State of Maryland

A Respiratory Care Practitioner Supervisor is the supervisory level of work providing respiratory therapy and life support to patients with deficiencies and abnormalities of the cardiopulmonary system.  Employees in this classification supervise the work of lower-level Respiratory Care Practitioners.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a health care administrator.  Employees receive clinical supervision from a Physician.  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 also on call for emergencies.  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 Supervisor is differentiated from the Respiratory Care Practitioner, Lead in that the Respiratory Care Practitioner, Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Respiratory Care Practitioners while the Respiratory Care Practitioner Lead assigns, reviews and approves the work of and trains lower-level Respiratory Care Practitioners.

Plans, schedules and supervises the work of Respiratory Care Practitioners and other support staff;

Develops and modifies the hospital's respiratory therapy program based upon the needs of the patients;

Plans, develops, implements and evaluates respiratory therapy treatment for patients;

Makes recommendations on budgeting funds for respiratory care;

Provides technical or respiratory care instruction to respiratory care practitioners and health care professionals;

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;

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;

Provides technical or respiratory care instruction to respiratory care practitioners and health care professionals;

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

Completes patient assessment, progress and statistical reports;

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

Ensures that equipment is properly maintained;

Writes orders for respiratory care procedures;

Approves orders of supplies and 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 patients' records;

Ability to supervise other health professionals, students and support staff;

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

Ability to plan, organize and direct respiratory therapy treatment;

Ability to coordinate equipment to meet patient needs;

Ability to prepare and monitor a program budget.

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

Experience: Three 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 not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.