Respiratory Therapist ECMO Specialist

Allina Health; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 85,000 - 118,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental

PTO/Time Away

Retirement Savings Plans

Life Insurance

Disability

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Allina Health in Minnesota is seeking an experienced Respiratory Therapist with ECMO expertise to lead ventilation management and critical care support. You will work under physician direction, educate staff, and collaborate with the care team to ensure optimal respiratory outcomes for adult patients requiring advanced life support.

Ideal candidates have considerable experience in ECMO, possess a CoARC‑accredited credential, and hold MN licensure.

Qualifications

• Associates degree from a CoARC accredited Respiratory Care Program.
• 3+ years experience in a critical care setting.
• 3+ years experience as a Respiratory Therapist.
• Licensed Respiratory Therapist in MN with NBRC credentials.

Responsibilities

• Provides for safe/effective management and monitoring of ventilation, ECMO, and critical care.
• Operates, troubleshoots ventilators, and optimizes patient‑ventilator interface.
• Assesses readiness to wean and documents findings; supports ECMO patients.
• Educates patients and families on disease management and respiratory care.
• Collaborates with nurses and providers to align respiratory goals with overall care.

Skills

Respiratory Therapy

Ventilator Management

ECMO Support

Critical Care

Nurse Education

Education

CoARC Accredited Respiratory Care Program

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

ECMO Equipment

Ventilator Troubleshooting

Job description

Allina Health is a not-for-profit health system that cares for individuals, families and communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. If you value putting patients first, consider a career at Allina Health. Our mission is to provide exceptional care as we prevent illness, restore health and provide comfort to all who entrust us with their care. This includes you and your loved ones. We are committed to providing whole person care, investing in your well-being, and enriching your career.

Assesses, diagnoses and treats patients suffering from cardiopulmonary respiratory disorders. Under the direction of a physician, educates patients and staff regarding chronic and acute pulmonary disorders, provides consultative services to area hospitals/agencies, and provides technical and educational support to nurses regarding respiratory procedures.

Assemble, prime, maintain, monitor, and troubleshoot mechanical circulatory/ECMO equipment and circuits from set-up and throughout the management period. They work in conjunction with the bedside nurse to ensure that the patient on mechanical circulatory/ECMO support has adequate oxygenation, perfusion, corrects for proper acid base balance and hemodynamic stability within ordered parameters, and maintains other parameters as ordered by the ECMO provider.

Principle Responsibilities

• Provides for safe/effective management and monitoring of all forms of mechanical ventilation, ECMO management, and critical care.
  • Provides mechanical ventilatory support safely and effectively to meet objectives identified by the provider and/or protocols.
  • Demonstrates competency in operation and troubleshooting of ventilators.
  • Identifies best mode of ventilation and opportunities to optimize patient‑ventilator interface, makes recommendations to provider as appropriate.
  • Assesses readiness to wean, recognizes failure to wean and documents findings.
  • Provides invasive and non‑invasive ventilation, ventilation during transport, manual resuscitation by bag/valve device, weaning assessment, respiratory mechanics and waveforms analysis, non‑traditional modes and techniques.
  • Manages airway appropriately to include positioning, security, humidification selection and suctioning.
  • Provides Mechanical Circulatory and Extracorporeal Life support to adult patients.
  • Assembles, monitors, and conducts assessment of all extracorporeal life support equipment, circuitry, and adjunct therapies used (i.e.: ultrafiltration, continues A‑V hemodialysis, etc.).
  • Individualizes plan of care to meet patient needs.
  • Modifies clinical interventions based on population served.
  • Negotiates decisions within own scope of practice and in the best interest of the patient.
  • Collaborates with nurses and providers to assure respiratory goals are not in conflict with other aspects of patient care.
• Provides respiratory assessment and therapeutic intervention in acute care.
  • Identifies opportunities to improve outcomes by utilization/recommendation of appropriate therapies or interventions.
  • Applies knowledge of approved protocols and clinical indications for interventions and routinely applies protocols to progress patients appropriately.
  • Communicates with the care team to ensure exchange of essential information.
  • Demonstrates competency with operation and troubleshooting of equipment used for therapy.
• Conducts diagnostic testing and analysis.
  • Completes necessary tests to assist in the medical management of the patient.
  • Demonstrates competency in technique and technology to meet standards.
  • Possesses clinical knowledge of interpretation of results and acts accordingly.
  • Complies with policy and procedure as well as processing of report.
• Provides disease management education to patients and families.
  • Recognizes opportunity to increase patient knowledge of disease management and/or coping skills.
  • Reinforces positive patient behaviors and skills during treatment interactions.
  • Possesses and shares knowledge of asthma self‑management and COPD education. Including inhaler techniques, peak flow monitoring asthma and COPD education to achieve patient compliance for self‑administration, as well as diaphragmatic and pursed lip breathing techniques to alleviate dyspnea.
  • Educates patient and family on Mechanical Circulatory and Extracorporeal Life Support.
• Practices at the level of an expert practitioner in respiratory therapy.
  • Participates in the evaluation of new equipment and implementation of new technology.
  • Mentors and participates in the training of new Respiratory Therapists and Respiratory Therapist ECMO Specialists.
  • Posters a culture of improvement, efficiency, and innovative thinking.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Associates degree from a Commission on Accreditation Respiratory Care (CoARC) accredited Respiratory Care Program
• 3+ years experience in a critical care setting
• 3+ years experience as a Respiratory Therapist

