Respiratory Therapist-NICU

When you join the growing BILH team, you're not just taking a job, you’re making a difference in people’s lives.

About the role

Assumes primary responsibility for patient care including: examination, evaluation, treatment planning, and administration of Respiratory Care procedures in response to a physician's order.

Department Specific Responsibilities

• Manages artificial airways.
• Initiates and manages mechanical respiratory support, including: bubble CPAP, conventional ventilators, HFOV, and inhaled Nitric Oxide.
• Responds to all high-risk deliveries and L&D emergency alarms as part of the Neonatal Resuscitation Team.
• Runs blood gas samples, interprets results, and recommends any needed interventions.
• Administers respiratory medications, including: surfactant, MDI, nebulizer treatments.
• Cleans, sets up, and performs pre-use checks on all NICU respiratory care equipment.

Responsibilities

• Assesses patient condition based on medical history, observation, examination, physician's diagnosis, laboratory findings, and the results of specific tests or respiratory function and other appropriate diagnostic procedures.
• Develops or modifies the respiratory care plan and makes specific recommendations to physicians regarding indicated therapy.
• Administers appropriate diagnostic tests and procedures to evaluate responses to therapy, including: arterial blood gas sampling and interpretation of the results; oxygen saturation by direct measurement and pulse oximetry; end-tidal carbon dioxide measurement; pulmonary mechanics; spirometry; metabolic testing; and may assist the physician with special procedures such as bronchoscopy.
• Develops a specific patient care plan according to the patient's clinical presentation at the time of the reassessment.
• Responds to respiratory and other defined emergencies such as high-risk deliveries, cardiopulmonary arrest, and trauma team activations.
• Maintains artificial airways and provides manual or mechanical ventilation when mechanically ventilated patients are transported from critical care areas to other locations for tests and procedures.
• Evaluates the patient's home care equipment needs and makes referrals and recommendations upon request.
• Initiates patient and caregiver teaching as appropriate.
• Completes necessary documentation of all pertinent observations related to patient care treatments, response to treatments, and all recommendations for modifications in the treatment plan.

Requirements

• Associate's degree in Respiratory Care/Cardiopulmonary Science required.
• Respiratory Therapist License required.
• Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) certification required.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.
• 0-1 years related work experience required.
• Experience with computer systems required, including web-based applications and some Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Access).

Competencies

• Decision Making: Ability to make decisions guided by general instructions and practices requiring some interpretation. May make recommendations for solving problems of moderate complexity and importance.
• Problem Solving: Ability to address problems that are varied, requiring analysis or interpretation of the situation using direct observation, knowledge, and skills based on general precedents.
• Independence of Action: Ability to follow precedents and procedures. May set priorities and organize work within general guidelines. Seeks assistance when confronted with difficult and/or unpredictable situations. Work progress is monitored by supervisor/manager.
• Written Communications: Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in written English with internal and external customers.
• Oral Communications: Ability to comprehend and converse in English to communicate effectively with medical center staff, patients, families, and external customers.
• Knowledge: Ability to demonstrate full working knowledge of standard concepts, practices, procedures, and policies with the ability to use them in varied situations.
• Team Work: Ability to act as a team leader for small projects or work groups, creating a collaborative and respectful team environment and improving workflows. Results may impact the operations of one or more departments.
• Customer Service: Ability to provide a high level of customer service to patients, visitors, staff, and external customers in a professional, service-oriented, respectful manner using skills in active listening and problem solving. Ability to remain calm in stressful situations.
• Age-Based Competencies: Employees in this job must be competent to provide patient care to the following age groups: Neonatal (birth to 6 months), Youth (6 months to 16 years), Young adult (16-30 years), Middle Age (30-60 years), Elderly (60+).

Physical Requirements

Medium work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently. Job is physical in nature and employee needs to stand and/or move around through the majority of their shift.

Schedule

3 12-hour shifts, self-scheduled.

Pay

The pay range for this position is $42.00 - $62.41 per hour. Actual compensation is determined based on several factors, including seniority, education, training, relevant experience, relevant certifications, geography of work location, job responsibilities, or other applicable factors permissible by law. Compensation may exceed the base hourly rate depending on shift differentials, call pay, premium pay, overtime pay, and other additional pay practices, as applicable to the position and in accordance with the law.

Additional Information

As a health care organization, we require all staff to be vaccinated against influenza (flu) as a condition of employment.

More than 35,000 people working together — nurses, doctors, technicians, therapists, researchers, teachers, and more — making a difference in patients' lives. Your skill and compassion can make us even stronger.