Respiratory Therapist

Where You’ll Work

Mercy Hospital is an 82 bed, acute care hospital located in the scenic southwestern Colorado town of Durango. It is the only hospital in Colorado to be rated by Medicare with five stars for overall hospital quality. It is recognized for excellence in orthopedic and spine surgery and for outstanding patient experience and patient safety. Mercy has also received ten consecutive 'A' grades for patient safety from The Leapfrog Group. Our providers use state-of-the-art technology in an environment designed to promote wellbeing and healing of body, mind, and spirit. Among the many specialty services available at Mercy are emergency care (Level III trauma designation), surgical care, cardiac care (including interventional), Orthopedic and Spine Centers of Excellence, a Family Birthing Center, home care, hospice care and more. Durango offers an exceptional quality of life with small town charm, excellent schools, and year-round, world-class outdoor recreation opportunities including snow sports, river sports, hiking, biking, camping and more.

Job Summary and Responsibilities

As our Respiratory Therapist, you will join a multidisciplinary team providing evidence-based, compassionate care across all clinical departments. You will serve as a vital partner to physicians and staff to ensure the highest standards of respiratory excellence and patient-centered outcomes.

Every day you will perform essential respiratory procedures, conduct thorough patient assessments, and implement or adjust individualized care plans to optimize treatment efficacy. You will also provide culturally competent care while collaborating with clinical teams to improve overall patient health outcomes.

To be successful in this role, you will need a strong commitment to performance improvement and clinical excellence in a fast-paced environment. Your ability to integrate professional expertise with a patient-first approach will be essential to supporting our organizational mission.

• Delivers respiratory care procedures to patients in general, acute, critical care, and emergency areas according to departmental policies and procedures.
• Performs therapeutic modalities including patient monitoring, medication delivery, ventilation management, expansion therapy, and bronchial hygiene.
• Assists in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency care by providing airway maintenance and management, cardiac support, and other assistance as needed to expedite patient and physician needs.
• Performs diagnostic testing including ABGs, PFTs, EKGs, cardiac, bronchoscopy, and pulse oximetry.
• Develops care plan from thorough assessment via protocol criteria or directed physician order.
• Provides patient and family education and teaching.

Job Requirements

Required

• High School Diploma/ G.E.D.
• Completion of an accredited Respiratory Therapy Education Program, i.e. CoARC, JRCRTE, or CAAHEP
• CRT by NBRC
• Basic Life Support- American Heart Association
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support- American Heart Association- Current ACLS certification from upon hire or obtain within 6 months of hire (for locations in Kansas,ACLS is required within 1 year of hire/transfer date).
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support- Current PALS certification upon hire or obtain within 6 months of hire 
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program- Current NRP certification upon hire or obtain within 6 months of hire

Preferred

• Associate's Degree
• One (1) year of respiratory therapy experience