Respiratory Therapist, Days

Mercyhealth; Rockford (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An established healthcare provider is seeking a dedicated Respiratory Therapist to join their team. This role involves providing critical respiratory care to patients across various departments, including pediatrics and critical care units. You will be responsible for administering therapies, monitoring patient progress, and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to ensure optimal patient outcomes. The ideal candidate will have a strong foundation in respiratory care, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to delivering high-quality patient care. Join a mission-driven organization that values professional development and employee wellbeing.

Benefits

Comprehensive Medical Insurance

Dental and Vision Coverage

Retirement Plan with Matching Contributions

Paid Time Off

Career Advancement Opportunities

Employee Wellbeing Programs

Flexible Spending Plans

Employee Assistance Programs

Discounted Voluntary Benefit Options

Paid Parental Leave

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited Respiratory Care Program required.
• Minimum 1 year respiratory experience with critical care preferred.
• Must maintain necessary certifications and licenses.

Responsibilities

• Administer routine and complex respiratory care procedures.
• Monitor, evaluate, and adjust ventilation based on clinical assessments.
• Educate patients and families on therapies and equipment.

Skills

Respiratory Care

Patient Assessment

Mechanical Ventilation

Emergency Care

Documentation

Education

Graduate of an accredited Respiratory Care Program

Minimum 1 year respiratory experience

6 months critical care experience

Tools

Mechanical Ventilators

Pulmonary Function Testing Equipment

Electronic Medical Records

Job description

Overview

Under the direction of a physician, the RRT provides all respiratory care related duties and functions as a member of the interdisciplinary team. Sets up and administers all routine and complex respiratory care procedures to patients including pediatrics, Emergency/Trauma Department, Step-Down Critical Care and Adult Critical Care Units, Pulmonary Function, Bronch lab, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, or other specialty unit using protocol driven care. Provides critical and emergent care, airway stabilization and management, non-invasive ventilation, and is responsible for acute care ventilators used for continuous short and long term ventilation. Exemplifies the Mercyhealth mission, vision and values, and acts in accordance with the organization’s policies and procedures. They will perform other duties as assigned.

Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs routine therapies that aid in the treatment, diagnosis, and evaluation of their cardiopulmonary status.

• Will Initiate, monitor, evaluate, and wean invasive and non-invasive ventilation. Makes parameter

• recommendations based on clinical assessment, technical assessment, patient compliance, patient response, laboratory values, and patient status.

• Initiates and provides on-going evaluation of treatment regime including medication delivery and oxygen

• administration through therapist driven protocols by performing patient assessments to determine the needs related to treatment therapies, frequencies, and duration of treatment regime ordered by physician.

• Assesses patients clinically before and after the administration or application of any medication, procedure, or device; recommends appropriate therapy including initial therapy, changes in therapy, and discontinuation.

• Monitors, assesses, educates, and documents the patient and/or family on therapies, medications, goals of

• therapies, and equipment during treatment.

• Documents work timely, completely, and accurately including documentation in the patient electronic medical record and departmental records.

• Demonstrates competence in the set-up, calibration, and troubleshooting of mechanical ventilators, noninvasive ventilation devices, therapeutic bronchoscopies and pulmonary function screens.

• Cleans using high level disinfection, assembles, and maintains equipment and the stocking of departmental supplies.

• Performs and documents emergency rounds, oxygen saturation checks, and titrates oxygen per protocol during oxygen and aerosol rounds.

• Performs therapies in strict compliance to universal precautions and proper body mechanics, using sound judgment in evaluating situations, and taking appropriate action when necessary.

• Responds to emergent care situations in the hospital and assists with resuscitation by providing chest compressions, airway management, airway stabilization, and ventilatory support in accordance with the American Heart association guidelines and as directed by the Code Team Leader.

• Transports adult, pediatric, and neonatal patients (as applicable) on mechanical ventilators, non-invasive ventilation devices, and critically ill to intrahospital procedures and testing.

• Provides developmentally appropriate care to support the various patient populations during their hospitalization. Demonstrates competence in the care of neonatal, pediatric and adult patients (when/if appropriately assigned to these patients) relative to determining each patient’s age related and other physical, psycho-social, and cultural needs.

• Assists with the orientation process for new employees, mentors employees orienting to a specialty care unit, and functions as a resource to staff. Mentors students on clinical rotation as needed.

• Acts as the charge therapist in the absence of the Lead Respiratory Therapist on a rotational basis as assigned, performing the duties and responsibilities described in that job description to the best of your ability.

• Engage in a project related to the department, community, or respiratory care profession:

• Obtains or maintains an additional certification or specialty credential (manager approval required)

• Participates in community education events relating to procedures performed, disease processes, medications, and treatments relating to respiratory care.

• Perform QA & PI

• Assist with The Joint Commission accreditation and maintaining survey readiness

• Participates in Regional Peri-Natal Designation process

• Participates in facility committees on behalf of Respiratory Therapy

• Maintain competence in specialty area:

• Pulmonary Function: Perform pulmonary function tests (spirometry, lung volumes, lung diffusing capacity, arterial blood gas draws, and other tests) according to ATS and department standards; Set-up, calibrate, perform maintenance, and troubleshoot pulmonary function testing equipment; Performs administrative tasks including scheduling and registering patients.

