Respiratory Care Practitioner - Southside 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 I is responsible for providing respiratory care through patient assessment, planning, intervention, education, and evaluation. This includes performing various respiratory care procedures, monitoring patient responses, and making recommendations to adjust therapy based on patient outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a preceptor to new team members and/or students.
• Affirms patient's physical status through inspection, palpation, auscultation, percussion, patient behavior, and reviewing existing data in the patient's record.
• Performs treatments according to physician orders, explains therapy and therapeutic goals to the patient, and modifies treatment procedures based on patient response.
• Determines the appropriateness of prescribed therapy and recommends methods to the physician to achieve therapeutic goals, including IPPB, aerosol therapy, postural drainage and percussion, ultrasonic nebulizer, incentive spirometry, metered dose inhalers and spacers, etc.
• Sets up and maintains different modes of oxygen therapy to maintain adequate PaO2’s with accurate inspired levels of oxygen.
• Administers intermittent positive pressure breathing (IPPB) or Aerosol Therapy by preparing the prescribed medication ordered by the physician and adjusting the machine or device to accomplish patient’s individual clinical needs; document and observe patient’s vital signs, productivity of cough, relief of Dyspnea, improved breath sounds, and any adverse reactions to therapy; and use judgement and technical skill to determine possible adverse reactions and suggestions for appropriateness of therapy.
• Gives postural drainage, vibration, percussion to ensure proper drainage of bronchial secretions by using manual or mechanical percussion; check orders and X-rays for segments to be treated prior to initiating treatment; auscultation prior to and after procedure to note presence of clearance of secretions and response to therapy.
• Instructs patients and families in incentive spirometer, metered dose inhaler (MDI) administration, postural drainage and clapping, oxygen therapy, ventilator care, and home aerosol therapy.
• Makes preparations for and assists the doctor with bronchoscopy and tracheostomy; assists with tracheostomy endotracheal tube changes; ensures proper humidification.
• Procures sputum for culture and sensitivity or airway clearance either by 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; has an in-depth knowledge of analysis and arterial blood gas (ABG) interpretation. Performs arterial line procedures, takes safety precautions, sterile procedure, flushing, and ABG aspirations.
• Maintains all Respiratory Therapy equipment and supplies.
• Responds to cardio-pulmonary resuscitations and actively participates as indicated by clinical circumstances.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's Degree, related to Respiratory Therapy/Health care/Healthcare Admin/Business Admin (preferred)
• Licenses & Certifications: 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 (preferred), PALS Pediatric Advanced Life Support - American Heart Association (preferred), Valid Driver's License (required for Home Care/DME)
• Experience: Previous working experience in an ambulatory or acute care setting (preferred), 6 months Respiratory Therapy experience in a general care area (preferred)

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal skills and able to effectively interact with patients, their families, physicians, and other staff members.
• Good communication skills.
• Able to effectively work with diverse people.
• Good customer service skills.
• Good organizational skills and time management skills.
• Able to receive feedback.
• Able to gather and interpret data.
• 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.

Skills & Abilities

• EPIC Electronic Health Record (EHR) training (preferred).

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.

Pay

Range: Minimum: $28.83 Maximum: $44.69

Schedule

N/A