Student Respiratory Care Assistant - UPMC Mercy

UPMC•Pittsburgh, PA

About The Position

Are you a student interested in a hands-on healthcare role that makes a real difference? UPMC Mercy, Pittsburgh’s first hospital and a nationally recognized academic medical center, is seeking a Student Respiratory Care Assistant to support our Respiratory Therapy team while gaining valuable experience in a fast-paced, patient-centered environment. Known for its mission-driven care, Level I Adult Trauma Center, and American Burn Association–verified Burn Center, UPMC Mercy provides compassionate, high-acuity care to patients when they need it most. In this role, you’ll work alongside experienced Respiratory Therapists, supporting patient care through equipment management, supply support, and essential clinical assistance. This opportunity is ideal for students exploring a future in respiratory care—offering meaningful clinical exposure, mentorship, and flexible scheduling to complement your academic journey at an organization grounded in service, learning, and community impact. Under the general direction of a respiratory therapist, and in accordance with the PA Practice Act or NY State guidelines, the student respiratory care assistant will perform a variety of functions. Some of these functions include ordering, inventorying, and distributing equipment to include medical gases. In addition, this position can assist the clinical staff with varies tasks as directed. The student respiratory care assistant works under the direction of a respiratory therapist and is responsible for performing multiple duties that require an expertise in the assembly, transport, disinfection, calibration, and troubleshooting of respiratory related equipment. The student respiratory care assistant is responsible for maintaining an appropriate level of equipment in the various respiratory work areas and assisting the respiratory therapists and clinical staff with various tasks, as directed.

Requirements

High school diploma and must currently be enrolled in respiratory therapist program.
Must be able to lift equipment and or supplies weighing up to 30 pounds and push/handle equipment weighing up to 100 pounds.
Basic Life Support (BLS)
Act 31 Child Abuse Reporting with renewal
Act 33 with renewal
Act 34 with renewal
Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal

Responsibilities

Exhibit and practice service excellence by actively seeking, listening, responding to the needs of patients, their family, physicians, staff, and others.
Maintain supply of transport oxygen and maintain the supply of oxygen cylinders on all inpatient units, emergency department, and clinic areas.
Perform routine assembly, maintenance, and cleaning of various types of respiratory care equipment; disinfect equipment prior to calibration and assembly; and maintain appropriate levels of equipment in the various respiratory care work areas daily.
Transport dirty equipment to appropriate area using appropriate infection control techniques
Appropriately handles and uses cleaning and disinfecting solutions and equipment
Demonstrates appropriate use of personal protective equipment
Reports equipment malfunctions to respiratory leadership
Inspect equipment for correct assembly, assure all parts are in proper working order, and perform preventative maintenance according to established protocols.
Check equipment to ensure appropriate function. Calibrate equipment to department or manufactures specifications.
Transport equipment between in-patient units and procedure areas as directed by a respiratory therapist
May assist the bio-medical technician in tracking of respiratory care equipment.
Is responsible for all identification, cataloging, and tracking of all respiratory care equipment.
Assist the respiratory therapist with bronchoscope procedures: Setup before & after procedure and processing of the bronchoscopy scopes per manufacture recommendations.
Assist the respiratory therapist with setting up for non-emergent intubations & extubations.
Assist the respiratory therapist with downloading and documenting 4 channel sleep studies.
Perform smoking cessation counseling per department policy.
Deliver home care supplies such as oxygen tanks/compressors
Maintain proficiency in Microsoft Office products, electronic health record platform, ePro system for ordering, and system for ordering prints