The Respiratory Therapist within the Adult Respiratory Care Department assesses the care needs of patients for whom respiratory care services are requested. They initiate and perform both basic and advanced respiratory care in the management of acutely ill patients and have high participation level in the care of the critically ill as well. As part of the healthcare inpatient team, Respiratory Therapists work closely with providers, nurses and other hospital staff in delivery patient services and assuring safety.

Job duties include but at not limited to:

• Completes training and demonstrates proficiency in all competencies, age-specific or otherwise, that are required of practitioners who are delivering patient services.
• Initiates, maintains and weans patients from continuous mechanical ventilatory support devices which includes discussions with providers for making appropriate ventilator changes based on patient condition and protocols.
• Commits and maintains patients to BiPAP/CPAP therapy.
• Evaluates the need for therapy in general and intensive care patients, and pursues changes to improve care which includes participating in rounds with the primary physician services of the patients they are assigned, and transcribes verbal orders from privileged providers in the patient’s medical record.
• Instructs and precepts respiratory care technicians, students, medical and nursing staff in respiratory care techniques and assists in the mentorship of new employees if so designated.
• Initiates and interprets other complex respiratory care procedures, such as, hemodynamic monitoring non-invasive positive pressure ventilation, arterial punctures, bronchoscopy, analysis of blood gases and electrolytes, patient education and others as designated.
• Is responsible for learning new technical devices and clinical procedures and accurately charting patient care per policy in the electronic health record.
• Actively participates in patient hand-off report to fellow staff and department leadership and attends/participates in case presentations, shift and general staff meetings when necessary.
• Actively participates as a member of hospital cardiac arrest and Rapid Response Teams.
• Performs other job related duties within the Department’s scope of practice as assigned. These include such things as QA, data collection and other chart review functions.

• Minimum requirement is College graduate with a degree in Respiratory Care and Registered as a Respiratory Therapist (RRT) by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). For new graduates, minimum requirement is active application in taking the board exams for a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).
• Active license as a Respiratory Therapist by Michigan Department of Community Health’s Board of Respiratory Care. For new graduates, upon acquired RRT credentials, immediate application for licensure in the state of Michigan as a Respiratory Therapist.
• Demonstrated knowledge of basic and advanced respiratory care techniques as related to cardio-pulmonary disease management, level of experience and current with new respiratory devices and procedures.
• Demonstrates the ability to listen, comprehend and communicate efficiently (both verbally and in written forms).
• Demonstrates the ability to function appropriately in emergency and high stress situations.
• Other demands include considerable physical and mental effort in job duties, ie, assisting patients, moving equipment, bending, reaching, long periods of standing, keyboarding, working in stressful situations, and providing emotional support to patients and families. There is frequent use and exposure to disinfectant agents and hand cleaners in all healthcare settings. Having high involvement with acute and critically ill patients, the position may be prone to fatigue and infrequent opportunities for relaxation.

• A Bachelor's or Master's degree in respiratory care, science, education or other related field of study.
• One or more years of experience in a university/academic based medical center in a critical care setting.
• Exhibits sound skills in the use of Word, Excel and other software tools with the ability to understand research methodology, mathematical solutions and statistical relationships.
• Evidence of embracing being a lifelong learner as related to continuing professional development.

This position may be underfilled at a lower classification depending on the qualifications of the selected candidate.

This position involves considerable physical and mental effort in job duties, ie, assisting patients, moving equipment, bending, reaching, long periods of standing/walking, keyboarding, and providing emotional support to patients and families. There is frequent use and exposure to disinfectant agents and hand cleaners in all healthcare settings. Having high involvement with acute and critically ill patients, the position may be prone to fatigue and infrequent opportunities for relaxation. It also involves working in a potentially hazardous environment of infectious diseases, high-pressure medical gases and other related conditions.

Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background screenings.  Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act. Pre-employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U-M campuses.

Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally and internationally.  Our mission is guided by our Strategic Principles and has three critical components; patient care, education and research that together enhance our contribution to society.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.