Registered Respiratory Therapist-Respiratory Therapy Casual Days

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The Registered Respiratory Therapist reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

Responsibilities:

• Reviews existing data in patient record including admission and current respiratory care orders, patient history, physical examination, pulmonary function values, blood gas results, additional laboratory data, and ECG.
• Collects and evaluates additional pertinent clinical information by inspection, auscultation and patient interview.
• Reviews chest x-ray to determine presence of, or changes in, consolidation, atelectasis, pneumothorax, position of tracheal tube and other conditions.
• Performs and/or evaluates bedside spirometry.
• Recommends other data through chest x-rays, blood gas analysis, and other laboratory tests.
• Evaluates complete pulmonary function studies and ABG’s.
• Determines appropriateness of prescribed therapy and goals for identified pathophysiological state and utilizes appropriate patient care protocol relating to the physical and psychological needs of neonatal, pediatric, adolescent, and adult patients.
• Selects, assembles, and checks the following equipment for proper function, operation, and cleanliness, including correction for malfunctions:
  • Gas and oxygen administration: aerosol generators, flowmeters and regulators, blenders, cylinders, concentrators, and oxygen analyzers.
  • Resuscitation devices: artificial airways, suctioning devices, manual resuscitators, intubation equipment, tracheal tubes, suction catheters, and specimen collectors.
  • Ventilators and patient breathing circuits: positive pressure devices, mechanical ventilators, BiPAP units, and CPAP units.
  • Monitoring Devices: oximeters, CO2 monitors, manometers, and blood gas analyzers.
• Performs procedures for cold disinfection.
• Performs calibration procedure on analyzers: oxygen, CO2 monitors, blood gas analyzers, and bedside spirometers.
• Explains planned therapy and goals to patient.
• Conducts prescribed therapeutic procedures to achieve maintenance of a patient airway, including maintenance of adequate humidification, use of appropriate oral and nasopharyngeal airways, endotracheal tubes, including intubation and extubation procedures.
• Conducts therapeutic procedures to achieve removal of bronchopulmonary secretions and administers prescribed pharmacologic agents.
• Conducts prescribed therapeutic procedures to achieve adequate spontaneous and artificial ventilation.
• Conducts prescribed therapeutic procedures to achieve adequate oxygenation including adjustment of oxygen concentrations, adjustment of PEEP/CPAP and prevention of iatrogenic hypoxemia.
• Evaluates and monitors patient’s response to therapeutic procedures.
• Modifies techniques based on patient’s response to all treatment modalities including: IPPB, incentive breathing devices, aerosol therapy, oxygen therapy, chest physiotherapy, mechanical ventilation, BiPAP and PEEP therapy.
• Initiates, conducts and modifies respiratory techniques in an emergency.
• Records therapy and results as required by hospital policy and regulating agencies; communicates information to appropriate members of healthcare team.
• Assists physician performing bronchoscopy and tracheostomy procedures.
• Performs arterial puncture; operates blood gas analyzers, efficiently operates and monitors mechanical ventilators, and metabolism of the respiratory system.
• Maintains blood gas quality control records and reports status to Respiratory Care management.
• Assists in maintaining an appropriate inventory of all therapeutic and blood gas supplies.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Required:

• Graduate of an AMA approved school/program for the study of Respiratory Care.
• Must have current registration with the National Board of Respiratory Care as a Registered Respiratory Therapist.
• Current licensure by the State of Illinois as a Respiratory Care Practitioner.
• Current CPR certification.
• Continuing Competency Program (CCP) Requirements. All individuals credentialed by the NBRC on or after July 1, 2002, are required to participate in the Continuing Competency Program (CCP). Individuals credentialed prior to July 1, 2002, are not required to participate, and may choose to do so voluntarily, but their original credential will remain in effect. The policies governing the program follow:
• Length of Initial Credentialing Period: Effective July 1, 2002, all credentials issued by the NBRC will be awarded for a term of five years, calculated from the end of the calendar month in which credential was issued. An exact expiration date will be contained on credentialing certificates, clearly indicating the requirement that the individual renew the credential through the CCP.
• Continuing Competency Program Options: Individuals have the following three options from which to choose in renewing their credentials for an additional five years beyond their initial credentialing date:
  • Provide proof of completion of a minimum of 30 hours of Category I Continuing Education (CE) acceptable to the NBRC.
  • “Category I” Continuing Education is defined as participation in an education activity directly related to respiratory therapy or pulmonary function technology which includes any one of the following:
    • Lecture—a discourse given for instruction before an audience or through teleconference.
    • Panel—a presentation of a number of views by several professionals on a given subject with none of the views considered a final solution.
    • Workshop—a series of meetings for intensive, hands on, study or discussion in a specific area of interest.
    • Seminar—a directed advanced study or discussion in a specific field of interest.
    • Symposium—a conference of more than a single session organized for the purpose of discussing a specific subject from various viewpoints and by various presenters.
    • Distance Education—includes such enduring materials as text, internet, or CD, provided the proponent has included an independently scored test as part of the learning package.
• The NBRC intends for the completion of continuing education credit to coordinate with the requirements of state licensure agencies. Individuals can use the same continuing education hours to satisfy state requirements as well as NBRC Continuing Competency Program requirements. Individuals may also use AARC-CRCE credit to fulfill the NBRC Continuing Competency Program requirements. Continuing education information must be submitted online at www.nbrc.org.

OR

• Retake the respective examination(s) for the credential being renewed and achieve a passing score. Individuals may take the re-credentialing examination anytime during the five-year period. The new five-year re-credentialing period will begin as of the date of passing the examination.
• Individuals holding multiple NBRC credentials, and who elect to re-credential through the examination option, must do so by passing the examination for the highest level credential held that is subject to the CCP.

OR

• Pass another NBRC credentialing examination not previously completed.
• Passing an NBRC credentialing examination, not previously completed, shall automatically extend the re-credentialing period of all the other credentials held by the applicant for an additional five years, calculated from the date of the additional credentialing examination just passed. The result of this policy will be that the credentials held by this individual will each expire on the same date, allowing re-credentialing for all credentials held to occur simultaneously in the future.
• Individuals who hold NBRC credentials completed prior to July 1, 2002, and who pass an NBRC credentialing examination, not previously completed, after July 1, 2002, shall be required to participate in the CCP only for the credential achieved after July 1, 2002, and may voluntarily participate for all other credentials held. Credentials achieved prior to July 1, 2002, shall not be impacted by this program.

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If we offer you a job, we will perform a background check that includes a review of any criminal convictions. A conviction does not disqualify you from employment at Northwestern Medicine. We consider this on a case-by-case basis and follow all state and federal guidelines.