Respiratory Care Practitioner I

Mercy Medical Center; United States; On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus up to $10,000

Job summary

Mercy Medical Center is seeking a Respiratory Therapist to provide bedside respiratory care to inpatients as ordered by physicians, including ventilator management and CPAP/BiPAP setup.

Responsibilities include assisting with code blues and high‑risk deliveries, performing ABG sampling, and supporting staff education and safety protocols in a 12‑hour day shift with weekend rotation. A sign‑on bonus up to $10,000 is available.

Qualifications

• Education sufficient to obtain required licensure.
• NBRC credential required for Respiratory Therapist.
• Iowa licensure as Respiratory Care Practitioner required.
• BLS certification required; NRP within 1 year of employment.

Responsibilities

• Provide bedside respiratory care per physician orders in inpatient setting.
• Set up and monitor ventilators for ICU patients across age groups.
• Assist with code blues, high‑risk deliveries, C‑sections, and MET calls hospital‑wide.
• Perform CPAP/BiPAP setup and monitoring per policy.
• Perform ABG sticks and communicate results to care team.
• Assist with Pulmonary Function Lab tests when applicable.
• Educate patients on respiratory care modalities and safety.

Skills

Respiratory care

Ventilator setup

CPAP/BiPAP setup

ABG sampling

Patient education

Safety compliance

Clinical communication

Education

NBRC credential

Iowa respiratory licensure

BLS certification

NRP certification within 1 year

Job description

This will be a 12‑hour day shift position from 7:00am to 7:00pm with a weekend and holiday rotation. The position is eligible for a sign‑on bonus of up to $10,000.

Summary

Supports Mercy’s philosophy of patient‑centered care by providing bedside respiratory care to patients as assigned by supervisors and per the physician’s written order for all respiratory therapy modalities in an inpatient setting. Responsibilities may also include outpatient pulmonary function testing.

Responsibilities

• Performs all forms of respiratory therapy according to prescribed physician orders and standing written policies and procedures.
• Performs ventilator set‑up, airway maintenance, and monitoring on critical care patients, including all age groups.
• Attends and assists with all code blues, high‑risk deliveries, c‑sections, and MET calls house‑wide.
• Performs CPAP/Bi‑PAP set‑up and monitoring in accordance with departmental policies and procedures.
• Performs noninvasive cardiology procedures such as EKGs in the Emergency Department and completes necessary paperwork.
• Assists physicians with bedside bronchoscopies in accordance with the Respiratory Therapy procedure.
• Performs oximetry spot checks and oximetry sleep studies and accurately processes corresponding paperwork.
• Performs ABG sticks, utilizes the I‑Stat machine, and communicates ABG results to nursing staff or physicians.
• Performs equipment function, check‑out, and cleaning as necessary in accordance with Respiratory Therapy policies and procedures.
• Provides patient education on all modalities of respiratory care.
• Participates in the charge role as applicable.
• Acts as primary preceptor and resource for new staff.
• Follows Mercy’s safety guidelines, carries out job‑specific safety duties and responsibilities, and promptly reports any unsafe conditions, situations, incidents, and injuries.
• As applicable if trained in the Pulmonary Function lab: Performs pulmonary function studies as ordered by a physician in an accurate and responsible manner following manufacturers and departmental policies and procedures.
• Ensures that the patient performs the test to the best of his/her ability by observing the patient and comparing the test results as reproducible on at least three trials.
• Performs quality control procedures and maintenance on equipment used in the testing area to ensure accuracy in test results.
• Performs machine calibration each morning prior to testing and logs results of calibration.
• Assists with Trach Clinic.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of anatomy and physiology as related to the respiratory system.
• Use of a calculator, verbal and written medical terminology.
• Excellent communication skills.

Professional Experience

Previous experience preferred.

Education

Education sufficient to obtain required licensure.

Licensure, Certification, Registration

• Registered Respiratory Therapist - National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) required.
• State of Iowa Respiratory Care Practitioner License required.
• Basic Life Support in accordance with the American Heart Association required.
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program certification required within 1 year of employment (exception: PFT staff).
• Iowa Dependent Adult Abuse/Iowa Child Abuse Mandatory Reporter training required.
• Employee must submit certification of completed training to Human Resources prior to start or transfer date.

Pay Rate

Hourly.

Employer Information

Mercy is an independent, community‑based organization supporting the Cedar Rapids area for over 120 years. Mercy is an equal‑opportunity employer. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion and evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, civil union status, parental status, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.