Respiratory Care Assistant

Overview

At WakeMed, our caregivers make a difference every day-through compassion, teamwork, and a commitment to excellence. We're looking for a Respiratory Care Assistant (RCA) who is driven to learn, passionate about patient care, and ready to grow alongside an exceptional respiratory therapy team.

This role is intended for students currently enrolled in a CoARC-accredited Respiratory Care Program who want meaningful hands-on clinical experience in a fast-paced, patient-centered environment.

Position Summary

The Respiratory Care Assistant (RCA) works under the direct supervision of a Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) and supports the delivery of safe, high-quality respiratory care services. The RCA performs assigned respiratory care procedures, assists with patient assessments and monitoring, and contributes to a collaborative healthcare team while upholding WakeMed's mission and values.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Patient Assessment (20%)

• Assists in assessing patients across the lifespan by considering age, physical condition, psychological needs, and socioeconomic factors
• Reviews physician orders and helps recommend appropriate respiratory therapy interventions

Patient Monitoring (20%)

• Monitors patient responses to respiratory therapies, including vital signs and physiological changes
• Identifies and reports adverse reactions or changes in patient condition to the supervising RCP or physician

Respiratory Therapy Treatments (20%)

• Prepares and assists with respiratory treatments in accordance with established policies and procedures, including:
• Oxygen administration and delivery systems
• Manual resuscitation
• Humidity and aerosol therapy
• Small volume nebulizer (SVN) treatments
• Metered-dose inhaler (MDI) administration
• Incentive spirometry
• Non-invasive airway clearance therapies
• Chest physiotherapy with suctioning
• Arterial punctures
• Electrocardiogram (if applicable to the hiring department)

Clinical Documentation (20%)

• Accurately documents patient data including medical history, vital statistics, and therapy outcomes in the Electronic Health Record (EHR)

Equipment Maintenance (10%)

• Assists in monitoring respiratory equipment performance and functionality
• Participates in equipment testing, tracking inspections, and reporting malfunctions or incidents per policy

Teamwork & Collaboration (10%)

• Partners with physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and other healthcare professionals to provide coordinated patient care
• Supports clinical procedures and unit workflows as needed

Wake Way to Excellence (WW2E) Expectations

All WakeMed team members are expected to consistently demonstrate WW2E behaviors:

Respect for People

• Demonstrates compassion and empathy
• Values diversity and inclusion
• Protects patient privacy and dignity

Teamwork

• Takes pride in WakeMed and our mission
• Contributes positively to the team environment
• Supports colleagues and shared goals

Commitment & Accountability

• Makes patient and team safety the top priority
• Acts with integrity, professionalism, and ethical judgment
• Pursues continuous improvement and Kaizen principles

Communication

• Is welcoming, courteous, and professional
• Actively listens and communicates clearly
• Supports education and shared understanding among team members

Wake Way 2 Excellence

• Participates in WW2E initiatives
• Identifies opportunities to reduce waste and variation
• Follows standard work and just-in-time processes
• Contributes to efficient, patient-centered workflows

Why WakeMed?

At WakeMed, you'll find more than a job-you'll find a community dedicated to improving lives, supporting professional growth, and delivering exceptional care. If you're ready to learn, contribute, and grow in respiratory care, we'd love to meet you.


Department Description

Serving the community since 1961, WakeMed Health & Hospitals is the leading provider of health services in Wake County. With a mission to improve the health and well-being of our community, we are committed to providing outstanding and compassionate care. For more information, visit .

EOE


Licensure

• Respiratory Care Assistant - Required
• Basic Life Support (BLS) - Required
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) - Required
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) - Required

Education

• High School Diploma or Equivalent - Required
• Enrollment in a CoARC-accredited Respiratory Care Program - Required
• Clinical Training in Respiratory Therapy - Required

Experience

Training Clinical - Respiratory Therapy Required