State of Maryland

A Respiratory Care Nurse is the full performance level of work in the provision of respiratory care nursing to ventilator‑dependent patients in a State chronic care facility.  Employees in this classification may supervise Licensed Practical Nurses and non-licensed nursing and support staff.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a higher‑level Nurse.  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 residential or inpatient treatment facility providing twenty‑four hour care.  Employees are required to observe infection control precautions in order to prevent contamination and spread of disease.  The work may require the lifting and positioning of non-ambulatory patients and the lifting of wheelchairs and other heavy equipment.  The work may require long periods of standing, walking, bending and reaching.

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 Nurse is differentiated from the Registered Nurse Supervisor in that the Respiratory Care Nurse performs the full range of duties and responsibilities providing respiratory care nursing to ventilator‑dependent patients in a State chronic care facility under general supervision while the Registered Nurse Supervisor is responsible for a ward or unit .on a twenty‑four hour basis or is a shift supervisor for several wards and supervises Registered Nurses and other assigned licensed and non-licensed nursing care staff.

Administers intravenous fluids, tube feedings, aerosol treatments, chest physiotherapy and postural draining for ventilator dependent patients;

Performs patient medical treatments, such as suctioning procedures, tracheostomy care and levin tube insertion and care;

Develops a plan of patient care including the nursing care aspects in conjunction with members of the health care team;

Assesses the current health status of the patient, identifies nursing needs and revises the patient care plan as necessary;

Interprets agency policies, objectives and services to patients and their families;

Provides counseling, guidance and education necessary in the treatment of the physical, psychological and social needs of long term chronic patients;

Monitors ventilator settings and the effects of vasoconstrictor and antihypertensive medications;

Monitors and maintains chest tube sites and drainage;

Monitors and maintains nasogastric (GOMCO) suction;

Monitors central venous pressure;

Performs and monitors electrocardiogram;

May supervise Licensed Practical Nurses and nonlicensed staff;

May assume charge nurse responsibilities under the direction of a head nurse or shift supervisor in the supervisor's absence;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of registered nursing;

Knowledge of theory of registered nursing practice;

Knowledge of nursing process;

Skill in the application of the nursing process;

Skill in suctioning procedures;

Skill in the assessment of respiratory status of patients and determining need for nursing intervention;

Skill in providing accurate documentation and record keeping;

Skill in assessing physical, emotional and social needs of patients;

Skill in developing a plan of care for the patient;

Ability to work effectively with patients, professional and nonprofessional workers and the general public.

Education:   Determined by the Maryland State Board of Nursing under the licensing requirements for Registered Nurses.

Experience: One year of medical surgical nursing experience.

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

1. Candidates for positions in this classification must possess a current license as a Registered Nurse from the Maryland State Board of Nursing, 4201 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland  21215 or possess a current multi-state license in party states that candidates have declared as primary states of residence.

2. Employees in this classification may be required to successfully complete training and maintain certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

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

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.