Neonatal & Pediatric Respiratory Therapist - Augusta - Full time

How would you like to work in a place where your contributions and ideas are valued? A place where you can serve with compassion, pursue excellence and honor every voice? At Wellstar, our mission is simple, yet powerful: to enhance the health and well-being of every person we serve. We are proud to have become a shining example of what's possible when the brightest professionals dedicate themselves to making a difference in the healthcare industry, and in people's lives.

Work Shift Day (United States of America)

About the Facility Learn more about Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center, including our teams, culture, and campus environment: Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center | Wellstar Health System Hours: Full Time Nights, 36 Hours per week $10,000 Sign-On Bonus Available

Job Overview: We are seeking an expert Respiratory Therapist to join our premier academic medical center and tertiary care center. In this role, you will deliver high-acuity respiratory care within our Level IV NICU, Pediatric ICU (PICU), Congenital Heart Program, and accredited Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Center. This position requires mastery of ultra-protective ventilation strategies for extremely low birth weight (ELBW) micro-preemies, active participation in trauma resuscitations, and collaboration on ECMO management. Qualified candidates will also have the optional opportunity to undergo specialized training to join our dedicated NICU/PICU critical care transport teams.

Key Responsibilities Micro-Preemie & Ultra-Low Birth Weight Care

• Manage fragile neonates: Apply expert clinical judgment when managing the unique respiratory needs of micro-preemies (infants born as early as 22 weeks gestation).

• Execute gentle ventilation: Utilize specialized lung-protective strategies, volume-targeted ventilation, and micro-tidal volumes to minimize ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) and chronic lung disease (CLD).

• Support resuscitation & delivery: Serve as the designated airway expert at high-risk, extremely premature deliveries, ensuring gentle stabilization, thermoregulation support, and early surfactant delivery.

• Maintain neuro-protection: Partner with nursing to provide care that aligns with minimal-stimulation protocols and neuro-protective positioning during high-acuity respiratory interventions. Critical Care & Advanced Ventilation

• Operate high-frequency vents: Manage High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation (HFOV) and High-Frequency Jet Ventilation (HFJV) protocols.

• Support cardiac care: Deliver targeted respiratory therapies for complex congenital heart disease patients pre- and post-op.

• Administer advanced gases: Manage inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) delivery using the Evolve INO system, alongside Heliox therapy.

• Manage ECMO patients: Collaborate with the perfusion and nursing teams to optimize lung-protective mechanical ventilation settings during VV- and VA-ECMO. Cystic Fibrosis Care & Outpatient Support

• Provide specialized CF care: Deliver comprehensive inpatient and outpatient respiratory therapies tailored to pediatric cystic fibrosis patients within our accredited CF Center.

• Manage airway clearance: Perform and instruct on advanced airway clearance techniques (ACT), including high-frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) and positive expiratory pressure (PEP) therapy. Bronchoscopy Support & Bedside Procedures

• Assist with bronchoscopies: Set up, maintain, and assist pulmonologists and intensivists during diagnostic and therapeutic rigid or flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopies.

• Manage procedural airways: Ensure optimal ventilation, oxygenation, and patient stabilization before, during, and immediately following therapeutic bronchoscopy procedures. Trauma Resuscitation & Transport Opportunities

• Stabilize trauma patients: Serve as a core member of the Level II Pediatric Trauma resuscitation team.

• Opt-in for transport: Choose to complete rigorous institutional training to qualify for high-risk NICU/PICU inter-facility transport teams (ground/air). Multidisciplinary Collaboration & Discharge

• Participate in rounds: Partner daily with neonatologists, pediatric intensivists, pulmonologists, congenital heart surgeons, and ICU nurses during academic teaching rounds.

• Transition patients: Coordinate complex care pathways for technology-dependent infants and pediatric patients transitioning to home ventilation.

• Educate families: Train parents and caregivers on home ventilators, tracheostomy care, CF therapy regimens, and emergency troubleshooting.

Required Qualifications Education & Licensure

• Degree: Associate or bachelor’s degree in respiratory care from an accredited program.

• License: Active Georgia state Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) license.

• Credential: Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) from the NBRC. Certifications

• Specialty: Preferred: Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist (NBRC-NPS)

• Life support: Required: BLS, PALS, and NRP certifications.

Join us and discover the support to do more meaningful work—and enjoy a more rewarding life. Connect with the most integrated health system in Georgia, and start a future that gives you more.