Respiratory Therapist - Pediatric - Duke Life Flight

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About Duke University Hospital

Pursue your passion for caring with Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, which is consistently ranked among the best in the United States and is the number one hospital in North Carolina, according to U.S. News and World Report for 2023-2024. Duke University Hospital is the largest of Duke Health's three hospitals and features 1048 patient beds, 65 operating rooms, as well as comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgery center, and more.

Advanced Respiratory Care Practitioner - Duke Life Flight

We are currently offering a $15,000 Commitment Bonus paid over the course of two years, up to $8,000 in relocation assistance and great shift differentials!

Duke Life Flight seeks to hire an Advanced Respiratory Care Practitioner who will embrace our mission of Advancing Health Together.

Duke Life Flight is a CAMTS accredited critical care and Emergency Air and Ground transport agency in Durham, NC, providing services to North Carolina and its surrounding states. We operate two state-of-the-art rotor wing aircraft and a fleet of critical care, and advanced life support ambulances. We are one of few rotor-wing aeromedical Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) capable flight programs in North Carolina. Our respiratory care practitioners with our Life Flight team transport pediatric, and neonatal patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We provide rapid access to health care for patients when time, specialized skills, and/or specialized resources are critical for survival.

General Description of the Job Class

Perform and evaluate diagnostic and therapeutic clinical procedures as defined in the Respiratory Care Services scope of clinical practice, performing work in accordance with physician orders in the neonatal, pediatric and adult patient populations.

Duties and Responsibilities of this Level

• Perform all duties and responsibilities required of a Respiratory Care Practitioner I.
• Evaluate appropriateness of medical orders.
• Proficient in the application of mechanical ventilator modalities.
• Proficient in the application of Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NPPV); Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) and Bi-Level Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP)
• Perform endotracheal intubation under the observation of a Supervisor or Advanced Practitioner. Perform extubations.
• Serve as member of the code/ emergency team. Administer medical gases.
• Insert nasogastric and orogastric tubes.
• Perform tracheotomy tube changes. Perform capnography monitoring.
• Transport patients requiring mechanical ventilation or airway protection.
• Interpret clinical data to optimize patient clinical objectives.
• Participate in clinical rounds with physicians, nurses and other health care providers
• Assist with Bronchoscopy. Assist with orientation and training of Level II RT.
• Assure safe operations of devices in the MRI.
• Qualified for certification in the hyperbaric chamber if applicable to the institution scope of practice

Required Qualifications at this Level

Education

• Completion of a two year AMA approved Respiratory Care Program - (Associates Degree or the equivalent).
• Must maintain annual skill maintenance and annual safety/compliance requirements
• Must maintain North Carolina annual license requirements for CEUs

Experience

• A minimum of three years (preference of four years) experience in clinical respiratory therapy, including a minimum of one year in intensive care respiratory therapy within a neonatal or pediatric ICU.
• Advanced certification required (C-NPT) within two years of hire. If hired with critical care transport experience, C-NPT or NPS certification highly preferred. 

Degrees, Licensure, and/or Certification

• North Carolina State Licensure
• Registry (RRT) by the National Association for Respiratory Care (NBRC)
• Certification in Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
• Certification in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Certification in Neonatal Resuscitation (NRP) 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge necessary to make appropriate clinical decisions and interaction relative to the specific age of a patient.
• Skills validation/certification of competencies for the duties and responsibilities required for a Level I RT.
• Skills validation / certifications of competencies for the duties and responsibilities of this level. Work involves contact with patients of all ages, family members, physicians, nursing, and all other members of the health care team.
• Work is performed in all areas of the hospital.
• Work may require lifting or pushing in excess of 30 pounds.
• Required to carry emergency airway bag weighing approximately 20 pounds.
• Work requires walking, running, climbing and bending. Customer service and communication expertise.

Duke University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions

Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.