NICU Respiratory Therapist

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health has a rich history of providing exceptional healthcare, dating back to 1891. Building upon a legacy of compassionate care and innovation, our organization has evolved over the years through strategic partnerships and integrations to expand our reach and services across the Puget Sound area.

Today, as Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, we remain deeply committed to healing the whole person – body, mind, and spirit – in the communities we serve. This commitment is strengthened by the diverse expertise and shared values brought together through our growth.

Our dedicated providers offer a full spectrum of health care services, from routine wellness to complex disease management, all grounded in rigorous research and education. Our comprehensive network of 10 hospitals and nearly 300 care sites strategically located across the greater Puget Sound region reflects our ongoing commitment to accessibility and comprehensive care.

We are proud of our pioneering medical advances and numerous awards and accreditations that reflect our dedication to excellence. When you join Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, you become part of a team that delivers top-quality, professional healthcare in modern, well-equipped facilities, and contributes to a legacy of service built on collaboration and shared purpose.

This job is responsible for evaluating, administering, addressing and documenting, within scope of practice, a complete array of basic and advanced respiratory care involving therapeutic and diagnostic procedures for neonates and care teams in the NICU at the assigned hospital. Work includes: 1) attending high-risk deliveries and C-sections; 2) setting up and monitoring a variety of complex respiratory equipment; 3) administering respiratory therapy treatments such as oxygen, therapeutic aerosols, intermittent positive pressure breathing, incentive spirometer and airway care to include intubation/estuation and tracheotomy care; 4) monitoring patients for adverse reaction and taking appropriate corrective action based on established procedures; and 5) determining the effectiveness and/or need for change in the therapy being administered and making recommendations to the physicians regarding treatment.

Incumbents are also accountable for providing resuscitation services, participating in various orientations, providing educational/orientation services to students, quality improvement and department projects, providing and maintaining skill levels to reflect the ever-changing procedures and techniques of respiratory care. Work may also include responsibility for providing respiratory care services as outlined above, to adult patients at the assigned hospital in areas of care to exclude intensive care units (ICUs).

• Under the direction of Neonatologist or NNP, delivers patient care within the respiratory care scope of practice, including (but not limited to): mechanical ventilation, non-invasive ventilation, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), surfactant replacement, airway management, blood gas sampling and neonatal resuscitation, in accordance with all department safety, risk management and procedural standards.
• Continually evaluates and assesses the cardiopulmonary condition of patients using data acquired from physical examination, respiratory monitoring, and diagnostic equipment.
• Determines the effectiveness and/or need for change in the therapy and recommends changes to the provider as needed.
• Communicates patient assessment to nursing and other staff, as appropriate.
• Documents all work activity in applicable computer system to include billing charges in accordance with department specific processes.
• Participates in the transfer of equipment and supplies to and from other Cardiopulmonary Departments as necessary; cleans, assembles and maintains CPS equipment and restocks supplies as needed.

Required

• Graduation from an approved school of Respiratory Therapy and one (1) year recent clinical experience in Respiratory Care that demonstrates attainment of the requisite job knowledge skills/abilities., upon hire and
• Respiratory Care Practitioner: WA, upon hire and
• Registered Respiratory Therapist, upon hire and
• Basic Life Support - CPR, upon hire and
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program, within 6 - months and
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support, within 6 - months and

Preferred

• Related neonatal work experience
• Neonatal-Pediatric Specialty Respiratory Therapist, upon hire