Respiratory Therapist

The Gig

MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC needs a Respiratory Care Practitioner. This isn't a starter job or a desk gig; it's the real deal. You'll work with patients from newborns to the elderly, handling everything from basic oxygen therapy to managing ventilators during a code. It's a role where you stay calm when things get chaotic, and you communicate clearly with doctors, nurses, and families. You're the expert on the equipment and the physiology, and you'll need to think on your feet.

What You'll Actually Do

• Assess every patient, including their physical, psychosocial, spiritual, and cultural needs, and document it all properly. You'll also figure out what they need to learn about their own care.
• Handle every respiratory therapy treatment and service: setting up and managing oxygen, mixed gas, humidity, and monitors. You'll run ventilators (both invasive and non invasive), do bronchial hygiene, lung expansion therapy, and spirometry testing. You'll also work EKG machines and run blood gas analyses.
• Use real therapeutic communication, proper interviewing techniques, solid problem solving, and crisis intervention skills in every patient interaction.
• Jump into cardiopulmonary resuscitation when needed. You'll maintain airways, deliver oxygen and ventilation through masks, endotracheal tubes, or other devices, and perform closed chest cardiac massage.
• Keep an eye on workflow across departments, spot where policies or processes are slowing things down, and suggest improvements.
• Review electronic medical records and physician orders throughout your entire shift.

What You Bring

You're a certified respiratory therapist who knows human respiratory anatomy, physiology, and pathology cold. You understand how every piece of respiratory care equipment works and how to apply it in a clinical setting. You can spot hazardous conditions related to respiratory care and fix them immediately. You're comfortable treating patients of all ages, from neonates to geriatrics. And you don't lose your cool under pressure ; you function well when things get stressful. You work well as part of a team and you're articulate enough to communicate with all kinds of people.

Compensation & Benefits

The pay range for this role is $36.06 to $60.78 per hour. MedStar Health is one of the largest healthcare systems in the Baltimore Washington metro region and has been recognized as one of the "Healthiest Maryland Businesses."

How to Apply

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