Spring 2025 New Grad - Respiratory Care Practitioner - St Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital

Thank you for considering a career at Mercy Health!

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

Work Shift:

This position is eligible for a $5000 sign on bonus!

Mercy Health

As a faithbased and patientfocused organization Mercy Health exists to enhance the health and wellbeing of all people in mind body and spirit through exceptional patient care. Success in this goal requires a culture of compassion collaboration excellence and respect. Mercy Health seeks people that are committed to our values of compassion human dignity integrity service and stewardship to create an environment where associates want to work and help communities thrive.

Job Summary:

The Respiratory Care Practitioner I is responsible for providing respiratory care through patient assessment planning intervention education and evaluation. Performs all respiratory care procedures including but not limited to oxygen and aerosolized medication delivery ventilator care bronchial hygiene therapy diagnostic services and patient and staff education. Monitors the patients response to such therapies and makes recommendations to change or modify based on the assessment.

Essential Functions:

• May serve as a preceptor to new team members and/or students.
• Assesses patients physical status by inspection palpation auscultation percussion patient behavior and reviewing existing data in patients record.
• Performs treatments according to physician orders explains therapy and therapeutic goals to patient; modifies treatment procedures based on patient response.
• Determines appropriateness of prescribed therapy and recommends methods to physician to achieve therapeutic goals including IPPB Aerosol therapy Postural drainage and percussion ultrasonic nebulizer incentive spirometry metered dose inhalers and spacers etc.
• Sets up and maintains different modes of oxygen therapy to maintain adequate PaO2s with accurate inspired levels of oxygen.
• Administers intermittent positive pressure breathing (IPPB) or Aerosol Therapy by first preparing the prescribed medication ordered by the physician and adjusting the machine or device to accomplish patients individual clinical needs; document and observe patients vital signs productivity of cough relief of Dyspnea improved breath sounds and any adverse reactions to therapy; and use judgement and technical skill to determine possible adverse reactions and suggestions for appropriateness of therapy.
• Gives postural drainage vibration percussion to ensure proper drainage of bronchial secretions by use of manual or mechanical percussion; check orders and Xrays for segments to be treated prior to initiating treatment; auscultation prior to and after procedure to note presence of clearance of secretions and response to therapy.
• Instructs patients and families in incentive spirometer metered dose inhaler (MDI) administration postural drainage and clapping oxygen therapy ventilator care and home aerosol therapy.
• May assist doctor with bronchoscopy and tracheostomy; assists with tracheostomy endotracheal tube changes; ensures proper humidification.
• Procurement of sputum for culture and sensitivity or airway clearance either by patient coaching administration of mucolytics aerosol therapy or endotracheal / nasopharyngeal suctioning.
• Evaluates normal and pathologic blood and urine laboratory value ranges.
• Performs arterial punctures and analysis; has an indepth knowledge of analysis and arterial blood gas (ABG) interpretation. Performs arterial line procedures takes safety precautions sterile procedure flushing and ABG aspirations.
• May perform EKGs; understands electronic monitoring lead placement and basic arrhythmias.
• Maintains all Respiratory Therapy equipment and supplies.
• Responds to cardiopulmonary resuscitations and actively participates as indicated by clinical circumstances.

This document is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities skills duties requirements or working conditions associated with the job. Employees may be required to perform other jobrelated duties as required by their supervisor subject to reasonable accommodation.

Education:

• Bachelors Degree Related to Respiratory Therapy/Health care/Healthcare Admin/Business Admin (preferred)

Required Licensing & Certifications:

• Current Respiratory Care License in the state they are working (required)
• National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) credentialed (required)
• Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) (preferred)

• BLS Basic Life Support American Heart Association (required)
• ACLS Advanced Cardiac Life Support American Heart Association or Red Cross (preferred)
• PALS Pediatric Advanced Life Support American Heart Association (preferred)

Experience:

• Previous working experience in an ambulatory or acute care setting (preferred)
• 6 months Respiratory Therapy experience in a general care area (preferred)

Skills & Abilities:

• Strong interpersonal skills and able to effectively interact with patients their families physicians and other staff members
• Good communication skills
• Able to effectively work with diverse people
• Good customer service skills
• Good organizational skills and time management skills
• Good oral and written communication
• Able to receive feedback
• Able to gather and interpret data
• Accountability
• Knowledge of noninvasive respiratory therapy equipment such as oximeters or endtidal CO2 analyzers
• Therapeutic Procedures to include CPAP/BiPap jet aerosol oxygen therapy incentive spirometry chest physiotherapy pulse oximetry high flow oxygen continuous aerosols ventilator management diagnostic testing.
• Understanding of EKGs electronic monitoring lead placement and basic arrhythmias.
• Arterial blood gas punctures and testing
• Airway maneuvers
• Bedside pulmonary function
• Patient assessment
• Patient education
• Knowledge of chest suction equipment
• Knowledge of chest Xray interpretation

Training:

• EPIC Electronic Health Record (EHR) training (preferred)

MercyHealth is an equal opportunity employer.

Many of our opportunities reward* your hard work with:

• Comprehensive affordable medical dental and vision plans
• Prescription drug coverage
• Flexible spending accounts
• Life insurance w/AD&D
• Employer contributions to retirement savings plan when eligible
• Paid time off
• Educational Assistance
• And much more

*Benefits offerings vary according to employment status.

Department:

It is our policy to abide by all Federal and State laws as well as the requirements of 41 CFR 601.4(a) 60300.5(a) and 60741.5(a). Accordingly all applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color national origin religion sex sexual orientation gender identity age genetic information or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. If youd like to view a copy of the affirmative action plan or policy statement for Mercy Health Youngstown Ohio or Bon Secours Franklin Virginia; Petersburg Virginia; and Emporia Virginia which are Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer please email . If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation as part of the employment selection process please contact The Talent Acquisition Team at .