Travel Registered Respiratory Therapist
McKeesport, PA
Talent4Health
3x12 hrs, Days

Respiratory Therapist – 4525 (Day)

Location: McKeesport, Pennsylvania
Department: Respiratory Therapy

Engagement Type: Contract
Contract Duration: Up to 13 Weeks
 

Shift & Schedule

• Shift: Days
• Schedule: 3 shifts per week (3×12)
• Weekly Hours: 36 hours based on the listed schedule

Position Overview:
 

The Respiratory Therapist provides quality respiratory care to patients within the scope of their professional license and with minimal supervision. Responsibilities include assessing patients, recommending treatment plans, administering prescribed respiratory therapies, managing ventilatory equipment, monitoring patient responses, and coordinating care with physicians and other healthcare professionals.
 

Key Responsibilities:

Patient Assessment & Respiratory Treatments:

• Evaluate patients and recommend appropriate respiratory treatment plans.
• Explain procedures, treatments, and equipment to patients and provide discharge education.
• Administer prescribed respiratory treatments using invasive and non-invasive ventilatory equipment, oxygen and aerosol devices, and nebulizers.
• Perform chest physiotherapy to promote secretion clearance.
• Perform oropharyngeal, nasal, and tracheal suctioning.
• Conduct oximetry and capnography monitoring.
• Review chest X-rays as required by facility policy.
• Perform pulmonary function studies, including NIF and VC.

Airway & Ventilator Management:

• Perform tracheostomy care, including insertion and removal of tracheostomy tubes in emergent and non-emergent situations.
• Perform arterial punctures and evaluate ventilation efficiency.
• Set up, self-test, operate, maintain, and monitor mechanical ventilation equipment.
• Perform endotracheal tube insertion and removal using freehand techniques and/or video laryngoscopy.
• Assist with respiratory procedures such as bronchoscopy, percutaneous tracheostomy, and chest tube placement.
• Manage chest drainage through PleurX catheters or similar devices, where applicable.

Cardiopulmonary & Emergency Care:

• Perform 12-lead EKGs and basic arrhythmia recognition.
• Perform CPR according to BLS and ACLS guidelines.
• Monitor and report patient responses to respiratory treatments.

Documentation & Communication:

• Document respiratory treatments, patient assessments, and responses in respiratory care records and patient charts.
• Communicate with attending and pulmonary physicians regarding treatment effectiveness.
• Provide shift-to-shift handoff communication during rounds.
• Maintain accurate respiratory therapy charges, including data entry, verification, and correction of errors.

Equipment & Laboratory Responsibilities:

• Assist with equipment preventive maintenance and repairs as needed.
• At facilities with moderate-complexity laboratories, follow laboratory procedures for specimen handling, equipment use, documentation, quality control, maintenance, and reporting throughout pre-analytic, analytic, and post-analytic phases.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Current state respiratory therapy licensure required.
• Active CRT or RRT credential through the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) or state equivalent.
• BLS certification required before the first shift.
• ACLS certification required before the first shift.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Minimum 2 years of bedside clinical experience is highly desired.