State of Maryland

A Respiratory Care Practitioner, Lead is the lead level of work providing respiratory therapy care and life support to patients with deficiencies and abnormalities of the cardiopulmonary system.  Employees in this classification assign, review and approve the work of and train lower-level Respiratory Care Practitioners.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Respiratory Care Practitioner Supervisor.  Employees may be assigned to day, evening, night or rotating shifts which may include holidays and weekends.  Employees may be subject to call-in and overtime based on staffing needs.  The work is usually performed in a State inpatient chronic care facility providing twenty-four hour care.  Employees are required to observe infection control precautions in order to prevent contamination and the spread of disease.  The work requires the lifting and moving of patients and equipment.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Respiratory Care Practitioner, Lead is differentiated from the Respiratory Care Practitioner II in that the Respiratory Care Practitioner, Lead assigns, reviews and approves the work of and trains lower-level Respiratory Care Practitioners while the Respiratory Care Practitioner II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.  The Respiratory Care Practitioner, Lead is differentiated from the Respiratory Care Practitioner Supervisor in that the Respiratory Care Practitioner Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Respiratory Care Practitioners.

Assigns, reviews and approves work of lower-level Respiratory Care Practitioners and other support staff;

Trains, motivates and assists lower-level Respiratory Care Practitioners in carrying out their assignments;

Provides technical advice and guidance on respiratory care procedures to lower-level Respiratory Care Practitioners and health care professionals;

Assists the Respiratory Care Practitioner Supervisor in administering the daily operations of the Respiratory Therapy Program;

Sets up, operates and monitors ventilators, oxygen delivery systems, and suctioning equipment;

Administers aerosol medications and medical gases per policy;

Provides respiratory therapy procedures such as postural drainage, tracheotomy changes, breathing exercises and naso-tracheal suctioning;

Draws and analyzes arterial blood samples in order to determine partial pressures of oxygen, carbon dioxide and pH levels using electronic blood gas analyzers;

Performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency airway management procedures;

Observes and evaluates assigned patients in order to determine their reaction to medications and therapy and the need for changes;

Consults with hospital Physicians concerning patients' prescribed therapy and makes recommendations for changes and/or makes appropriate changes per protocol;

Performs spontaneous ventilatory measurement and interprets results;

Performs and documents electrocardiograms (EKGs);

Develops and updates patient care plans per policy and attends interdisciplinary conferences to determine care priorities;

Explains respiratory care procedures to patients in order to alleviate fears and promote a positive therapeutic atmosphere;

Completes patient assessments, progress and statistical reports;

Provides clinical instruction to nursing and respiratory care students during rotation in the hospital;

Maintains and repairs respiratory therapy equipment;

Writes orders for respiratory care procedures;

Orders supplies and assists in ordering new or replacement equipment;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of respiratory therapy;

Knowledge of various types of oxygen equipment used in respiratory care;

Knowledge of the use and care of respiratory therapy equipment;

Skill in administering respiratory treatments and diagnostic procedures per protocols;

Skill in using and monitoring all respiratory care equipment such as suction machines, oxygen tanks, concentrators, ventilators, etc.;

Skill in assessing the respiratory status of patients;

Skill in developing a respiratory treatment plan;

Skill in documenting all respiratory therapy assessments, reports and changes in patient's medical record;

Ability to train, assign and review the work of lower-level Respiratory Care Practitioners, Respiratory Therapists and students;

Ability to coordinate equipment to meet patient needs;

Ability to maintain and perform general maintenance on respiratory therapy equipment;

Ability to prepare and maintain accurate records and reports;

Ability to communicate effectively with patients, staff and the public.

Education:    Determined by the Maryland State Board of Physicians under the licensing requirements for a Respiratory Care Practitioner.

Experience: Two years of experience as a Respiratory Care Practitioner.

Note: Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Respiratory Specialist classifications or Respiratory Therapy specialty codes in the Respiratory Therapy field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

1. Candidates for positions in this classification must possess a current license as a Respiratory Care Practitioner from the Maryland State Board of Physicians, 4201 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21215.

2. Employees in this classification are required to successfully complete and maintain current certification of cardiopulmonary resuscitation training.

1. Candidates for this classification may be given a medical examination prior to appointment to determine their ability to perform the work of the position.

2. Employees in this classification may be required to provide the facility with a telephone number at which they can be reached.

3. Employees in this classification are subject to substance abuse testing in accordance with Code of Maryland Regulations 06.01.09, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions.  Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated as Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit E- Health Care Professionals classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.