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher from a CoARC accredited Respiratory Care Program, Perfusion, or other health science related program
• 3+ years experience as an ECMO specialist

Licenses/Certifications

• Licensed Respiratory Therapist-MN Board of Medical Practice required
• Registered Respiratory Therapist-Credentialed by the National Board of Respiratory Care required
• ACLS/BLS Tier 2-Multi-source ACLS/BLS Tier 2-Advanced Cardiac Life Support required
• NRP – Neonatal Resuscitation-Multi-source NRP – Neonatal Resuscitation preferred
• PALS – Pediatric Advance Life Support-Multi-source PALS – Pediatric Advance Life Support within 180 days of hire required
• Registered Respiratory Therapy – Adult Critical Care Specialty-Credentialed by the National Board of Respiratory Care preferred

Physical Demands

• Medium Work*
• Lifting weight up to 32 lbs. occasionally (*Allina Safe Patient Moving Policy), up to 25 lbs. frequently
• .9 FTE (72 hours per two week schedule)
• 12-hour day and overnight shifts
• Every third weekend rotation
• Up to $7500 Starting Bonus

Pay Range

Pay Range: $41.28 to $57.11 per hour. The pay described reflects the base hiring pay range. Your starting rate would depend on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, your experience, education, and the union agreement (if applicable). Shift, weekend and/or other differentials may be available to increase your pay rate for certain shifts or work.

Benefit Summary

Allina Health believes the best way to provide safe and compassionate care for our patients is by nurturing the passion of those who care for them. That’s why we devote extraordinary resources to help you grow and thrive — not only as a professional but also as a whole person. When you join our team, you have access to a wealth of valuable employee benefits that support the total well-being — mind, body, spirit and community — of you and your family members. Allina Health is all in on your well-being. Because well-being means something different to everyone, our award-winning program provides you with the resources you need to help you navigate your personal journey. This includes well-being dollars, dedicated well-being navigators, and many programs, activities, articles, videos, personal coaching and tools to support you on your journey. In addition, Allina Health offers employee resources groups (ERGs) — voluntary, employee‑led groups that serve as a resource for members and organizations by fostering a diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with the organization's mission, values, goals, business practices, and objectives. Allina Health also engages employees in various community involvement and volunteering events.

Benefits Include

• Medical/Dental
• PTO/Time Away
• Retirement Savings Plans
• Life Insurance
• Short-term/Long-term Disability
• Voluntary Benefits (vision, legal, critical illness)
• Tuition Reimbursement or Continuing Medical Education as applicable
• Student Loan Support Benefits to navigate the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Allina Health is a 501(c)(3) eligible employer
• Benefit eligibility/offerings are determined by FTE and if you are represented by a union.