Respiratory Therapist

Job Summary:

The Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) is ultimately accountable to the respiratory supervisor and department director and performs under the direct supervision of the Respiratory Therapy Supervisor and is delegated a shift assignment by the supervisor to achieve quality patient care and expected productivity during a routine workflow experience.

Registered Respiratory Therapist must demonstrate quality health care through patient safety interventions and strategies:

• The Registered Respiratory Therapist must demonstrate competency for knowledge/skill/ability for:
  • Provision of appropriate age/growth/cognitive development during care:
    • vital signs- Dysfunction signs and symptoms,
    • selection and application of appropriate therapy intervention and
    • size selection for supply/equipment and alarm parameter/alarm adjustments and
    • patient education, including family or significant other when needed to facilitate the understanding required for patient cooperation of procedure and assessments of patient.
  • Sensitivity to cultural and religious beliefs of patients, visitors, and staff.
  • Adherence to all policy for infection prevention, surveillance, and control and consistent use of proper hand hygiene/standard precaution practice and cleaning/storage of supplies/equipment compliant with guidelines, including, safe use of PPE/eyewash, cold disinfection process.
  • Adherence to all safe work s practices such as use of environmental controls (door codes/negative flow treatment room/panic button), operation of hospital beds, and all respiratory medical equipment, office equipment and pneumatic tube system.
  • Compliance in HIPPA/EPIC management of patient and your personal health information.
  • Preceptorship of students and completion of their daily evaluations.
  • Adherence to all work policy and demonstrate ability to work independently with minimal supervision in the completion of routine assigned tasks and department overall daily/shift objectives.
  • Understanding of personal behavior effect on departmental PPI goals /outcomes.
  • Intuitive practice of established guidelines for:
    • patient identification/ staff identification,
    • use of our EMR along with electronic work lists for the documentation/archival/retrieval/billing of services provided ,
    • inclusion of patients' cautions, allergies, and co-morbidities for provision of safe patient care,
    • patient report using SBAR at receipt or hand off of patient.
  • The indication/implementation/application/cautions and contraindications for respiratory scope of practice procedures (non-invasive and invasive in a systematic manner to include assessment and planning, intervention and monitoring/evaluation in collaboration with the dept. supervisor and multidisciplinary care team as evidenced by documentation in the EMR, direct observation by the supervisor/preceptor and patient evaluation of care. Services to include but not limited to:
    • Expansion Therapy
    • Inhaled medication administration/Sputum Induction and Specimen Collection
    • Airway Management:
      • pulmonary hygiene therapy: CPT (manual and device) and naso-tracheal suction,
      • artificial airway management/suction/extubation/tracheal decannulation,
      • physician requested assistance for crycothyrotomy and tube exchange.

• • • Invasive and Non-invasive Mechanical Ventilation: Initiation/Monitoring/Titration-Weaning and Transport (in house and external) of all ventilatory modes and all currently available brands of equipment and age specific platforms
    • Medical Gas Administration- Delivery device/Monitoring for desired/adverse effects
    • Oxygen and Oxygen/Helium mixture/Cylinder Use/Handling/MRI/Storage
    • Air/oxygen piping system use/shut-off
    • Blood Gas/Co-Oximetry: Specimen Collection and Analysis/Results Reporting
    • Pulse Oximetry/SpO2 Trend Study/Home O2 Evaluation
    • Other duties as assigned

Performance Expectations:

Registered Respiratory Therapist must:

• Demonstrate qquality health care through cross training in all areas as their experience supports or as new graduate's experiences develop the knowledge and skills for areas listed:
  • Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) and NICU Transport Team
  • Emergency Department (ED)
  • Intensive Care/Coronary Care(ICU/CCU)
  • Pulmonary Function Lab (PF Lab)
  • Orthopedic Institute (OI)
  • Lead Therapist/Supervisor Role
• Demonstrate practice of all patient safety and infection control intervention each patient encounter.
• Demonstrate intuitive ability to evaluate patient needs and appropriately respond to patient needs each encounter using evidence based algorithms, physician orders, approved practice guidelines/protocol and ordering provider communication for the implementation or discontinuation of care as appropriate.
• Demonstrate intuitive skills and performance ability for Rapid Response Team / Respiratory Care Consult Initiation, High Risk Evaluation.
• Demonstrate ability to focus on discharge readiness/planning through oxygen/ventilator titration/weaning and multi-disciplinary communications.
• Systematic use and operation of software systems and recognize, resolve or report variances from normal expected workflow and ability to follow computer downtime policy to ensure patient safety and completion of scheduled work.
• Be flexible to adjustments of assigned work/areas (including OI), and scheduled times/shifts/rotations in order to meet patient care needs and departmental daily objectives and to maintain a safe working environment.
• Must be accessible through telephone number provided and follow staffing guidelines for staffing during internal and external disasters.
• Actively participate in department PI goals and demonstrate personal improvement after remediation.
• Participation in department meetings and education/training, and meet the established deadlines for completion.
• Acquire and maintain skill/competency and required credentials for position (including cross trained specialty areas or as volunteer of Decon Team).
• Maintain NBRC credentials and State RCP licensure in active status.

Qualifications:

Education/Skills:

Graduate of Associate in Applied Science degree program preferred. Graduate of Accredited Respiratory Care Practitioner Program required.

Work Experience:

Respiratory Therapy work experience in an acute or critical care setting preferred.

Certification/Licensure-DUE UPON HIRE

• Licensed with MS Department of Health (MSRT)

• Registered by NBRC (RRT)

Additional Certification/Licensure - Obtained based on required timeframe below

• Basic Life Support

Within 30 Days of Employment

Required

• Advanced Cardiac Life Support

Within 90 Days of Employment

Preferred

• Neonatal Resuscitation

Within 90 Days of Employment

Preferred

• Pediatric Advance Life Support

Within 90 Days of Employment

Preferred

Mental Demands:

Ability to perform repetitive tasks and to exercise good judgment and initiative to set priorities appropriately for patient care, and ones' own required staff training and education. Ability to follow directions precisely with accuracy and the realization error in judgment or performance may have serious consequence to patients. Have a "sincere interest" in being capable, dependable, flexible, and reliable and thoughtful and responsive at all levels of engagement with health team and patient customers. Exhibits leadership qualities and acts as preceptor to less experienced therapists and has an intuitive willingness to accept more responsibility. Self-initiative to attend and present continuing education programs.

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