Clinical Team Lead/Education, Respiratory Care Services

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About Duke Regional Hospital

Pursue your passion for caring with Duke Regional Hospital in Durham, North Carolina. With 388 beds, it is the second largest of Duke Health's four hospitals and offers a comprehensive range of medical, surgical, and diagnostic services, including orthopedics, weight-loss surgery, women's services, and heart and vascular services.

About the Role

The Clinical Lead, Respiratory Therapist (RT) works in coordination with RT leadership in an assigned unit or department to ensure work is accomplished effectively. The Clinical Lead RT is the first line of support for staff, physicians, and other related providers on RT-specific clinical issues and topics. They will supervise, perform, evaluate, and coordinate diagnostic and therapeutic clinical procedures as defined in the Respiratory Care Services scope of clinical practice, performing work in accordance with physician orders in the neonatal, pediatric, and adult patient populations in intermediate, intensive, and emergency care areas. They will be responsible for supervising, coaching, and mentoring their assigned core group of staff.

Responsibilities

• Perform all duties and responsibilities of the Respiratory Care Practitioner, Advanced Respiratory Care Practitioner, and ECMO specialist.
• Demonstrate strong critical thinking skills, rapidly prioritize both planned and unplanned events, and proactively address actual and potential issues, exceeding patient expectations.
• Instruct and supervise patient and therapeutic assessments to assure optimal medical decisions.
• Expert in all RT technology in the assigned departments.
• Coordinate all emergency responses.
• Assist in the development/updates of clinical care protocols, policies, and procedures.
• Evaluate patient care plans.
• Interact with physicians/medical staff on a high level.
• Function as a liaison between Clinical Resource Manager and Clinical Engineering to ensure proper operation and service of equipment.
• Document and report any malfunctioning or broken equipment.
• Develop expected job results, performance plans, and professional goals for assigned staff.
• Provide input into applicant hiring and termination decisions.
• Monitor and report all patient care, safety, medication, technical, and employee incidents.
• Monitor adherence to policy, procedures, and practice guidelines.
• Monitor ventilator protocol adherence.
• Implement any necessary corrective actions in a timely manner.
• Conduct shift planning to include assignments and redirection of staff as needed.
• Assure appropriate supply inventory.
• Coordinate and monitor departmental improvement projects.
• Communicate daily activities to RT leadership.
• Provide orientation, education, and training as needed internal and external to Duke Respiratory Care Services.
• Assure/assess respiratory care staff competency and safety.
• Plan and conduct instructional sessions.
• Communicate/educate changes in policy and procedures in an effective/consistent manner.
• Coordinate the evaluation of products/equipment.
• Provide input into departmental equipment selection and function.
• Assist with all departmental clinical research projects.
• Serve on department-related committees.

Requirements

• Current RT licensure from the North Carolina State Board of Respiratory Care.
• Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).
• Certification in Basic Life Support (BLS).
• Certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).
• Certification in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).
• Certification in Neonatal Resuscitation Program (if applicable).
• Respiratory-specific certifications (to be completed within 1 year of hire):
  • Adult Clinical Lead RT: Adult Critical Care Specialist (ACCS).
  • Pediatric Clinical Lead RT: Neonatal Pediatric Specialist (NPS).

Qualifications

• Work requires completion of a Bachelor's degree in Respiratory Care, Healthcare, Business, or a field related to the assigned clinical discipline. Note: Candidates without a Bachelor's degree will be required to complete their degree within three (3) years of appointment.
• Five years of experience in clinical respiratory therapy preferred; three years of critical care experience required.
• Supervisory experience preferred.

Skills

• Knowledge necessary to make appropriate clinical decisions and interaction relative to the specific age of a patient.
• Skills validation/certification of competencies for the duties and responsibilities required for a Level I RT.
• Work involves contact with patients of all ages, family members, physicians, nursing, and all other members of the health care team.
• Work is performed in all areas of the hospital.
• Work may require lifting or pushing in excess of 30 pounds.
• Required to carry an emergency airway bag weighing approximately 20 pounds.
• Work requires walking, running, climbing, and bending.
• Customer service and communication expertise.