Respiratory Therapist

FUNCTIONS OF POSITION:

1. Conducts physician prescribed Respiratory Care treatments and procedures.

2. Conducts regular rounds, checking patient 02 supplies and equipment, documenting as necessary, and completing patient charges.

3. Reports patient and department information to the next shift.

4. Sets up and monitors patients on continuous and non continuous ventilation

5. Responsible for performing arterial puncture procedures, sample collection and analysis, Quality Control, Proficiency testing, problem solving skills.

6. Will function as a member of the Code 3 team.

7. Performs nasotracheal and tracheal suctioning.

8. May perform cardiac compressions.

9. Explains the purpose and procedures of treatments, tests, and equipment to the patient.

10. Records all pertinent information of therapy and patient response on Respiratory Care records and patient chart.

11. Processes Respiratory Care equipment, cleaning, disinfecting, sterilizing and packaging as required.

12. Performs quality control procedures on Respiratory Care equipment.

13. Performs basic preventative maintenance and reports necessary repairs to BioMed on a timely basis.

14. Maintains department in a clean, safe, neat, and orderly condition.

15. Provides clinical instruction for the Respiratory Care students.

16. Maintains established department policies, procedures, objectives, quality assurance and safety procedures.

17. Attends meetings as required.

18. Assist with deliveries and c-sections.

19. Performs other related duties as assigned or requested.

QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION: Has graduated from an AMA accredited Respiratory Therapist Program.

LICENSE: Registered with the State of Missouri and maintains a current license.

CREDENTIALS: Registered or registry eligible by the National Board for Respiratory Care.

EXPERIENCE: Preferably two years experience as a registered/registry eligible therapist.

SPECIAL:

PATIENT CONTACT: Must have the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served.

MACHINE OPERATION: Basic knowledge of keyboard and computer programs. Knowledge and understanding of the operation and troubleshooting of equipment used in Respiratory Care, including: ventilators, CPAP/BiPAP, pulse-oximetry, suction equipment, gas cylinders, regulators, and gauges.

PHYSICAL:

STANDING: Moderate amount, doing patient care and working with equipment.

WALKING: Moderate amount, walking to different areas of the hospital to do patient care and patient teaching, hospital rounds, and QA monitoring.

LIFTING: Pushes, pulls or moves heavy equipment, gas cylinders and supplies. Assists in lifting, moving and turning patients for tests and procedures.

VISUAL: Must have good eye sight for close work, to be able to read charts for orders, document patient information in the chart, must be able to draw up medications to administer with respiratory treatments, be able to recognize patients in respiratory distress (patient color and respirations), must be able to draw blood from an artery or arterial line. Be able to read monitors on critical care equipment and be able to adjust controls and perform calibrations as needed.

HEARING: Must have good hearing; be able to hear pages (stat calls and codes), answer the telephone, take verbal orders, respond to patients and their families requests, and to be able to communicate with the physicians and other health care team members.

SPEAKING: Must have clear speech to communicate with nursing, physicians, other health care workers, all fellow employees, patients and their families and visitors.