Respiratory Therapist

Join Our Team as a Respiratory Therapist.

Are you a dedicated and compassionate Respiratory Therapist looking to make a meaningful impact in patient care? UPMC Northwest is seeking a skilled professional to join our dynamic team. In this role, you ll work with cutting-edge technology and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to provide exceptional respiratory care. Under the general direction of a physician and by prescription, you will provide respiratory therapy services and life support to patients with cardiopulmonary deficiencies and abnormalities. Your expertise will be utilized across all patient populations and service areas. If you re passionate about improving patient outcomes and thrive in a supportive and innovative environment, we want to hear from you.

Learn more about our Respiratory Careers here: Respiratory Therapy Careers at UPMC

This position is sign-on bonus eligible:

• New graduates and candidates with less than one year of experience are eligible for a $12,000 sign-on bonus with a 2 year employment commitment
• Candidates with 1+ years of experience are eligible for a $20,000 sign-on bonus with a 2 year employment commitment

Ready to take the next step in your career? Apply today and become a vital part of our healthcare community.

Candidates will be placed on the appropriate step of the career ladder based on their experience and licensure.

Responsibilities:

• Evaluates the appropriateness of medical orders. Interprets clinical data to optimize patient clinical objectives.
• Sets up and operates devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, and aerosol generators.
• Operates equipment to ensure specified parameters of treatment, such as volume, gas concentration, humidity, and temperature, and to administer medicinal gases and aerosol drugs to patients.
• Observes equipment function and adjusts equipment to obtain optimum results to therapy. Inspects and tests respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment functions safely and efficiently.
• Assists to transport mechanically ventilated patients. Responds to all code situations.
• Maintains patient's chart that contains pertinent identification and therapy information. Orders repairs when needed. Demonstrates respiratory care procedures to trainees and other health care personnel. Supervises students during training.
• Reads prescription, measures arterial blood gases, and reviews patient information to assess patient condition and determine requirements for treatment, such as type and duration of therapy, and medication dosages.
• Determines most suitable method of administering inhalants, precautions to be observed, and modifications which may be needed that will be compatible with physician's orders.
• Monitors patient's physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, and blood chemistry changes. Performs bronchopulmonary drainage and assists patient in performing breathing exercises.
• Performs pulmonary function tests to be used by physician in diagnosis of case. Consults with physician in the event of adverse reactions.

• Graduate of a Co ARC (Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care) approved Respiratory program required or students who have received a temporary license are permitted to begin employment with approval from the Human Resources department along with their official transcripts.
• Basic Life Support or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation required.
• Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRTT) from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) required prior to expiration of temporary practice permit. Respiratory therapists who receive their CRT credential from the NBRC after July 1, 2002, are required to maintain certification under the NBRC requirements.
  
  Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:
  
  
• Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire.
• Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician (CRTT)
• Osteopathic Respiratory Care OR Respiratory Care Practitioners (RCP)
• Act 33 with renewal
• Act 34 with renewal
• Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal
• OAPSA

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran