Respiratory Care Practitioner III - Harbour View Medical Center

About the role

Bon Secours is a faith-based and patient-focused organization dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of all people through exceptional patient care. The Respiratory Care Practitioner III position at Harbour View Medical Center is responsible for providing respiratory care through patient assessment, planning, intervention, education, and evaluation. This role involves performing various respiratory care procedures, monitoring patient responses, and making recommendations to adjust treatments based on assessments.

Responsibilities

• Provides clinical instruction and in-service training to department staff, other healthcare team members, and students.
• Mentors and leads clinical rounds and practice evaluation for staff in intensive care, general care, and outpatient services.
• Assists with identifying quality improvement initiatives and designing programs that yield measurable outcomes.
• 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 the patient's record.
• Administers intermittent positive pressure breathing (IPPB) or aerosol therapy, documenting and observing vital signs, productivity of cough, relief of dyspnea, and response to therapy.
• Performs arterial punctures and analysis, understanding arterial blood gas (ABG) interpretation and performing ABG aspirations.
• Trains patients and families in incentive spirometry, metered dose inhaler (MDI) administration, postural drainage, clapping, oxygen therapy, ventilator care, and home aerosol therapy.
• Collects sputum for culture and sensitivity or airway clearance using various methods.
• Evaluates normal and pathologic blood and urine laboratory values.
• Performs and interprets EKGs, electronic monitoring, and basic arrhythmias.
• Maintains and evaluates non-invasive respiratory therapy equipment such as oximeters or end-tidal CO2 analyzers.
• Manages and adjusts ventilators for proper function and operation, correcting malfunctions and determining appropriateness of use for patient conditions.
• Performs pulmonary function tests (PFT).
• Conducts cardio-pulmonary resuscitations and participates as needed.

Requirements

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

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Respiratory Therapy/Health care/Healthcare Admin/Business Admin (preferred).
• Master's Degree in Health care/Healthcare Admin/Business Admin (preferred).
• Two years of experience as a Registered Respiratory Therapist or five years CRT; and demonstrated Clinical Competency in at least two of the following environments: Nursery/NICU, PICU, ICU/CCU, ED, and general care areas.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong interpersonal skills and effective interaction with patients, families, physicians, and other staff members.
• Effective communication skills.
• Able to work with diverse people and provide good customer service.
• Good organizational and time management skills.
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Able to receive feedback and gather/interpret data.
• Knowledge of non-invasive respiratory therapy equipment such as oximeters or end-tidal CO2 analyzers.
• Therapeutic procedures including 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 and chest X-ray interpretation.

Benefits

Bon Secours offers competitive pay, incentives, referral bonuses, and a 403(b) with employer contributions (when eligible). Additional benefits include 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 are also available.