Registered Respiratory Therapist II

Northwell Health; Norwalk (CT); On-site; USD 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwell Health in Norwalk, Connecticut, is seeking a skilled Respiratory Care Practitioner to provide respiratory support for patients and implement care procedures. You will monitor and evaluate patients on ventilators, document therapy, and assist with training staff and students.

A minimum of one year of experience, along with an Associate’s degree from an accredited program and BLS certification, is required. The role requires licensure in Connecticut as a Respiratory Care Practitioner.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree from an accredited Respiratory Care Program.
• BLS certification.
• Minimum experience: one year.
• Licensure in the State of Connecticut as a Respiratory Care Practitioner.

Responsibilities

• Provides respiratory support for patients on ventilators.
• Implements Respiratory Care procedures and evaluates therapies.
• Performs basic assessments and recommends therapy changes.
• Delivers non-standard modes of therapy after appropriate training.

Skills

Respiratory support

Therapeutic modalities

Pulmonary function testing

Patient education

Education

Associate's degree from an accredited Respiratory Care Program

Bachelor's Degree preferred

BLS certification

Job description

Overview

Northwell is the largest not-for-profit health system in the Northeast, serving residents of New York and Connecticut with 28 hospitals, more than 1,000 outpatient facilities, 22,000 nurses and over 20,000 physicians. It cares for more than three million people annually in the New York metro area, including Long Island, the Hudson Valley, Connecticut and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Northwell is New York State’s largest private employer with over 104,000 employees — including members of Northwell Health Physician Partners — who are working to change health care for the better.

Responsibilities

• Provides respiratory support for patients on ventilators (adults, pediatrics, and neonatal) by monitoring, evaluating, and making clinical judgments; performs therapeutic modalities with a full understanding of pathophysiology and indication for therapy; takes appropriate action if therapy is contraindicated or side‑effects develop; uses ECG, physiologic data, lab results, ventilator graphics, A‑lines, and end‑tidal CO₂ to assess patient care decisions.
• Implements Respiratory Care procedures, evaluates and recommends therapies, and prepares and instructs patients.
• Performs basic assessments (auscultation of breath sounds, pulses, respiratory pattern and rate, color, cough, sputum) to assess appropriateness of therapy.
• Recommends therapy changes as needed and delivers therapeutic and diagnostic administration of medical gases, humidification and aerosols, medications to the cardiorespiratory system, ventilator assistance, postural drainage, chest physiotherapy, vest therapy (HFCWO), breathing exercises, incentive spirometry, pulmonary rehabilitation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and maintenance of natural and artificial airways, including insertion of artificial airways.
• Delivers non‑standard modes of therapy after appropriate training, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
• Documents therapy accurately and timely in the patient’s record, charting in the treatment card and the Cerner electronic health record.
• Provides pulmonary function testing and evaluations such as arterial blood gases, bedside spirometry, pulse oximetry, and measurement of ventilator volumes, flows and pressures; advanced level performs PFTs and troubleshoots or repairs lab equipment.
• Administers mixed medical gases safely, maintains inventory and ventilator readiness, prepares equipment, implements therapy and monitoring devices, and ensures infection control policies and aseptic techniques are followed; maintains a neat, clean working environment.
• Ensures annual competencies for ventilators (Servo I, Draeger V500, V60, AVEA, MRI‑compatible ventilators, transport ventilators) are completed in a timely manner; assists with department competency training for current staff and orientation of new hires.
• Provides instruction for Respiratory and Nursing students, medical staff, patients and families, interacting to provide information and support; documents patient education in the electronic health record.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree from an accredited Respiratory Care Program.
• BLS certification.
• Minimum experience: one year.
• Licensure in the State of Connecticut, Department of Public Health License as a Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP).
• Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• Maintain Registry Credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care.
• Maintain Connecticut State Licensure as Respiratory Care Practitioner.