Registered Respiratory Therapist

St. Charles Health System; Madras (OR); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The St. Charles Health System is looking for a Registered Respiratory Therapist in Madras, Oregon. The role involves providing comprehensive respiratory care to adult, geriatric, pediatric, and neonatal patients. Responsibilities include ventilator management, airway management, and patient monitoring.

Ideal candidates will hold RRT certification and have at least two years of hospital experience. The position supports the healthcare team's mission of delivering quality and compassionate care.

Qualifications

• Current Respiratory Therapist licensure with the Oregon Health Licensing office.
• RRT registration and ACLS/PALS within six months of hire.
• Preferred: Two years of hospital experience, including emergency and trauma.

Responsibilities

• Manage, assess, plan, and evaluate care for patients.
• Perform established respiratory care procedures.
• Monitor patient vitals and conduct assessments.

Skills

Respiratory procedures

Ventilator management

Airway management

Patient monitoring

Customer service

Education

Licensure/certification as a Respiratory Care Practitioner (RRT)

Bachelor’s degree in a related field

Tools

EKG equipment

Job description

The Registered Respiratory Therapist provides respiratory assessment, support, treatment and diagnostic tests as part of the healthcare team in accordance with the St. Charles Health System’s mission, philosophy, policies, and procedures while applying standards for professional respiratory practice in the clinical setting. The Respiratory Therapist performs duties according to physician's orders, utilizing knowledge and judgment in regard to technique and patient treatment. The Respiratory Therapist will be responsible for adult, geriatric, pediatric and neonatal patient respiratory care as assigned. This position does not directly supervise any other caregivers.

Essential Functions And Duties

• Manages, assesses, plans, and evaluates care for patients with acute and/or chronic cardiopulmonary deficiencies and abnormalities.
• Performs established respiratory care procedures for patients within department scope of practice.
• Ventilator management – manages all modes of mechanical ventilation, including lung‑protective strategies, monitoring patient/ventilator interactions and lung mechanics. Manages delivery of aerosolized medications, metered dose inhalers, and exogenous gases (nitric oxide and heliox).
• Airway Management – responsible for management of artificial airways and tracheostomy tubes, tracheostomy tube exchanges, decannulation, fiber‑optic bronchoscopy and intubations, and moderate sedation.
• Patient monitoring – monitors arterial blood gases, EtCO₂, SpO₂, blood pressure, vital signs, and other monitoring related to hemodynamics.
• Respiratory protocols – conducts assessment and implementation of protocols for oxygen, bronchopulmonary hygiene, bronchodilator, lung expansion, hypoxic risk protocol.
• Oxygen therapy – assesses and implements oxygen therapy to include low and high flow oxygen therapy with various devices.
• Performs EKGs as needed at some locations.
• Participates in Code Blue, Trauma Team, Rapid Response, neonatal resuscitation and high‑risk newborn deliveries.
• Calculates dosages and administers medications accurately in accordance with St. Charles Health System policies and procedures for medication administration.
• Documents all patient care with proficiency in compliance with hospital policies, procedures and regulatory agencies.
• Identifies work‑related problems with possible solutions and implements solution(s) (within scope of practice) when appropriate.
• Participates in creating a healing environment that supports all aspects of the care environment and the wholeness of each individual, patient and caregiver.
• Participates in creating intentional relationships and demonstrates focus attitudes and behaviors that enhance the care experience.
• Provides a therapeutic presence in service to others by purposefully responding to the needs of patients in a caring way, including introducing oneself, explaining role in patient’s care, asking the patient his or her preferred name, sitting with the patient to determine care goals, active listening, and communicating effectively and appropriately through touch, eye contact, etc.
• Supports the vision, mission and values of the organization in all respects.
• Supports Lean principles of continuous improvement with energy and enthusiasm, functioning as a champion of change.
• Conducts all activities with the highest standards of professionalism and confidentiality, complies with all applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures, and supports the organization’s corporate integrity efforts.
• Delivers customer service and/or patient care in a manner that promotes goodwill, is timely, efficient and accurate.
• May perform additional duties of similar complexity within the organization, as required or assigned.
• May be required to float to other St. Charles Health System campus locations based on operational needs as directed by leadership.

Lead Therapist

• Provides guidance and leadership for staff during assigned shifts (acts as a resource, makes decisions as necessary).
• Distributes workload for shift and assures proper assignments per qualifications/credentials of staff; assesses staffing throughout the shift and adjusts as necessary.
• Performs quality assurance audits.
• Provides manager with feedback of departmental needs and therapist performance.
• Acts as a role model for the Respiratory Therapy staff in maintaining departmental policies and procedures and demonstrates leadership skills in handling interpersonal conflict and communication.

Education

• Required: Licensure/certification as a Respiratory Care Practitioner (RRT).
• Preferred: Bachelor’s degree in a related field.

Licensure/Certification/Registration

• Required: Current Respiratory Therapist licensure with the Oregon Health Licensing office; RRT registration; NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program) required for NICU/FBC or lead therapist duties; ACLS and PALS within six (6) months of hire; AHA Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider certification; ability to meet St. Charles Health System driving requirements; ability to travel to all St. Charles Health System worksites as required.
• Preferred: Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist (RPFT); Adult Critical Care Specialist (ACCS); Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist (NPS); Asthma Educator Specialist (AE‑C) from the NBRC.

Experience

• Required: N/A.
• Preferred: Two (2) years of hospital experience, including emergency and trauma experience.