Respiratory Care Practitioner II – St. Mary's Hospital

About the role

Bon Secours is a faith-based and patient-focused organization dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of all people in mind, body, and spirit through exceptional patient care. We seek individuals committed to our values of compassion, human dignity, integrity, service, and stewardship to create an environment where associates want to work and help communities thrive.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the shift “Charge Therapist” with responsibility for ensuring adequate respiratory care staff and covering patient care areas and needs.
• Aids physicians in performing procedures such as bronchoscopy, transtracheal catheter insertion, tracheotomy intubation, and tracheostomy endotracheal tube changes.
• Performs CPR, including closed chest compressions and airway management techniques, following AHA ACLS protocol.
• Conducts prescribed therapeutic procedures to maintain a patient's airway, including use of appropriate airways, humidification, aspiration of secretions, extubation, and maintaining correct ETT cuff pressures, documenting procedures in patient and department records.
• Selects, assembles, monitors, and evaluates mechanical ventilators for proper function and operation, correcting malfunctions, cleaning, and determining appropriateness of use for patient conditions.
• May perform pulmonary function tests (PFT).
• Serves as a preceptor to new team members and/or students.
• Assesses patient's physical status through inspection, palpation, auscultation, percussion, patient behavior, and reviewing existing data in patient's record.
• Administers intermittent positive pressure breathing (IPPB) or aerosol therapy, adjusting machines or devices to meet patient needs, observing vital signs, productivity of cough, relief of dyspnea, and response to therapy.
• Performs postural drainage, vibration, and percussion to ensure proper drainage of bronchial secretions, checking orders and X-rays for treatment segments, auscultating before and after procedures, and noting clearance of secretions and response to therapy.
• Instructs patients and families in incentive spirometer, metered dose inhaler (MDI) administration, postural drainage, clapping, oxygen therapy, ventilator care, and home aerosol therapy.
• Procures sputum for culture and sensitivity or airway clearance using patient coaching, administration of mucolytics, aerosol therapy, or endotracheal/nasopharyngeal suctioning.
• Evaluates normal and pathologic blood and urine laboratory value ranges.
• Performs arterial punctures and analysis, understanding arterial blood gas (ABG) interpretation, arterial line procedures, safety precautions, sterile procedures, flushing, and ABG aspirations.
• Maintains all Respiratory Therapy equipment and supplies.
• Responds to cardiopulmonary resuscitations and actively participates as indicated by clinical circumstances.

Requirements

• Current Respiratory Care License in the state they are working (required)
• National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) credentialed (required)
• Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) (preferred)
• BLS Basic Life Support - American Heart Association (required)
• ACLS Advanced Cardiac Life Support - American Heart Association or Red Cross (required)
• PALS Pediatric Advanced Life Support - American Heart Association (required)
• NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program) - AAP/AWHONN (preferred)
• Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist (CPFT) (preferred)
• Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist (RPFT) (preferred)
• ACCS (Adult Critical Care Specialist) - NBRC (preferred)
• Valid driver’s license (required for Home Care/DME)

Qualifications

• Two years of experience as a Respiratory Care Professional (required)

Skills & Abilities

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to effectively interact with patients, their families, physicians, and other staff members
• Effective communication skills
• Able to effectively work with diverse people
• Good customer service skills
• Good organizational skills and time management skills
• Good oral and written communication
• Able to receive feedback
• Able to gather and interpret data
• Knowledge of non-invasive respiratory therapy equipment such as oximeters or end-tidal CO2 analyzers
• Therapeutic Procedures to include CPAP/BiPap, jet aerosol, oxygen therapy, incentive spirometry, chest physiotherapy, pulse oximetry, high flow oxygen, continuous aerosols, ventilator management, diagnostic testing
• Understanding of EKGs, electronic monitoring, lead placement, and basic arrhythmias
• Knowledge of chest suction equipment
• Knowledge of chest X-ray interpretation

Benefits

Competitive pay, incentives, referral bonuses, and 403(b) with employer contributions (when eligible). Medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage, HSA/FSA options, life insurance, mental health resources, and discounts. Paid time off, parental and FMLA leave, short- and long-term disability, backup care for children and elders. Tuition assistance, professional development, and continuing education support. Benefits may vary based on the market and employment status. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, or protected veteran status, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.