Respiratory Care Practitioner III - St. Mary's Hospital

About the role

The Respiratory Care Practitioner III provides comprehensive respiratory care through patient assessment, planning, intervention, education, and evaluation. Responsibilities include oxygen and aerosolized medication delivery, ventilator care, bronchial hygiene therapy, diagnostic services, and patient and staff education, with ongoing monitoring and modification of therapies based on patient response.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical instruction and in‑service training to department staff, healthcare team members, and students.
• Mentor, conduct clinical rounds, and evaluate practice; serve as clinical leader for intensive care, general care, and outpatient services.
• Coach team members, contribute to performance evaluations, and identify quality‑improvement initiatives.
• Lead clinical research initiatives, including study design education, training, and implementation.
• Collect data, maintain accurate records, and evaluate products.
• Participate in facility councils and committees.
• Serve as “Charge Therapist” for each shift, managing staffing assignments, coverage, and hand‑off to the next shift.
• Assist physicians with procedures such as bronchoscopy, transtracheal catheter insertion, tracheotomy, and invasive monitoring.
• Perform CPR, closed‑chest compressions, and airway management per AHA ACLS protocol.
• Conduct therapeutic airway procedures (ETT, nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal airways, humidification, suction, extubation, cuff pressure management) and document them.
• Select, assemble, monitor, and evaluate mechanical ventilators; troubleshoot malfunctions and ensure appropriate use.
• Perform pulmonary function tests (PFT) as needed.
• Precept new team members and students.
• Assess patients via inspection, palpation, auscultation, percussion, behavior, and record review.
• Deliver treatments per physician orders, explain therapy goals, and modify procedures based on response.
• Recommend appropriate therapies (IPPB, aerosol, postural drainage, ultrasonic nebulizer, incentive spirometry, MDI, spacers, etc.) to physicians.
• Set up and maintain oxygen therapy modes to achieve target PaO₂ levels.
• Administer IPPB or aerosol therapy, monitor vital signs, cough productivity, dyspnea relief, and document outcomes.
• Provide postural drainage, vibration, and percussion; verify orders and imaging before treatment.
• Educate patients and families on incentive spirometry, MDI use, postural drainage, oxygen therapy, ventilator care, and home aerosol therapy.
• Obtain sputum for culture, facilitate airway clearance, and administer mucolytics.
• Interpret normal and pathologic blood and urine laboratory values.
• Perform arterial punctures, ABG analysis, and arterial line procedures with sterile technique.
• Conduct EKGs, understand electronic monitoring, lead placement, and basic arrhythmias.
• Maintain all respiratory therapy equipment and supplies.
• Respond to cardiopulmonary resuscitations and participate as required.

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree related to Respiratory Therapy, Healthcare, Healthcare Administration, or Business Administration (preferred).
• Master’s Degree related to Healthcare, Healthcare Administration, or Business Administration (preferred).

Licensing & Certifications

• Current Respiratory Care License in the state of employment (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).

Experience

• Minimum two years as a Registered Respiratory Therapist, or five years as a Certified Respiratory Therapist, with demonstrated clinical competency in at least two of the following settings: Nursery/NICU, PICU, ICU/CCU, Emergency Department, or general care areas (required).

Skills & Abilities

• Strong interpersonal skills; effective interaction with patients, families, physicians, and staff.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Ability to work with diverse populations and provide high‑quality customer service.
• Organizational and time‑management proficiency.
• Receptive to feedback and capable of data gathering and interpretation.
• Accountability and sound clinical judgment.
• Knowledge of non‑invasive respiratory equipment (oximeters, end‑tidal CO₂ analyzers).
• Proficiency with therapeutic procedures: 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.
• Experience with arterial blood gas sampling and interpretation.
• Airway maneuver expertise and bedside pulmonary function testing.
• Patient assessment and education capabilities.
• Familiarity with chest suction equipment and chest X‑ray interpretation.
• Training in EPIC Electronic Health Record (preferred).

Pay

Minimum: $33.31 per hour Maximum: $51.63 per hour

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.