Registered Respiratory Therapist | Brevard County, FL

Health First; Florida; On-site; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Health First in New York is seeking a Registered Respiratory Therapist. The role involves providing high-quality respiratory care across multiple hospital locations while ensuring safety and proper documentation. Candidates must have a current Florida license, hold BLS, ACLS, and PALS certifications, and possess strong communication and organizational skills. This position requires flexibility with shifts and responsibilities. You may be exposed to environmental hazards, demanding physical tasks, and must maintain professionalism at all times.

Qualifications

• License by the state of Florida as a Registered Respiratory Therapist required.
• BLS Certification before start date and maintained.
• ACLS and PALS required within 90 days of start date.

Responsibilities

• Provide respiratory care and support throughout four hospital locations.
• Document care accurately and according to policy.
• Maintain clean and safe work environments.

Skills

Good communication and interpersonal skills

Good organizational and prioritizing skills

Education

Current license by State of Florida as a Registered Respiratory Therapist

Must hold current AHA BLS Healthcare Provider Completion Card

ACLS and PALS certifications within 90 days

Job description

Position Summary

To be fully engaged in providing No Harm / Quality, Customer Experience, and Stewardship by showing clinical proficiency in the adult and/or neonatal critical care areas. The candidate should have a thorough understanding of all respiratory care modalities, be capable of making judgment decisions and recommendations to physicians pertaining to respiratory care modalities, and evaluate these techniques and report their findings to the responsible physician. Display ICARE Values in accordance with the Health First Mission and Vision. This role supports four Health First hospital locations across Brevard County: Holmes Regional Medical Center (Melbourne), Palm Bay Hospital (Palm Bay), Cape Canaveral Hospital (Cocoa Beach), and Viera Hospital (Viera). A variety of shifts are available, and team members must be flexible and willing to float between locations as staffing needs require.

Primary Accountabilities

Quality / No Harm

• Documents care according to policy by random check.
• Provides correct procedure to correct patient by checking two patient identifiers.
• Maintains equipment in good working order and troubleshoots when necessary.
• Reports all malfunctioning equipment to appropriate area/associate with documentation of problem.
• Maintains a clean, neat, safe work environment at all times.
• Thorough documentation, including patient care, interdisciplinary Plan of Care, patient education, and charges appropriately for care provided.
• Completes shift duties and other assigned tasks in a timely manner.
• Gives report to oncoming shift on all patients and procedures, and assures completion of workload before leaving.
• Medication safety—removes only one patient's medication at a time from Pyxis system.
• Patient identification—uses Pyxis med slip to appropriately identify two patient identifiers.
• Hand‑off communication—reads back/verifies all verbal and telephone orders, reports patient information to the appropriate associate in a timely manner, follows established approach to reporting including an opportunity to ask and respond to questions.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Educated to report any safety opportunities to the Health First Safety Portal.
• Responds to Stat calls within appropriate time frame with proper equipment.
• Follows proper infection control procedures for care provided, and proper hand washing technique.
• Initiates and manages invasive and non‑invasive ventilation per physicians' orders, including troubleshooting and discontinuation; includes BiPAP, CPAP, and all modes of mechanical ventilation.
• Performs acute and intensive care functions for the adult/pediatric patient.
• Interprets CXR for ETT, Pulmonary Artery, and IABP catheter placement, and basic cardiac/pulmonary complications.
• Initiates Heliox therapy, understands indications, contraindications, and complications.
• Performs emergent intubation, elective oral and nasal intubations.
• Performs arterial line insertions.
• Initiates, troubleshoots, and manages IABP modalities.
• Proficient in SVO2 monitoring and calibrations.
• Pulls IABP catheters according to policy (if applicable).
• Performs bedside pulmonary function testing.
• Observes and interprets hemodynamic monitoring and cardiac arrhythmias.
• Auscultates and assesses breath sounds.
• Additional skill checks and competency may include ECG.
• Participates in department education/committees/skills fairs as needed at manager/director discretion.

Customer Experience

• Communicates effectively to educate patients, family and staff on Respiratory Care procedures.
• Maintains confidentiality in all dealings with patients and staff.
• Participates in patient experience initiatives.
• Attends staff meetings/in‑services as required; reads and signs off on all staff meeting minutes as required.

Stewardship

• Charges appropriately for care provided.
• Be a good steward of all hospital equipment and supplies.

Qualifications Required

• Current license by State of Florida, Department of Health, as a Registered Respiratory Therapist.
• Must hold current AHA BLS Healthcare Provider Completion Card before start date and maintain it.
• ACLS and PALS are required within 90 days of start date and maintained thereafter.
• Certification(s) as required by specific unit.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Good organizational and prioritizing skills.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to withstand working up to 12‑hour shifts consisting mostly of walking and standing.
• Must be able to participate in prolonged CPR procedures.
• Must have visual acuity and hand‑eye coordination necessary to perform clinical tasks.
• Can bend, stoop and assist lifting of patients as care requires.
• Can lift 50 pounds and push/pull 100+ pounds.
• Can move quickly in crowded conditions and work with patients with many lines and machines attached.
• May be exposed to bio‑hazardous waste, dust, aerosolized medication and unknown or communicable disease.
• Maintains a professional appearance and wears designated uniforms.

Mental Demands

• Works effectively in stressful environments with patients, family members and colleagues.
• Has good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Prioritizes and has excellent organizational ability.
• Makes decisions concerning appropriate therapy and patient care.
• Rapidly responds to life‑threatening situations.
• Keeps abreast of issues regarding departmental changes and new modalities in the field of Respiratory Care.
• Self‑motivated, self‑disciplined and able to work independently.

Benefits and Compensation

• Schedule: All
• Shift Times: Variable
• Paygrade: PG-PG-PG-PG-RT