• Bronch Lab: Assists providers with bronchoscopy procedures, including preparing equipment and the patient, assisting with obtaining samples, and proper handling and cleaning of instruments

• NICU: Attends deliveries, including pre-term and high risk, and performs resuscitative duties as part of the NICU team. Manages patients in the small baby unit and NICU. Maintains proficiency in the delivery of nitric oxide, surfactant, non-invasive ventilation, high frequency oscillatory ventilation, and other NICU specific equipment and practices. Actively participate and engage in NICU specific protocols, guidelines and initiatives with accountability for process improvement.

• May require on call coverage for add on procedures, unit coverage, or NICU transport.

• Maintains proficiency in the processing and interpreting of point of care (POC) blood gases, glucose, andelectrolytes; and collaborates on quality control with the POC Coordinator (at applicable locations only).

• Performs other duties as assigned.

COE BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following behavior expectations:

Quality - Follows policies and procedures; adapts to and manages changes in the environment; Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness giving attention to details; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Manages time and prioritizes effectively to achieve organizational goals.

Service - Responds promptly to requests for service and assistance; Follows the Mercyhealth Critical Moments of service; Meets commitments; Abides by MH confidentiality and security agreement; Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; and effectively communicates information to partners; Thinks system wide regarding processes and functions.

Partnering - Shows commitment to the Mission of Mercyhealth and Culture of Excellence through all words and actions; Exhibits objectivity and openness to other's views; Demonstrates a high level of participation and engagement in day-to-day work; Gives and welcomes feedback; Generates suggestions for improving work: Embraces teamwork, supports and encourages positive change while giving value to individuals.

Cost - Conserves organization resources; Understands fiscal responsibility; Works within approved budget; Develops and implements cost saving measures; contributes to profits and revenue.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Graduate of an accredited Respiratory Care Program

Minimum 1 year respiratory experience required, 6 months critical care

CERTIFICATION/LICENSURE

RRT- CRT will be accepted for RTs that are not eligible for RRT. All other CRTs must earn RRT within 1 year of hire.

CPR

ACLS within 6 months of hire

NRP within 90 days of orientation, for those departments requiring delivery attendance

IL and/ or WI Respiratory Care Practitioner license

Specialty credential preferred (NPS, CPFT, RPFT)

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Passing the WI Caregiver Background Check and/or IL Health Care Workers Background Check.

Must be able to follow written/oral instructions.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Good mathematical and interpersonal skills

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The noise level in the work environment is usually

☒Occupational Exposure: Category A - All partners in the specified job classification have occupational exposure.

☐Occupational Exposure: Category B -Some partners in the specified job classification have occupational exposure.

☐Occupational Exposure: Category C - No partners in the specified job classification have occupational exposure.

AGE OF PATIENTS SERVED

☒Neonate (birth – 28 days)

☒Infant (29 days – less than 1 year)

☒Pediatric (1 year – 12 years)

☒Adolescents (13 years – 17 years)

☒Adult (18 years – 64 years)

☒Geriatric (65 years and older)

☐Non-Specific Task (N/A)

INFORMATION ACCESS

Partner may access patient care information needed to perform their job duties. OR Partner may access patient care information, financial data, human resource data and strategic and planning data needed to perform their job duties as directed by the director.

WORK CONTACT GROUP

Partners, physicians, patients/family, visitors, vendors, community

SPECIAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The Special Physical Demands are considered Essential Job Functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb, balance, talk, and hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, taste, and smell. Specific vision abilities require by this job include frequent ability to adjust focus and occasionally distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally exert up to 100 pounds of force.

LEVEL OF SUPERVISION

Work requires a moderate level of independent judgment along with good interpretative and interpersonal skills with justification and accountability to Lead, Supervisor, Manager, and Director.

SUPERVISES

No supervisory responsibilities.

Culture of Excellence Behavior Expectations

Benefits

Mercyhealth offers a generous total rewards package to eligible employees including, but not limited to:

• Comprehensive Benefits Package: Mercyhealth offers a retirement plan with competitive matching contribution, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance options, life and disability coverage, access to flexible spending plans, and a variety of other discounted voluntary benefit options.
• Competitive Compensation: Mercyhealth offers market competitive rates of pay and participates in various shift differential and special pay incentive programs.
• Paid Time Off: Mercyhealth offers a generous paid time off plan, which increases with milestone anniversaries, to allow employees the opportunity for a great work-life balance.
• Career Advancement: Mercyhealth offers a number of educational assistance programs and career ladders to support employees in their educational journey and advancement within Mercyhealth.
• Employee Wellbeing: Mercyhealth has a focus on wellbeing for employees across the organization and offers a number of tools and resources, such as an employer-sponsored health risk assessment and a Wellbeing mobile application, to assist employees on their wellbeing journey.
• Additional Benefits: Mercyhealth employees have access to our internal and external employee assistance programs, employee-only discount packages, paid parental and caregiver leaves, on-demand pay, special payment programs for patient services, and financial education to help with retirement planning.