Respiratory Care Practitioner

At Houston Methodist, the Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) position is responsible for performing routine respiratory care procedures as assigned, varying in complexity including preparation, administration and monitoring of medication and treatment modalities, gas therapy, ventilator support, spirometry, and assistance with bronchoscopy. The role may also involve diagnostic testing of the cardiac respiratory system and providing direct assistance to physicians and other care health professionals within the scope of the professional licensure.

The RCP delivers exceptional patient care and adheres to standards and guidelines established by respiratory and regulatory agencies to ensure optimal patient safety and service.

• Education
  • Graduate of education program approved by the credentialing body for the required credential(s) indicated below in the Certifications, Licenses and Registrations section
• Experience
  • One year experience as a Respiratory Care Practitioner preferred
• Licenses and Certifications
  • Required
    • RRT
      - Registered Respiratory Therapist (NBRC) – National Board for Respiratory Care
    • RCP
      - Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner – State Licensure – Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
    • BLS
      - Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA) – American Heart Association
    • ACLS
      - Advanced Cardiac Life Support or Instructor (AHA) – American Heart Association
  • Preferred
    • PALS
      - Pediatric Advanced Life Support or Instructor (AHA) – depending on area assigned
    • NRP
      - Neonatal Resuscitation or Instructor (AHA, AAP) – depending on area assigned

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on‑going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co‑workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles
• Possesses basic computer knowledge; operates multiple computer systems to maintain patient and exam documents
• Exhibits strong interpersonal and team player skills with all levels of the healthcare team and assures delivery of excellent customer service to all patients, visitors, physicians and co‑workers
• Demonstrates time management skills
• Adapts to multiple ongoing priorities with minimal supervision including, organizing workflow and actively participating in problem‑solving

• Promotes a positive work environment and contributes to a dynamic, team‑focused work unit that actively helps one another to achieve optimal department results. Collaborates with all members of the inter‑professional team by using progressive skills in therapeutic communication and reporting pertinent patient care information and data in a comprehensive manner, which includes active listening and teaching.
• Communicates effectively with others to facilitate providing the highest quality service during every customer and patient encounter.
• Serves as a patient advocate in preventing/resolving ethical issues. Facilitates interventions to relieve the patient’s/family spiritual distress.
• Provides contributions towards improvement of department scores for turnover/retention/employee engagement, i.e. peer‑to‑peer accountability.

• Performs respiratory care to include but not limited to: arterial blood gas and analysis, pulse oximetry, spirometry and flow volume loops, lung volume determination, airway resistance measurement, breath diffusion capacity, bronchoprovocation testing, maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures, bronchodilator administration, diagnostic radiology procedures. Prepares, administers and monitors treatment modalities and medication delivery. Implements, monitors and evaluates ventilator support.
• Performs other procedures and tests as needed and if assigned, such as Electrocardiograms, Holter’s, and Arterial Blood Gas.
• Pro…