Registered Respiratory Therapist Adult and NICU

Job DescriptionSummary

OFFERING NEW COMPETITIVEPAY RATES AND A $7,500 SIGN ON BONUS (Where applicable) Providesrespiratory care to patients as assigned by supervisors and givenon the physician's order for both in-house and out-patientcare.

JobDescription

1 -Responsible for the safe and effective administration of medicallyprescribed medications, knowing their indications andcontraindications.

a -Assures proper physician order before administration of medicationas evidenced by Process Improvement.

b - Demonstrates proper procedures for the procurement ofrespiratory medications and reconciliation of medication countvariances.

c - Completes RespiratoryCare Patient Assessments before treating patients (except in anemergency) as evidenced by process improvementreviews

2 -Knows and follows the indications and contraindications,the policy and procedures in administering therapeutic modalitiesincluding but not limited to: IPPB, IS, HHN, CPAP & BiPAP,Heliox.

a - Assures properphysician order before treatment administered as evidenced byProcess Improvement review.

b -Discontinues treatment if any adverse or contraindication noted anddocumented in patient chart at time of occurrence as well asnotifying the appropriate staff member, ie, nurse,physician.

3- Safe utilization of gas cylinders and piped in gasoutlets.

a - Sets up gascylinders and assures proper usage and safety measures are inplace.

b - Lifts and moves gascylinders utilizing proper bodymechanics.

c - Demonstratesknowledge of the set up, use and problems associated with oxygen,air and vacuum outlets, regulators, flowmeters anddevices.

4- Performs PFT's to the standards of the American ThoracicSociety.

a - Patients areconsistently coached to produce reliable data as evidenced by thenumber of needed retests.

b - PFTdata is confirmed on a daily basis to have been transferred intothe Meditech system.

c - Maintainsand backs up patient data on a regularbasis.

5 -Performs arterial punctures using radial, brachial andfemoral sites independently. Draws off arterial lines toobtain sample for blood gasanalysis.

a - Obtainssample upon a physician's order as directed. As determined bydirect observation, the sample is obtained according to policy andin compliance with universalprecautions.

b - Follows allNational Patient Safety Goals regarding patient identification,labeling of the specimen and dealing with critical value resultswhen performing an arterial puncture and blood gas analysis asevidenced during the process improvementreviews.

c - Proficient ininterpreting arterial and venous blood gas results and conveys theinformation to the medicalteam.

6 -Be a member of both the "code team" and the "rapidresponse team" responding to arrest and patient in crisissituations.

a -Maintains current BLS/ACLS card as evidenced bycard.

b - Performs externalcompression when needed in a codesituation.

c - Proper handling andusage of ambu and assures proper function during code. Utilizes proper technique as observed/reported by code teamparticipants.

d - Demonstrates theability to assist with endotracheal tube and LMA insertion andremoval as observed/reported by code teamparticipants.

e - Demonstrates theability to verify endotracheal tube placement by use of an endtidal CO2 detector, breath sounds and a chestx-ray.

7 -Performs all aspects of artificial airway care. Demonstrates ability to perform naso-tracheal and endo-trachealsuctioning on patients.

a- Fully competent in explaining benefits and complications ofvarious airwaydevices.

8- Documents all maintenance, calibration, problems, andquality controls performed on the blood gasanalyzers.

a - Performsmaintenance on ABG analyzer as documented in the labpolicy.

b - Changes IQM cartridgeswhen directed by the instrument.

c -Reports critical values according to the hospital policy andprocedures

10- Familiar with measuring devices to include, but notlimited to, ETCO2, pulse oximeter, Wrights respirometer, oxygenblenders.

a - Demonstratesability to perform weaning mechanics utilizing a respirometer,manometer and cuff pressure manometer and documents the data in themedical record.

b - Measures andrecords the static compliance and dynamic resistance of the airwaysfor all mechanically ventilatedpatients.

11- Responsible for the set-up, safety check, monitoring andtroubleshooting of mechanicalventilators.

a -Demonstrates the ability to set properly set up and check thefunctionality of all ventilators at South ShoreHospital.

b - Demonstrates theability to proficiently set-up and apply all modes of ventilationthrough each ventilator and can articulate the function andapplication of each of the modes.

c- Performs ventilator checks at the prescribed frequency duringassigned shift .

d - Familiar withand promotes the use of mechanical ventilation protocols for bothventilator management and weaningevaluations.

e - Upon the order of aphysician, the therapist demonstrates the ability to safely performan endotrachealextubation.

12- Familiar with the set-up and administration of CPAP andBiPAP.

a - Demonstrateability to select proper equipment and fit the mask to theindividual patient.

b - Demonstratethe ability to set all parameters and alarms when setting up apatient for NPPV.

c - Fully capableof explaining the different modalities and their applications withrespect to the patient's diseaseprocess.

13- Maintains accurate and legible records, documentingclinical notes in patients medicalrecord.

a - Accurate andnotes are to be kept in the electronic medical record as evidencedin process improvement reviews.

b -All medications administered and missed are documented via properBMV technique in the MAR as evidenced in process improvementreviews.

c - PRP documentation iscompleted in a timely manner. RN who triggered PRP notifiedof anyinterventions.

14- Participation in reporting patient progress, patientcondition, and documenting needed level of care to the next shiftas determined by observation at shiftchange.

15- Participates in staff meetings, attends lectures,conferences and seminars.

a - Regularly attends staff meetings as scheduled as evidenced byminutes of meeting or requests a review of the material fromsupervisors or managers.

b - Attendslectures, seminars as scheduled as evidenced by rosters or awardedcertificates.

17- Safety Awareness - Fosters a Culture of Safety throughpersonal ownership and commitment to a safeenvironment.

a - Adheresto patient identification policies/procedures as evidenced throughthe PI system.

b - Makes appropriateuse of personal protective equipment at alltimes.

c - Adheres to respiratoryetiquette guidelines and universalprecautions.

d - Appropriatelydisposes of hazardous materials.

e -Adheres to electrical safetyguidelines.

18- Performs new respiratory procedures as they areintroduced and inserviced into the Respiratory CareDepartment.

19- Adheres to policies and procedures required for theimplementation of the National Patient Safety Goals as determinedby process improvementreviews.

ESSENTIALFUNCTIONS(Cont.)

1 -Technology and Learning

a- Participates in continued learning and possess a willingness andability to learn and utilize new technology and procedures thatcontinue to develop in their role and throughout theorganization.

b - Embracestechnological advances that allow us to communicate informationeffectively and efficiently based onrole.

JOBREQUIREMENTS

Minimum Education-Preferred

Must be agraduate of an approved school of RespiratoryCare.

Minimum WorkExperience

Two years of acute careexperience preferred.

Required Licenses/Registrations

Respiratory TherapistLicense
Registered Respiratory Therapist - NationalBoard for Respiratory Care(NBRC)

Required Classes/Skills-

ACLS - AdvancedCardiac Life Support
BLS - Basic LifeSupport