Respiratory Therapist

Shenandoah Medical Center is seeking a skilled Respiratory Therapist to join our team. As a Respiratory Therapist, you will be responsible for providing high-quality patient care and ensuring the best possible outcomes for our patients.

• Initiate, conduct, modify, and monitor the effects of respiratory care treatment plans, including therapeutic, diagnostic, monitoring, and rehabilitation based on healthcare provider-approved protocols and written physician orders.
• Determine requirements for treatment, such as type, method, and duration of therapy, precautions, and medication and dosages, compatible with healthcare provider orders.
• Explain treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.
• Schedule and conduct Pulmonary Function Testing as ordered by the healthcare provider.
• Assess and review patient conditions.
• Report any adverse response to treatments to Registered Nurse, Director - Respiratory Therapy and Sleep Lab, or Health Care Provider.
• Administer respiratory therapy medications via handheld nebulizers and large volume aerosols.
• Administer inhaled bronchodilators, corticosteroids, leukotriene inhibitors, and antiasthmatic aerosols using both metered dose inhalers and nebulizers.
• Administer the proper amounts of oxygen to patients.
• Monitor patient's oxygen levels in the patient's blood and work with the healthcare provider to provide and adjust treatment accordingly.
• Provide Respiratory Therapy modalities within the respiratory therapy scope of practice.
• Conduct tests, such as electrocardiograms, Hellers Event Recodes 210 patches, and stress testing, to evaluate patient's cardiopulmonary function.
• Perform Percussion and bronchopulmonary drainage and assist or instruct patients in performance of breathing exercises.
• Provide services to obtain and analyze blood specimens for blood gases and co-oximetry.
• Provide emergency care, including artificial respiration and assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Perform endotracheal and tracheal suctioning as needed to maintain airway patency.
• Provide pulmonary function testing, including airway mechanics, flow-volume loops, diffusion capacity, peak flow measurements, and body box plethysmography data.
• Provide resuscitation and support services to all high-risk deliveries.
• Provide cardiac stress testing and pharmacologic stress testing.
• Assist in CPR as part of Trauma Team, primarily priming airway management, intubation, manual resuscitation, and arterial blood gas sampling and analysis.
• Draw ABGs if necessary.
• Conduct sleep study scheduling.
• Perform EKGs if necessary.
• Provide set up of equipment and management of patients requiring invasive and noninvasive ventilation. This includes BIPAP and CPAP.
• Inspect, clean, test, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently.
• Educate hospitalized, outpatient, and their families about their conditions and teach appropriate disease management techniques, such as breathing exercises and the use of aerosol medications and respiratory equipment.
• Place patients on ventilators.
• Demonstrate skill in use of equipment relevant to position.
• Diagnose equipment problems.
• Inform appropriate person of problems encountered with repairs or calibration of equipment.
• Communicate effectively.
• Communicate and collaborate effectively with other health team members regarding patient condition, nursing plan of care, patient satisfaction needs, and recommendations for meeting identified outcomes.
• Follow approved shift report format when communicating patient information.
• Identify and recognize abnormal symptoms/changes in patient condition, established priorities, and take appropriate action. Appropriately report condition changes to medical provider.
• Promote and ensure patient and staff safety in all aspects of responsibilities.
• Administer medications, treatments, and procedures in a timely and safe manner according to health care provider orders and nursing policy, including appropriate performance of standard precautions, using two patient identifiers, and performing patient risk assessments every shift.
• Utilize proper body mechanics, transfer/lifting techniques to minimize fall risk to patient and injury to self.
• Implement infectious disease controls as appropriate, including isolation procedures, proper use of hand washing and gloves.
• Follow proper procedures for disposal of sharps and hazardous materials.
• Perform other duties as assigned.