Sr Respiratory Care Practitioner

Houston Methodist; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Houston Methodist seeks a Senior Respiratory Care Practitioner to work nights. The role requires performing advanced procedures and providing expert patient care while contributing to teaching and in-service programs.

The Sr RCP mentors staff, participates in quality improvement, research, and departmental committees, and coordinates activities within the Respiratory Care department to ensure optimal patient outcomes.

Qualifications

• Four years experience as a Respiratory Care Practitioner, with at least two years in a critical care level preferred.
• Neonatal experience is preferred.
• Must hold RCP license, NBRC credential and BLS/ACLS certifications.

Responsibilities

• Contributes to teamwork by managing patient workload and offering assistance as needed.
• Provides advanced respiratory care procedures and patient education.
• Mentors and trains other practitioners and students, supporting competency development.
• Coordinates departmental activities and supports quality and safety initiatives.
• Acts as a resource for equipment, software, and process improvements.

Skills

RCP license

Critical care

Teaching/mentoring

Team leadership

Education

Education program approved by credentialing body

Job description

Full time - Nights

At Houston Methodist, the Sr Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) position is an experienced and competent therapist who is responsible for performing advanced procedures as assigned; examples include and are not limited to: intubation, advance pulmonary diagnostics, endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS), electromagnetic navigation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), etc. This position performs all duties assigned to a RCP and participates in developing and teaching in-services/programs for the respiratory staff, quality improvement initiatives, research programs, and departmental committees or subcommittees. The Sr RCP position serves as a mentor and resource to Respiratory Care team members and students by utilizing skills and knowledge to help train and achieve optimum performance levels in specialized areas such as ICU and NICU. This position works independently, exercising sound judgment and executing above average clinical skills on challenging procedures and patient care situations. The Sr RCP position may assume duties associated with coordinating activities within the Respiratory department.

FLSA STATUS

Non-exempt

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Graduate of an education program approved by the credentialing body for the required credential(s) indicated below in the Certifications, Licenses and Registrations section.

EXPERIENCE

• Four years experience as a Respiratory Care Practitioner, at least two in a critical care level (preferred at HMCCH). May consider HM employee with at least three years of RCP experience with one year as a HM RCP.
• Neonatal experience preferred.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

Required

• RCP – Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner – State Licensure – Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation_PSV by the Texas Medical Board.
• RRT – Registered Respiratory Therapist (NBRC) – National Board for Respiratory Care_PSV.
• BLS – Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA) – American Heart Association.
• ACLS – Advanced Cardiac Life Support or Instructor (AHA) – American Heart Association.

Preferred

• PALS – Pediatric Advanced Life Support or Instructor (AHA) depending on area assigned.
• NRP – Neonatal Resuscitation or Instructor (AHA/AAP) depending on area assigned within 90 days.
• RRT-ACCS – Registered Respiratory Therapist Adult Critical Care Specialty (NBRC).
• NPS – Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist (NBRC).
• CPFT – Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist (NBRC).
• RPFT – Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist (NBRC).
• RRT-SDS – Registered Respiratory Therapist Sleep Disorder Specialty (NBRC).
• AE-C – Certified Asthma Educator (NBRC).
• TTS – Tobacco Treatment Specialist (NAAP).
• RPSGT – Registered Polysomnographer Technologist (BRPT).

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations.
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing English necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security.
• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members, and co‑workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles.
• Possesses basic computer knowledge; operates multiple computer systems to maintain patient and exam documents.
• Ability to work independently; capable of handling challenging/difficult procedures and patient care situations; demonstrates sound judgment and executes above average clinical skills.
• Exhibits strong interpersonal and team‑player skills with all levels of the healthcare team and assures delivery of excellent customer service to all patients, visitors, physicians and co‑workers.
• Adapts to multiple ongoing priorities with minimal supervision including organizing workflow and actively participating in problem‑solving.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

People Essential Functions

• Contributes to teamwork by awareness of overall patient workload, consistently offering assistance, and responding positively to requests for assistance. Offers guidance to interprofessional health care team, when appropriate, and applies feedback to improve patient outcomes.
• Facilitates open, professional (verbal, nonverbal, written) communication which includes active listening and teaching to achieve mutual understanding, role modeling by example. Communication to promote both work efforts and problem resolution is clear, providing the highest quality service during every customer and patient encounter.
• Guides and mentors other Respiratory Care Practitioners and students to help build confidence in skills, knowledge and abilities. Teaches, orients and precepts newly hired Therapists. Uses peer‑to‑peer accountability towards improvement of department score for employee engagement.

Service Essential Functions

• Provides patient teaching based on learning needs, uses appropriate resources, incorporating planning for care after discharge. Consistently evaluates the patient’s comprehension and adapts teaching methods accordingly.
• Serves as the primary therapist for performing advanced treatments, as assigned, such as but not limited to: intubation, advanced pulmonary diagnostic, endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS), electromagnetic navigation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), etc.
• Coordinates various activities within the respiratory department and assumes other duties in the absence of a team lead/or coordinator, as assigned. Serves as a resource for department‑related needs such as specialty equipment or software implementation.
• Helps drive improvement of department score for patient satisfaction, through peer‑to‑peer accountability for service standards.

Quality/Safety Essential Functions

• Provides direct assistance to physicians, performing tests as ordered, assessing and assuring quality, acceptability and reliability of results; takes corrective action and involves others as needed toward achievement of this end.
• Troubleshoots, calibrates and performs preventive maintenance and quality control on all equipment and analyzers per department guidelines, documenting activities. Assembles, prepares, cleans and operates bronchoscopy equipment, monitoring equipment and accessories in accordance with manufacturing recommendations and department guidelines. Reports malfunctions.
• Utilizes clinical judgement, using an analytical approach. Assists with implementation and teaching of department‑based safety initiatives and standards of practice. Identifies trends and opportunities for corrective action and process improvement, providing recommendations. Contributes to meeting department and hospital targets for quality and patient safety.

Finance Essential Functions

• Accurately documents all patient care and respiratory‑related activities and procedures in the appropriate documentation system. Enters charges at the time service is delivered.
• Uses resources efficiently; does not waste supplies. Self‑motivated to independently manage time effectively, minimizing incidental overtime, and prioritizes daily tasks, optimizing efficiency and other areas according to department specifications.

Growth/Innovation Essential Functions

• Identifies and presents areas for innovation, efficiency and improvement for department projects and shared governance activities. Participates in one or more department committees or subcommittees and facilitates the accomplishment of the goals of the committee or subcommittee.
• Seeks opportunities to expand learning beyond baseline competencies with a focus on continual development as a Respiratory Care Practitioner. Completes and updates the My Development plan on an ongoing basis.
• Fosters a positive and constructive teaching environment by engaging students and co‑workers in learning opportunities that are valuable and in alignment with business objectives.

Supplemental Requirements

• Work Attire
  • Uniform: No
  • Scrubs: Yes
  • Business professional: No
  • Other (department approved): Yes
• On‑Call

  Note that employees may be required to be on‑call during emergencies (e.g., Disaster, Severe Weather Events, etc.) regardless of selection below.

  • On Call: Yes
• Travel

  Travel specifications may vary by department.

  • May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area: Yes
  • May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area: No