Respiratory Therapist

Description

Respiratory Therapist 

Holy Name is New Jersey's last remaining independent, Catholic health system, comprising a comprehensive 361-bed acute care medical center, a cancer center, medical fitness center, residential hospice, nursing school, and physician network. The system has a national reputation for providing culturally sensitive care to a diverse population, drawing patients from across the New York City region to its specialty centers and renowned doctors. Holy Name's mission to provide technologically advanced, compassionate and personalized care extends across a continuum that encompasses education, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and wellness maintenance. The system is known as a high-quality, low-cost provider of extraordinary clinical care given by compassionate, highly trained physicians and staff.

A Brief Overview
This position is held by a Respiratory Therapist who possesses the knowledge and skill to administer all forms of respiratory care and treatment to our patients. This position works closely with the Director and Clinical Coordinator of Respiratory/ Pulmonary Services and is responsible for additional departmental functions as requested. These functions may include but are not limited to: (1) organization of shift responsibilities among staff members, (2) departmental education for staff members, students, and other hospital professionals as requested, (3) participate in orientation of new staff members, (4) In the absence of the Director or Clinical Coordinator, address department related issues ensuring the needs of our patients are met.

What you will do 

• Adult, Pediatric and Neonatal ventilation: provide continuous mechanical ventilator support and monitoring for various specific age groups of patients, provide necessary support when transported throughout medical center to testing areas or patient care units, ensure patient needs will be supported when transferred to alternative facilities
• Provide non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (Bipap/CPAP) when indicated
• Access the patient’s disease process and collaborate with the physician and nursing to modify therapy when necessary
• Provide patient/family education on respiratory equipment or services patient will be utilizing when discharged, infection control practices, cleaning of equipment, patient’s disease process and what to expect, and smoking cessation programs available (if necessary)
• Assist with discharge planning of the pulmonary impaired patient.
• Administer aerosolized medications, provide hyperinflation and bronchial hygiene therapy. These include, but are not limited to, PEP therapy, Metaneb therapy, Vest therapy, chest physiotherapy, percussion therapy, and incentive spirometry.
• Assess effectiveness of therapy, recognize and report variations or questionable applications.
• Teach patients of all ages with all types of disabilities and medical problems.
• Patient monitoring – perform continuous monitoring of critically ill patients with oxygen saturation analysis, end tidal CO2 analysis, blood gas analysis and other monitoring tools.
• Perform oxygen therapy using knowledge of indications and benefits of all equipment types. Recognize, rectify, and report improper applications.
• Perform high humidity and aerosol therapy.
• Perform routine surveillance and equipment inspection to ensurer proper use and functioning of that equipment (pre-use checks)
• Process reusuable respiratory equipment such as ventilator cassettes, laryngoscope handles and blades, spray with hospital approved antimicrobial solution, place in appropriate gray boxes and deliver to Central Supply for sterilization; pick up clean equipment.
• Assist with bedside bronchoscopies
• Perform bedside pulmonary function screening when necessary (for OR cases)
• Perform bedside spontaneous parameters: vital capacity, tidal volume, negative inspiratory force and rapid shallow breathing index.
• Perform arterial blood gas (ABG) punctures and analysis. Analyze/ interpret results, and communicate results to the primary healthcare provider (physician and nurse)
• Perform advanced cardiac life support as a member of the Code Blue and Rapid Response Teams.
• Perform emergency intubation when Anesthesiologist unavailable, after completion of Holy Name Medical Center training program and certification.
• Perform routine and emergency tracheostomy tube changes after completion of Holy Name Medical Center training program and certification.
• Perform emergency endotracheal intubation when anesthesia not available, after completing Holy Name
• Perform specialty gas therapy such as heliox therapy, when requeted.
• Perform complete documentation in the patient’s electronic medical record (EMR). Documentation includes: (1) IPOC (Interdisciplinary Plan of Care Form), (2) Respiratory Plan of Care, (3) Patient/Family Education Form, (4) Interdisciplinary Note: inclusive of pre-assessment and post-assessment information of therapy.
• Departmental documentation and paperwork: Complete all departmental paperwork, computer entries and patient charges necessary for day-to-day operations.
• Ensure complete verbal report to incoming shift (hand-off) regarding all patients receiving respiratory care services
• Communicate verbally to nursing and other ancillary staff as necessary, any pertinent patient care information.
• Participate in patient care rounds.
• Communicate recommendations of change in therapeutic regime to physicians and document in the EMR.
• Communicate timely with department Director any problems or unusual occurrences,
• Responsible for checking computer systems and departmental boxes for new or revised orders and carrying out the orders.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities in keeping with the overall department and hospital goals.
• Utilize free time to complete extra duties to ensure smooth departmental functions and assist co-workers; clean/ process and set up equipment and code boxes.
• Adhere to department and hospital policies and procedures regarding safety standards and infection control.
• Employee Education and Development:
• Complete annual hospitalwide mandatory education in required timeframe
• Complete annual competencies in designated timeframe
• Attend new equipment/therapeutic modality inservices
• View educational CD’s/ videos online to remain knowledgeable in modality set ups and initiation of therapies or to obtain further information for your comfort level
• In the absence of the Director/ Clinical Coordinator, the therapist assigned to ICU is responsible for distribution of the workload among staff present.
• Consult with the Clinical Coordinator or Director for problems requiring immediate attention. Notify the “on-call supervisor” phone during evening/night, weekend and holiday hours.
• Attend and be an active contributing member at departmental meetings. When unable to attend or scheduled off, read and sign department meeting minutes.
• Assist in orientation and educational needs of new staff members, Respiratory, EMS, and Nursing students.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director.
• Work collaboratively as an interdisciplinary team member.
• Support departmental and organizational goals and initiatives.

Education Qualifications 

• Associate's Degree Graduate of a 2-yr Associate degree Respiratory Therapy program approved by the NBRC Required or
• Bachelor's Degree 4-yr Bachelor degree Respiratory Therapy program approved by the NBRC Required

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Must have training in all aspects of respiratory patient care for adults, children and infants.
• Must display effective written and verbal communication skills, in addition to basic computer skills

Licenses and Certifications 

• RCP - Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner by the State of New Jersey Upon Hire Required and
• RRT - Registered Respiratory Therapist with NBRC credential, or eligible Upon Hire Required and
• BCLS - Basic Life Support American Heart BLS Certification Upon Hire Required and
• ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support American Heart ACLS certification within 1 Year Required

Holy Name is a mission-driven facility whose quality standards and philosophy are rooted in the principles of its founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. Those principles are exercised daily by the Medical Center's dedicated and talented team of physicians, nurses, allied health employees, and a wide variety of non-clinical administrative and operational staff members. Holy Name is an Equal Opportunity Employer.