Registered Respiratory Therapist ICU NICU
Albany, GA
Host Healthcare
3x12 hrs, Nights
Referral Bonus

Respiratory Therapist (RRT)

Location: Albany, Georgia Setting: Large hospital in Southwestern Georgia Contract Length: 13 weeks Assignment Units: ICU and ER (adult ICU and NICU)

Required Qualifications

• RRT credential
• Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) via NBRC
• Georgia RT license
• BLS
• ACLS
• PALS
• NRP, if assigned to the NICU
• Critical care experience (RRTs only)
• Comfort and experience with intubating patients
• Prior travel experience: 1 travel contract

Experience Requirements

• Minimum 2 years of experience
• 300+ bed hospital experience
• Strict 75-mile radius rule

Schedule

• Shift: Nights, Friday through Sunday, 7p-7a
• Hours: 12 hours per day, 36 hours per week
• Start times: Shifts start at 6:45 am and pm. Clock-in window is 6:38-6:46 am or pm; arriving outside this window is considered late.
• Weekend rotation: Monday-Thursday team and a weekend team. Hours will shift and will be noted in the job posting.
• Holidays: Rotated with permanent staff; every other holiday can be expected.
• Call: None

Unit and Staffing

• Department: Respiratory
• Charge RT: Yes, with a Charge and Clinical Coordinator
• Therapist count: About 11 on days and 10-11 on nights, based on unit needs
• Patient load: About 13-15 patients per shift; therapists work high and heavy workloads
• Airway limit (ICU): Up to 4 airways per therapist (airways include vents, heated aerosol trach off vent, etc.)
• Coverage: Hospitalist or intensivist in house 24/7 (MDs or NPs), who responds to codes. The respiratory therapist is the first line for intubation.
• Pharmacy: 24/7
• Scrubs: Ceil blue; ceil blue jacket only
• Ventilators: Servo vents (U and I models)

Responsibilities

• All RT duties, including nebs, airway management, Vapotherm, BiPAP, CPAP, vents, ABG collection, bedside PFTs, CPT, and bronchoscopies
• In the ICU: place A-lines, manage blood gases, and intubate
• Confidence making suggestions for vent management, reading ABGs, and alerting critical values
• Common patient diagnoses: COPD, CHF, pneumonia, respiratory failure, ARDS, cancers, and others
• NICU RTs report to the NICU nurse manager and are separate from adult needs. Adult RTs may cover peds and adults.

Orientation

• Floor assignments: First week is hospital and charting orientation. The next week's load is lighter, with 300 minutes on day one, 400 on day two, and 500 on day three, then independent work.
• ICU assignments: One additional week of orientation.

Hiring Process

• Interview with internal RNs. Their profile and internal notes are sent to the facility for approval.
• No second interview is needed.