MICHAEL NIKOLICH, BS, RRT
Fargo,ND
Summary
I am a dedicated Respiratory Therapist with a Bachelor's degree in Respiratory Therapy and RRT certification, offering over 15 years of comprehensive healthcare experience. My career began in 2008 when I joined the United States Air Force and served as a Cardiopulmonary Technician. During my time in the USAF, I received extensive training in combat medicine, critical care air transport, and developed proficiency in the following 5 areas: Cardiac Catheterization, Polysomnography, Respiratory Therapy, Pulmonary Lab Studies, and Echocardiography. Upon my departure from the USAF, in 2014, I accepted a Respiratory Therapist position working with adult and pediatric patients at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, ND. Within 1 year I was promoted to a Lead/Charge therapist position. In 2016 I moved to a position at LifeSource, which is an organ procurement organization based in Minneapolis, MN, as a Donation Coordinator. While at LifeSource, I worked as part of a comprehensive medical team who worked to facilitate the entire organ transplantation process in partnership with hospitals throughout MN, ND, SD, and WI. Following LifeSource, I joined MTF Biologics as a Donation Coordinator working in tissue and eye donation where I remotely served donors, donor families, and hospitals throughout NY, FL, and HI. In 2022 I re-joined Sanford Medical Center where I currently work as a Respiratory Therapist, in the Pulmonary Rehab clinic, focusing on developing personalized exercise programs and educational initiatives to improve the quality of life for patients with chronic lung diseases.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Cardiopulmonary Technician
United States Air Force
10.2008 - 03.2014
- Provided respiratory therapy, pulmonary, and cardiology support services to support military and VA health care needs.
- Expertly trained in Critical Care Air Transport to extract injured/down military personnel and deliver to US military hospital while medically managing.
- Piloted $5.4M Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory venture at Nellis Air Force Base, NV.
- 7 Month deployment to combat zone as 1 of 2 Respiratory Therapists managing acutely sick/injured military personnel and civilian contractors.
- Respiratory Therapy shift leader in the USAF. Oversaw daily department operations and assignment of 8 staff members.
Registered Respiratory Therapist
Sanford Medical Center
05.2014 - 10.2016
- Performed all Respiratory Therapy tasks primarily in the adult ICU, pediatric ICU, adult general care floors or step-down units, and the emergency department.
- Evaluated patient response to respiratory treatments and revised care plans accordingly.
- Utilized evidence based therapist-driven protocols in daily Respiratory Therapy assignment; promoting critical thinking skills and improving overall patient care.
- Promoted to Lead/Charge RT. Trained new team members, built daily staff assignments, and was responsible for responding to all acute respiratory care needs within the hospital.
Donation Coordinator
LifeSource
11.2016 - 10.2021
- Evaluates the suitability for donation opportunities through medical record review, medical-social history evaluation, and consultation with transplant surgeons as indicated.
- Ensures proper clinical management of critically ill patients including ventilator management, fluid management and laboratory interpretations to maximize organs available for transplantation.
- Demonstrates skill in medical crisis management, thinking critically to evaluate the components of an issue, select an appropriate course of action, and respond appropriately using established resources and guidance from others.
- Collaborates with multiple teams to coordinate the allocation and recovery of organs and tissues for transplantation.
- Allocates organs according to procedures governed by Organ Procurement Transplantation Network (OPTN).
- Establishes rapport with donor families or Legal Next of Kin (LNOK) providing respectful and compassionate support during the donation process.
- Ensures effective, respectful, and strong communication and collaboration with hospital staff, physicians, and related donation agencies to fulfill donation wishes.
Donation Coordinator
MTF Biologics
11.2021 - 09.2022
- Job Summary: Coordinates all functions of the Tissue Services recovery program relating to referral from donor resources; determining medical suitability with processor, obtaining appropriate Authorization and Medical/Behavioral history, and coordination of recovery arrangements.
- Serves as a representative of the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation (MTF); interacting and communicating with with donor source staff and other key individuals and groups in a manner that reflects the organization positively.
- Works empathetically and professionally with families in crisis and deal with death & grieving families in a caring and professional manner.
- Coordinate all aspects required to for donation to occur, including coordinating the recovery process with other participating agencies such as hospitals, ME/Coroner, funeral director, Organ Procurement Organization (OPO), and/or the appropriate eye bank.
- Pre-requisite skills required and possessed to perform in this position: knowledge and understanding of medical terminology and disease processes, strong customer service skills, strong interpersonal skills, ability to work collaboratively and part of a team, strong counseling skills, strong computer skills, and ability to multi-task.
Respiratory Therapist
Sanford Health
10.2022 - Current
- Assess patients by conducting initial and ongoing evaluations of pulmonary function, exercise tolerance, and psychological status.
- Develop and supervise individualized, safe, and effective exercise training sessions to improve endurance.
- Educate patients by instructing them on breathing techniques, medication management, supplemental oxygen usage, and nutrition.
- Monitor heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation during therapy to ensure safety.
- Collaborate within a multi-disciplinary team of physicians, nurses, and dieticians to adjust care plans and meet patient needs.
- Complete documentation and maintain accurate patient records regarding progress and compliance.
- Help train and educate NDSU students who shadow in the Pulmonary Rehab department as they are earning their degree in Respiratory Therapy.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Respiratory Therapy
University of Cincinatti
Cincinnati, OH05-2015
Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) Credential - Respiratory Therapy
National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC)
Overland Park, KS01-2014
Associate of Science - Cardiopulmonary Sciences
Community College of The Air Force
Montgomery, AL2013
Training Certificate: Basic Military Training -
United States Air Force
San Antonio, TX12-2008
Skills
- Excellent Interpersonal Communication Skills
- Works extremely well in a team setting
- High Level leadership skills developed through diverse background and professional experience
- Proactively addresses challenges
- Advanced critical thinking skills
- Excellent time management skills
- Self-Driven with high intrinsic motivation
- Highly capable in the area of multi-tasking and managing multiple moving parts at once in high speed environments
Accomplishments
- Recognized as the top Cardiopulmonary student of my class by earning the distinguished graduate award upon graduation from tech school in the USAF.
- Nominated and became a finalist for the 2013 Cardiopulmonary Technician of the Year.
- Mentored Cardiopulmonary technical school students by instructing 125 pulmonary, respiratory & cardiology core tasks during time in the USAF.
- Offered the position of Cardiopulmonary Technician Phase II Technical School Instructor at Nellis Air Force Base (lowest ranked Airmen at E4 to be offered the position at that time).
- Earned the credential of Registered Respiratory Therapist in 2014.
- Promoted to Lead/Charge Therapist at Sanford Health in 2015.
- University of Cincinnati Honor Society Member following my completion of BS in Respiratory Therapy.
- Operated as the sole Donation Coordinator for LifeSource in the Fargo area and was the main point of contact to Fargo area hospitals for nearly 5 years.
- Led a renovation of the Pulmonary Rehab gym, at Sanford, to help improve patient care and increase patient satisfaction.
Timeline
Respiratory Therapist
Sanford Health
10.2022 - Current
Donation Coordinator
MTF Biologics
11.2021 - 09.2022
Donation Coordinator
LifeSource
11.2016 - 10.2021
Registered Respiratory Therapist
Sanford Medical Center
05.2014 - 10.2016
Cardiopulmonary Technician
United States Air Force
10.2008 - 03.2014
Bachelor of Science - Respiratory Therapy
University of Cincinatti
Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) Credential - Respiratory Therapy
National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC)
Associate of Science - Cardiopulmonary Sciences
Community College of The Air Force
Training Certificate: Basic Military Training -
United States Air Force