Respiratory Care Practitioner

**Position: Respiratory Care Practitioner**

**Department: Respiratory Care Services**

**Reports to: Director of Respiratory Care Services**

**FLSA Status: Hourly/Non-Exempt**

**Summary**:
To provide accurate patient evaluation, testing, diagnostics and monitoring under medical direction to assure quality patient care in compliance with **State of Licensure Respiratory Care Act,** and Department Policy and Procedures.

**Environment**:
Work will be performed primarily indoors at one of our long-term healthcare facilities, throughout all areas, including in resident rooms, and on carpeted and/or tiled floors. Work will be performed there routinely around other co-workers, healthcare staff, residents, and guests. Due to the nature of facility's business, worker may be exposed to occasional slippery floors, object on floors, chemicals, sharp objects, hazardous materials and waste (including human), blood borne pathogens, and communicable diseases, as well as high-stress medical and/or life-threatening situations.

**Essential Duties & Responsibilities**:
This description is intended **ONLY** to identify the basic responsibilities and requirements of this job classification and **does not prevent the assignment of other job-related duties at the sole discretion of the Director of the Respiratory Care Department.**
- Most be competent in the clinical performance, analysis and understanding of diagnostic procedures. Ability to recognize and understand diseases process as well as the psychological and physiological aspects and needs of the patients and families we service
- Implement all therapeutic aspects of respiratory care under the direction of the department medical director and in compliance with the department policy and procedures to provide safe quality care for the adult and geriatric patient population we service.
- Perform respiratory care assessment of patients in an accurate, thorough, and timely manner to assure the delivery of effective therapy. Monitor patient’s rehabilitation goals for appropriateness and consistency of therapy.
- Provide ongoing care to patients requiring oxygen therapy, artificial airway management, mechanical ventilation and weaning, among others, according to **B.R.C., AARC,** and department policy and procedure.
- Administer respiratory related medication to the tracheobronchial tree according to physician orders, **B.R.C., AARC** standards, and department policy and procedures. Accurately document in the medication administration records (MARS) the administration of medication according to physician’s orders.
- Consistently and accurately document in the patient medical records patient assessment with clinical parameters such as, breath sounds, tracheostomy tube data, sputum production, ventilator settings based on physician orders, weaning and tolerance, in compliance with department daily documentation records.
- Provide the in-coming shift with room-to-room walking detailed, verbal report on the patient condition, any change in orders and tolerance to care provided. Consistently and accurately provide information regarding Spo2, Fio2, SVT, RR, sputum production, breath sounds, mode of therapy, medication administration and tolerance, among others. For patients on ventilatory support, latest ventilator settings, tolerance to weaning and Fio2 titration.
- Perform diagnostic procedures in accordance with physician orders such as, sputum collection and arterial blood gases following **B.R.C.** safety standards and department policy and procedure.
- Perform physician rounds when they are in the facility and update orders accordingly in the respiratory care daily assignment record.
- Always maintain equipment and supply room clean and organized. When bulk supplies are in the equipment and supply room, remove supplies from packaging and properly place them on the shelves for easy access. **No beverages and/or food consumption is allowed in the equipment and supply room.**:

- When patients are transferred or discharged from the unit, immediately remove all equipment from the patient room and proceed to clean, disinfect and placed in the appropriate clean area for easy access. When patients are transferred or discharged from the unit or you are changing supplies according to the department change-out policy and procedure, discard all soiled disposable supplies in a **RED** biohazard bag. Only soiled, disposable supplies are to be disposed of in the red biohazard bags. Biohazard bags are **ONLY** to be disposed of in the dirty soiled utility room. All other trash is to be placed in a clear, bag-lined trash receptacle.
- At all times, follow universal precautions according to **CDC** guidelines and the facility infection control policy and procedures to comply with regulatory and safety standards for the protection of self and other employees and patients.

**Physical and Sensory Requirements**:

- Moderate physical activity:

- Requires handling of average-weight objects