Under general supervision, administers and evaluates skilled respiratory care to adult, adolescent, geriatric, pediatric and neonatal patients as attended to inpatient, outpatient, emergency room and clinic settings, especially to critically ill or difficult to manage patients, utilizing all modes of therapeutic and/or diagnostic aids available. An incumbent in this class is responsible for independent, fully skilled administration and evaluation of respiratory care. Respiratory Care Practitioners have regular on-going responsibility for providing continuous ventilation management, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, diagnostic pulmonary function testing, bronchoscopy assistance and management of the airway for infants in respiratory distress. Performs related work as required.

Qualifications
Minimum
1. Certification with the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) as a certified/registered Respiratory Care Practitioner.
2. Must be licensed in the State of California as a Respiratory Care Practitioner.
3. Must possess a current valid Basic Life Support (BLS) certificate
4. Must possess a current valid Neonate Resuscitation (NRP) certificate within six (6) months of employment.
5. Must possess or complete a current Arterial Puncture certificate within the first 90 days of hire.
6. If hired after March 2006 all therapists must be eligible to take the Registered Respiratory Therapist exam and pass the test within one year of hire.

Desired
1. Previous clinical experience in Respiratory Care.
2. Registered as a Respiratory Therapist by the NBRC