Respiratory Therapist

Alright, let's talk about this PRN Respiratory Therapist spot on the night shift at SSM Health in Oklahoma City, OK.

The Work

You're evaluating and caring for patients who need respiratory therapy. That means administering the services a doctor prescribes.

You'll assess what type of treatment someone needs and how often, then build a care plan from there. A big part of the job is implementing that plan, monitoring the patient and the equipment, and keeping a clear record of their condition while you communicate it to the team.

• Performing advanced respiratory care treatments.
• Checking how effective the treatments and medications are based on patient outcomes.
• Teaching patients and their families about their condition; you're also their link to community support groups and programs.
• Taking care of the gear; that's cleaning, sterilizing, calibrating, and general maintenance.
• Helping keep track of department supplies so we don't run out.
• You're part of the response team for medical emergencies and rapid responses in the hospital.

The Schedule & Details

This is a PRN role. You'd be working nights, from 7pm to 7am. The schedule is typically one or two of those 12 hour shifts per week. There are shift differentials available for night, weekend, and extra shifts when you pick them up.

What You Need to Bring

The education requirement is an Associate's degree in Respiratory Care. You can also meet it with an equivalent mix of experience and education. No prior work experience is required; they'll train you up if you have the right foundation.

The licenses and certs depend on where you're working:

• For all locations: You must have Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (BLS HCP) from the American Heart Association and be a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) through the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).
• If in Illinois: You need state registration as a Respiratory Care Practitioner with IDFPR.
• If in Missouri: You need either a full Respiratory Care Practitioner license or a Respiratory Educator Permit from the state Division of Professional Registration.
• If in Oklahoma: On top of RRT, you need one of these from the Oklahoma Medical Board: an acknowledgment letter for your application, a Provisional license, or a full Respiratory Care Practitioner license.
• If in Wisconsin: You need state licensure as a Respiratory Care Practitioner through DSPS.

The Physical Side

The job keeps you moving. You're on your feet talking and walking constantly. There's frequent lifting or carrying items under 25 pounds, plus sitting, reaching, and typing. Your vision needs to be sharp for close up work like reading monitors and seeing across a room; distinguishing colors matters too. You'll use your sense of smell to catch certain odors and hearing to listen to patients, equipment sounds, and alarms.

The work also involves occasionally moving patients or handling objects weighing 25 50 lbs. Expect some bending, stooping, kneeling, twisting, gripping things tightly enough not to drop them; repetitive arm movements happen too. There's occasional driving involved. Crawling or running would be rare here. It’s physical work that demands your attention; you've got to stay alert for safety every minute.

A Look at Benefits