Respiratory Therapist (RT)

Advocate Health; West Allis (WI); On-site; USD 45,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

Loan forgiveness

Tuition assistance

Clinical ladder bonus

Job summary

Advocate Health at Aurora Medical Center - West Allis is seeking a Respiratory Therapist to support both critical and non-critical care during nights. You will use pulmonary diagnostics, operate ventilators, and provide prescribed therapies while educating patients and collaborating across departments.

The role emphasizes safety, communication, and team-based care, with a 0.9 FTE schedule and a sign-on/tuition incentives program where applicable.

Qualifications

• Graduate from an accredited respiratory care program with an associate degree.
• RCP license in the practicing state and NBRC credentials within 12 months OR CRT if credentialed before 2023.
• BLS for Healthcare Providers certification from AHA.

Responsibilities

• Uses respiratory therapy processes to assess patients with pulmonary diagnostics and blood gas analysis.
• Operates ventilators in critical and non-critical care settings; assists physicians with procedures.
• Provides medications and therapies per physician orders or patient-specific protocols.
• Educates patients on purpose, technique, and self-care of therapy and disease management.
• Maintains and troubleshoots equipment; ensures safety and proper functionality.
• Collaborates with other departments to improve patient care and education.

Skills

Respiratory therapy

Ventilator operation

Patient education

Communication skills

Safety culture

Time management

Education

Associate degree in respiratory care

Tools

EMR systems

Job description

Sign on Bonus: $12,500

Loan Forgiveness: Up to $21,000

Tuition Assistance: Up to $21,000

Primary Location: Aurora Medical Center - West Allis

Pay Range: $33.05 - $49.60/hour

Schedule: 0.9 FTE, Nights

Clinical Ladder Program – up to $6,000 in additional yearly bonus potential

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 Providerscertification 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.