Respiratory Care Practitioner III - Respiratory Therapy - St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital

Benefits

• $8,000 sign-on bonus for experienced full-time new hires (1+ years of experience as a Respiratory Therapist)
• $5,000 sign-on bonus for new grad full-time new hires
• Referral bonus incentive programs
• Competitive paid time off accrual
• Excellent health benefits through UMR
• Competitive tuition assistance for continued career growth
• Competitive pay, incentives, and referral bonuses
• 403(b) with employer contributions (when eligible)
• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage, with 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

Schedule

• Full Time - 32 weekly hours
• Shift Times - Days/Evenings
• Rotating Weekends and Holidays

About the Role

The Respiratory Care Practitioner III is responsible for providing respiratory care through patient assessment, planning, intervention, education, and evaluation. Performs all respiratory care procedures within the scope of license. Monitors the patient's response to therapies and makes recommendations to change or modify based on the assessment. Provides clinical leadership to staff and assists with identifying quality improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Provides support to clinical learning through mentorship, clinical rounds, and practice evaluation; offers clinical leadership for the advancement of professional respiratory practice to staff in intensive care, general care, and outpatient services.
• Provides feedback for coaching and performance evaluations of team members.
• May provide clinical instruction and/or in-service training to department staff, other healthcare team members, and students.
• Assists with identifying quality improvement initiatives and designs programs that provide measurable outcomes.
• Leads clinical research initiatives, ensuring education, training, and implementation of study design; may be responsible for data collection, accurate record keeping, product evaluation, and assessment.
• Actively participates in facility councils and committees.
• May serve as the shift “Charge Therapist” with responsibility for ensuring adequate respiratory care staffing to cover patient care areas and needs, including assigning staff, modifying work assignments, assisting with meal coverage, and managing call-offs.
• Serves as a preceptor to new team members and/or students.
• In collaboration with the interdisciplinary care team, conducts initial and ongoing patient assessment, analyzes assessment data, creates a plan of care, implements treatment, and evaluates treatment effectiveness.
• Performs treatments and therapies according to physician orders; explains therapy and therapeutic goals to patients and modifies treatment based on patient response.
• Sets up and maintains different modes of therapy; determines appropriateness of prescribed therapy and recommends methods to achieve therapeutic goals.
• Maintains proper documentation, patient medical charting, and recordkeeping; adheres to established policies, procedures, objectives, quality assurance, safety, environmental, and infection control standards.
• Provides patient education on cardiopulmonary diseases/disorders and associated treatment options; instructs patients and caregivers on incentive spirometer, metered dose inhaler (MDI) administration, oxygen therapy, home aerosol therapy, or ventilator care, if applicable.
• Sets up and maintains respiratory therapy equipment and supplies.
• Responds to cardio-pulmonary resuscitations and actively participates as indicated by clinical circumstances.

Requirements

• Current Respiratory Care License in the state of employment (required)
• National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) credential (required)
• Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) (preferred)
• BLS (Basic Life Support) or ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) and PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) (preferred at hire, must obtain prior to direct patient care)
• 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)
• Two years of experience as a Respiratory Care Professional (required)
• Competency in at least two of the following environments: Nursery/NICU, PICU, ICU/CCU, ED, and general care areas (required)
• EPIC Electronic Health Record (EHR) training (preferred)

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field (preferred)
• Master's Degree in a related field (preferred)

Skills

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to effectively interact with patients, families, physicians, and staff
• Good communication and customer service skills
• Good organizational and time management skills
• Ability to work with diverse people and receive feedback
• Ability to gather and interpret data
• Accountability and knowledge of non-invasive respiratory therapy equipment (e.g., oximeters, end-tidal CO2 analyzers)
• Proficiency in 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
• Knowledge of airway maneuvers, bedside pulmonary function, patient assessment, and patient education
• Knowledge of chest suction equipment and chest X-ray interpretation

Working Conditions

• Periods of high stress and fluctuating workloads
• Possible exposure to physical altercations and verbal abuse
• Possible exposure to high noise levels and bright lights
• Possible exposure to hazardous substances or body fluids, including human blood and other potentially infectious materials
• Periods of constant interruptions
• Required to exercise universal precautions, use personal protective equipment and devices, and follow infection control policies

Patient Population Competency

Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development across the life span and the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status. Interprets appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to their age-specific needs and provides care as described in departmental policies and procedures.

• Neonates (0-4 weeks)
• Infant (1-12 months)
• Pediatrics (1-12 years)
• Adolescents (13-17 years)
• Adults (18-64 years)
• Geriatrics (65 years and older)