Respiratory Care Practitioner Jobs

About The Position

Requirements

• Current respiratory care license in the state of employment.
• National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) credentialing.
• Current BLS Basic Life Support certification from the American Heart Association.
• Current ACLS Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification from the American Heart Association or Red Cross.
• Current PALS Pediatric Advanced Life Support certification from the American Heart Association.
• Two years of experience as a Registered Respiratory Therapist or five years as a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT).
• Demonstrated clinical competency in at least two of the following environments: Nursery/NICU, PICU, ICU/CCU, ED, and general care areas.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to interact effectively with patients, families, physicians, and staff.
• Good communication, customer service, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse people, receive feedback, gather and interpret data, and demonstrate accountability.
• Knowledge of non-invasive respiratory therapy equipment such as oximeters and end-tidal CO2 analyzers.
• Knowledge of therapeutic procedures including CPAP/BiPAP, jet aerosol, oxygen therapy, incentive spirometry, chest physiotherapy, pulse oximetry, high-flow oxygen, continuous aerosols, ventilator management, and diagnostic testing.
• Understanding of EKGs, electronic monitoring, lead placement, and basic arrhythmias.
• Ability to perform arterial blood gas punctures and testing and airway maneuvers.
• Knowledge of bedside pulmonary function testing, patient assessment and education, chest suction equipment, and chest X-ray interpretation.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree related to respiratory therapy, healthcare, healthcare administration, or business administration.
• Master’s degree related to healthcare, healthcare administration, or business administration.
• Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential.
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification from AAP/AWHONN.
• Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist (CPFT) credential.
• Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist (RPFT) credential.
• Adult Critical Care Specialist (ACCS) credential from NBRC.
• EPIC Electronic Health Record (EHR) training.

Responsibilities

• Provide respiratory care through patient assessment, planning, intervention, education, and evaluation.
• Perform respiratory procedures, including oxygen and aerosolized medication delivery, ventilator care, bronchial hygiene therapy, and diagnostic services.
• Monitor patient responses to therapy and recommend changes or modifications based on assessment.
• Provide clinical instruction and in-service training to department staff, healthcare team members, and students.
• Mentor colleagues, participate in clinical rounds and practice evaluation, and provide clinical leadership to respiratory staff across intensive care, general care, and outpatient services.
• Provide feedback for coaching and performance evaluations of team members.
• Help identify quality improvement initiatives, design programs with measurable outcomes, and lead clinical research initiatives, including education, training, and implementation of study designs.
• Collect data and maintain accurate records; evaluate products as needed.
• Participate in facility councils and committees.
• Serve as shift Charge Therapist, ensuring adequate staffing, assigning or modifying work areas and assignments, assisting with meal coverage, handling call-offs, and supporting staffing for the next shift.
• Assist physicians with procedures such as bronchoscopy, transtracheal catheter insertion, tracheotomy, intubation where performed by respiratory therapy, and invasive monitoring.
• Perform CPR, closed chest compressions, and airway management in accordance with AHA ACLS protocol.
• Maintain patient airways using appropriate devices and procedures, including airway humidification, secretion aspiration, extubation, ETT cuff-pressure maintenance, and documentation.
• Select, assemble, monitor, and evaluate mechanical ventilators; correct malfunctions, maintain cleanliness, and determine suitability for patient condition.
• Perform pulmonary function tests when needed.
• Precept new team members and students.
• Assess patients using inspection, palpation, auscultation, percussion, observation of behavior, and review of existing records.
• Perform ordered treatments, explain therapies and goals to patients, and modify procedures based on patient response.
• Evaluate prescribed therapies and recommend methods to physicians to achieve therapeutic goals, including IPPB, aerosol therapy, postural drainage and percussion, nebulizer therapy, incentive spirometry, and metered-dose inhalers with spacers.
• Set up and maintain oxygen-therapy modalities to achieve adequate PaO2 with accurate inspired oxygen levels.
• Administer IPPB or aerosol therapy, prepare prescribed medications, adjust devices to individual clinical needs, monitor and document patient status and response, and identify possible adverse reactions or therapy concerns.
• Perform postural drainage, vibration, and percussion; review orders and X-rays, and assess secretion clearance and response before and after treatment.
• Instruct patients and families in incentive spirometry, MDI use, postural drainage and clapping, oxygen therapy, ventilator care, and home aerosol therapy.
• Obtain sputum for culture and sensitivity or airway clearance through coaching, mucolytics, aerosol therapy, or suctioning.
• Evaluate normal and pathologic blood and urine laboratory value ranges.
• Perform arterial punctures and analysis, interpret ABGs, and perform arterial-line procedures with appropriate safety, sterile technique, flushing, and aspiration practices.
• Perform EKGs when needed and apply knowledge of electronic monitoring, lead placement, and basic arrhythmias.
• Maintain respiratory therapy equipment and supplies.
• Respond to cardiopulmonary resuscitations and participate as indicated by clinical circumstances.
• Perform other job-related duties as required by the supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodation.

Benefits

• Competitive pay, incentives, referral bonuses, and 403(b) with employer contributions when eligible.
• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage; HSA/FSA options; life insurance; mental health resources; and discounts.
• Paid time off, parental and FMLA leave, short- and long-term disability, and backup care for children and elders.
• Tuition assistance, professional development, and continuing education support. Benefits may vary based on market and employment status.