force occasionally for long distances.
Must demonstrate stand-pivot transfer from bed to chair.
Must perform sliding transfer of 150 lbs. person on a sheet across 2 feet with a second person.
Must utilize safe body mechanics at all times.

Nice To Haves

See Education/Certification Addendum for any additional site-specific requirements.

Responsibilities

Uses Respiratory therapy processes to support assessment of patient utilizing a variety of skills such as pulmonary diagnostics, chest radiograph, hemodynamic values, laboratory values, and correlates blood gases and electrolytes.
Can identify and address the special needs of patient population specific to department services.
Operates specialized ventilators in critical and non-critical care venues.
Assists physician with bedside or other procedures as applicable to facility.
Provides medication treatments and therapies per physician order and/or patient driven respiratory protocols as prescribed.
Cleans, maintains, and ensures proper functionality of equipment.
Troubleshoots equipment as necessary and identifies the need for service and/or repair.
Educates and instructs patients in purpose, technique, self-care, goal of therapy, and disease management.
Facilitates clinical problem solving and collaborates with other departments to provide education on managing patients.
Under physician direction, the respiratory therapist must be able to adapt and comply to policies and procedures for a variety of different service areas, perform tasks and/or special duties as required by assignment and maintain performance standards and organizational behaviors.
Demonstrates effective communication, feedback, and conflict resolution skills.
Provides clear, concise, timely, and accurate patient handoff.
Promotes a culture of safety by recognizing and applying proper safety measures to prevent patient harm.
Reports patient safety events and near misses in a timely manner.
Seeks to identify potential safety issues and assists in the implementation of corrective actions.
Teaches, educates, and precepts new teammates, orientees, and students.
Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served.
Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs.

Benefits

Sign on Bonus: $12,500
Loan Forgiveness: Up to $21,000
Tuition Assistance: Up to $21,000
Clinical Ladder Program – up to $6,000 in additional yearly bonus potential
Paid Time Off programs
Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave
Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
Educational Assistance Program