Respiratory Therapist

Prairie Mountain Health; Brandon; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Prairie Mountain Health in Manitoba seeks a licensed Respiratory Therapist to provide advanced respiratory care, assemble and manage equipment, and ensure patient safety and optimal outcomes across hospital units.

You will lead and mentor staff, participate in ICU rounds, perform diagnostic tests, manage ventilators, and respond to emergencies with 24‑hour coverage when scheduled.

Qualifications

• Licensed to practice respiratory therapy in Manitoba.
• Certified in ACLS, PALS, or NRP.
• Demonstrated leadership and teaching abilities.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Sets up, operates, and assesses respiratory therapy equipment, ensuring patient safety and optimal care.
• Provides consultation and input for new respiratory equipment and home care follow‑up.
• Performs clinical/diagnostic respiratory procedures and participates in ICU rounds.

Skills

Manitoba licensure

ACLS/PALS/NRP

Leadership

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Tools

Blood gas analyzers

Pulmonary function analyzer

Ventilators

Oxygen therapy equipment

Job description

Qualifications

• Eligible for and maintains licensure to practice as a respiratory therapist in the Province of Manitoba
• Certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support or Neonatal Resuscitation Program
• Extensive knowledge of each department area, procedures, and techniques to operate, assist, and analyze technical procedures
• Special ability and knowledge in Quality Control and Standards of Respiratory Care; leadership, teaching, self‑improvement; input and planning in a clinical setting
• Demonstrated leadership
• Demonstrated written and oral communication skills
• Ability to prioritize in a changing environment
• Strong organizational, decision‑making, and problem‑solving skills
• Ability to display independent judgment
• Ability to respect and promote a culturally diverse population
• Ability to respect and promote confidentiality
• Ability to perform the duties of the position on a regular basis

Position Summary

Under the direction of the Care Team Manager, the Respiratory Therapist works closely with hospital staff and serves as a leader, providing knowledge and advice in therapeutic/diagnostic principles and technical skills. The Respiratory Therapist sets up, operates, and assesses respiratory therapy equipment, making adjustments as required while ensuring patient safety and optimum care.

Responsibilities

• Overview
• Advisory
  • Provides consultation to new medical and nursing staff in respiratory clinical applications when requested.
  • Provides input and follow‑up for home care respiratory patients, their families and physicians.
  • Evaluates and advises on new respiratory and related equipment.
• Technical
  • Performs functional checks on all respiratory equipment to ensure quality performance.
  • Repairs and troubleshoots respiratory equipment as required (in hospital).
  • Provides emergency repair backup in the OR for anesthetic equipment breakdowns and for home care equipment.
  • Calibrates blood gas analyzers daily; performs daily and monthly maintenance and QC procedures.
  • Calibrates and checks all procedures on pulmonary function analyzers, computer, and printer to ensure accuracy.
  • Washes, dries, re‑assembles, checks, and packages respiratory equipment for gassing.
• Clinical/Therapeutic
  • Instructs and demonstrates aspects of respiratory therapy.
  • Plans respiratory therapy with medical and nursing staff to provide optimum care.
  • Attends ICU rounds and initiates ventilator management plans in consultation with ICU physicians.
  • Assesses respiratory status of all patients and charts findings.
  • Performs diagnostic tests for patient illnesses.
  • Administers therapeutic procedures for patient management.
  • Assists and advises in transportation of high‑risk patients; determines equipment requirements.
  • Modifies equipment to meet individual patient needs.
  • Manages life support mechanical ventilation, daily monitoring, and management.
  • Member of the “Code Blue” resuscitation team; responds to “Code Blue” calls 24 h/day; intubates, ventilates, and analyzes arterial blood gases.
  • Instructs patients on self‑administered devices and provides follow‑up instruction.
  • Stays current on equipment advances to improve care.
  • Participates in seminars and workshops.
  • On‑call when scheduled; provides 24‑hour coverage for respiratory services.
• Diagnostic
  • Performs diagnostic procedures, evaluates respiratory conditions and responses to drugs/therapy.
  • Draws arterial and capillary samples, arterial line, cord and scalp samples; interprets results and suggests corrective measures.
  • Conducts lung function testing; reports results to medical staff.
  • Obtains oxygen assessment measurements and advises appropriate oxygen therapy.
  • Performs sleep monitoring studies.
  • Obtains electrocardiograms in all hospital areas during evenings/nights; reports life‑threatening abnormalities promptly.
• Other Services and Responsibilities Requiring Specialized Training, Skill and Experience
  • Airway Management:
    • Permanent trach changes, lavage, suctioning, cleaning and sterile insertion.
  • Air and Ground Ambulance:
    • Maintain ventilator status en route; apply suction; administer oxygen.
  • Weaning and Extubation:
    • Wean patients off ventilator, monitor blood gases, prepare for emergency intubation.
  • Hemodynamic Monitoring: thorough understanding of all aspects.
  • Respiratory Mechanics: calculate and apply analysis for mechanically ventilated patients.
  • Machines: blood gas analyzers, pulmonary function analyzer, infant and adult ventilators, end‑tidal CO₂ monitors, pulse oximeters, O₂ analyzers, pressure monitors, oxygen flow devices, suction equipment, controlled environment equipment, spirometers, sleep monitoring equipment, CPAP/BiPAP equipment.