Respiratory Care Practitioner - St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital (PRN)

Respiratory Care Practitioner - St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital

As a faith-based and patient-focused organization, Mercy Health exists to enhance the health and well-being of all people in mind, body and spirit through exceptional patient care. Success in this goal requires a culture of compassion, collaboration, excellence and respect. Mercy Health seeks people that are committed to our values of compassion, human dignity, integrity, service and stewardship to create an environment where associates want to work and help communities thrive.

This is a PRN "As Needed" Position

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 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.

Essential Job Functions

• Provides support to clinical learning through mentorship, clinical rounds and practice evaluation provides clinical leadership for the advancement of professional respiratory practice to staff in the 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 design programs that provide measurable outcomes. Leads clinical research initiatives ensuring education, training, and implementation of the study design. May be responsible for data collection and accurate record keeping as well as product evaluation and assessment.
• Actively participates in facility councils and committees.
• May serve as the shift "Charge Therapist" with responsibility of ensuring adequate number of respiratory care staff to cover patient care areas and needs. This may include assigning respiratory care staff to work areas and/or work assignments, modifying work assignments, assisting with meal coverage, fielding call offs and providing adequate staffing levels for the next shift. Serve 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 patient; modifies treatment procedures based on patient response. Sets up and maintains different modes of therapy. Determines appropriateness of prescribed therapy and recommends methods to physician to achieve therapeutic goals.
• Maintains proper documentation, patient medical charting and recordkeeping. Maintains established policies and procedures, objectives, quality assurance program, safety, environmental, and infection control standards.
• Provides patient education on cardiopulmonary diseases/disorders and associated treatment options. Instructs patient and patient's caregiver(s) in 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.

Licensing/Certification

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 or ACLS Advanced Cardiac Life Support and PALS Pediatric Advanced Life Support (preferred at hire, must obtain from approved source 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)

Education

Bachelor's Degree in a related field (preferred)

Master's Degree in a related field (preferred)

Work Experience

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)

Training

EPIC Electronic Health Record (EHR) training (preferred)

Patient Population – Competency is based on the patient population of the site/facility

Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development of the life span and possesses the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interprets the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his or her age, specific needs and to provide the care needed 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)

Skills

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

Good oral and written communication

Able to receive feedback

Able to gather and interpret data

Accountability

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.

Arterial blood gas punctures and testing

Airway maneuvers

Bedside pulmonary function

Patient assessment

Patient education

Knowledge of chest suction equipment

Knowledge of chest X-ray interpretation

Mercy Health is an equal opportunity employer.