Respiratory Therapist - Pulmonary Clinic

Aurora Health Care; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Aurora Health Care is seeking a Respiratory Therapist to support patient assessment using pulmonary diagnostics, radiography, and lab data. You will operate ventilators, assist physicians, administer treatments, and ensure equipment safety across care areas.

You will educate patients on therapy goals, collaborate with teams, and maintain high safety and quality standards while precepting staff and students.

Qualifications

• Graduate from an accredited respiratory care program with at least an associate degree.
• No experience required for this role.
• Licensure and certifications as specified in the job requirements.

Responsibilities

• Assess patients using respiratory therapy processes and related diagnostic data.
• Operate ventilators and assist physicians with procedures as needed.
• Administer prescribed medications and therapies per orders or protocols.
• Maintain and troubleshoot equipment; report safety issues promptly.
• Educate patients on therapy goals, techniques, and self-care.
• Collaborate with departments to educate and improve patient care.
• Follow policies across service areas and provide clear handoffs.
• Demonstrate professional communication and conflict resolution.
• Promote safety culture and report safety events as required.
• Teach and precept new teammates and students.
• Assess age-specific care needs and adapt care accordingly.

Skills

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Problem solving

Communication skills

Time management

Education

Associate degree

Job description

Major Responsibilities

• Uses Respiratory therapy processes to support assessment of patient utilizing a variety of skills such as pulmonary diagnostics, chest radiograph, hemodynamic values, laboratory values, and correlates blood gases and electrolytes. Can identify and address the special needs of patient population specific to department services.
• Operates specialized ventilators in critical and non-critical care venues. Assists physician with bedside or other procedures as applicable to facility.
• Provides medication treatments and therapies per physician order and/or patient driven respiratory protocols as prescribed.
• Cleans, maintains, and ensures proper functionality of equipment. Troubleshoots equipment as necessary and identifies the need for service and/or repair.
• Educates and instructs patients in purpose, technique, self-care, goal of therapy, and disease management.
• Facilitates clinical problem solving and collaborates with other departments to provide education on managing patients.
• Under physician direction, the respiratory therapist must be able to adapt and comply to policies and procedures for a variety of different service areas, perform tasks and/or special duties as required by assignment and maintain performance standards and organizational behaviors.
• Demonstrates effective communication, feedback, and conflict resolution skills. Provides clear, concise, timely, and accurate patient handoff.
• Promotes a culture of safety by recognizing and applying proper safety measures to prevent patient harm. Reports patient safety events and near misses in a timely manner. Seeks to identify potential safety issues and assists in the implementation of corrective actions.
• Teaches, educates, and precepts new teammates, orientees, and students.
• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served. Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs.

Major Responsibilities

• Uses Respiratory therapy processes to support assessment of patient utilizing a variety of skills such as pulmonary diagnostics, chest radiograph, hemodynamic values, laboratory values, and correlates blood gases and electrolytes. Can identify and address the special needs of patient population specific to department services.
• Operates specialized ventilators in critical and non-critical care venues. Assists physician with bedside or other procedures as applicable to facility.
• Provides medication treatments and therapies per physician order and/or patient driven respiratory protocols as prescribed.
• Cleans, maintains, and ensures proper functionality of equipment. Troubleshoots equipment as necessary and identifies the need for service and/or repair.
• Educates and instructs patients in purpose, technique, self-care, goal of therapy, and disease management.
• Facilitates clinical problem solving and collaborates with other departments to provide education on managing patients.
• Under physician direction, the respiratory therapist must be able to adapt and comply to policies and procedures for a variety of different service areas, perform tasks and/or special duties as required by assignment and maintain performance standards and organizational behaviors.
• Demonstrates effective communication, feedback, and conflict resolution skills. Provides clear, concise, timely, and accurate patient handoff.
• Promotes a culture of safety by recognizing and applying proper safety measures to prevent patient harm. Reports patient safety events and near misses in a timely manner. Seeks to identify potential safety issues and assists in the implementation of corrective actions.
• Teaches, educates, and precepts new teammates, orientees, and students.
• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served. Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs.

Licensure, Registration, And/or Certification Required

• Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) license issued by the state in which the team member practices.
• Active Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential issued by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) within 12 months OR active Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential issued by the NBRC if credential received prior to January 1, 2023.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification issued by the American Heart Association (AHA).
• See Education/Certification Addendum for any additional site-specific requirements.

Education Required

Graduate from an accredited respiratory care program, with a minimum of an associate degree.

Experience Required

No experience required.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

• Effective organizational, interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
• Problem solving and decision making for patient care and equipment use.
• Proficient computer skills, use of e-mail and electronic medical record systems.
• Excellent communication (written and verbal), listening and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrates human relation skills with the ability to develop rapport and maintain positive, professional relationships with a variety of patients, team members, and physicians. Ability to take initiative and work collaboratively with others.
• Demonstrates time management skills with an ability to multi-task and prioritize in an environment with frequent interruptions.

Physical Requirements And Working Conditions

• Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job.
• Must be able to lift 50 lb object from knee to waist.
• Must be able to lift 50 lb from floor to waist height occasionally.
• Must be able to lift 40 lb at waist height and carry it across various distances.
• Must be able to lift 20 lb from waist to overhead.
• Must be able to push/pull while utilizing 30# of force occasionally for long distances.
• Must demonstrate stand-pivot transfer from bed to chair.
• Must perform sliding transfer of 150 lbs. person on a sheet across 2 feet with a second person.
• Must utilize safe body mechanics at all times.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.