Respiratory Therapist

As a Respiratory Therapist at Kaiser Permanente, you will play a critical role in ensuring the proper operation and functioning of respiratory therapy equipment. You will monitor patients' physiological parameters during therapy and administer medical gases and aerosolized drugs as needed.

• Initiate therapy under a physician's order and make recommendations for modalities of therapy.
• Implement therapy for and monitor patients while on continuous mechanical ventilators and all modes of positive pressure breathing devices.
• Utilize clinical and other data to assess cardiopulmonary status of patients.
• Assist in intubation and provide bedside spirometry.
• Evaluate ventilator-dependent patients' readiness to wean.
• Administer humidified medical gases as ordered by practitioners with authority to prescribe.
• Interpret blood gas results and consult with attending physicians/practitioners regarding appropriate therapy.
• Perform arterial punctures and withdraw blood samples from indwelling lines.
• Provide ventilatory support during special procedures and coordinate transport of ventilatory equipment.
• Implement and monitor care of patients on heated aerosols and CPAP as per practitioner order.
• Develop good working relationships with laboratory, x-ray, infection control, nursing, physicians, and other healthcare workers to maintain optimum total patient care.
• Clean and maintain all respiratory therapy equipment and assist in maintaining adequate inventory of respiratory supplies.
• Conduct quality control tests on all respiratory equipment and maintain equipment in safe, workable order.
• Participate in continuous quality improvement teams as required.
• Monitor esophageal pressures, swan ganz catheter data, CVP, arterial blood pressures, electrolytes, fluid balance, and intravascular volumes as they pertain to respiratory patients.
• Perform chest physiotherapy, manual ventilation, and suctioning, and position patients to facilitate respiration.
• Perform tracheostomy care and mouth care on intubated/trached patients and change tracheostomy tubes as ordered.
• Perform electroencephalogram and polysomnography as ordered for sleep studies.
• Document pertinent information in medical records and communicate pertinent patient information to physicians, practitioners, and nurses as appropriate.
• Participate in patient rounds with Pulmonologist/Intensivist/Neonatologist and respond to and participate in Code Blue as part of Code team/RRT Team.
• Instruct patients and families on disease processes and treatments provided by Respiratory Therapy in accordance with hospital patient/family education policies and procedures.
• Assume on-call status as needed and perform other duties as assigned.

• Completion of a clinical rotation in critical care/intensive care environment, to include care of respiratory needs of acutely ill patients.
• Associates degree with major in Respiratory Therapy or a certificate of completion from a Respiratory Care Program.
• Respiratory Therapist License (Hawaii) required at hire.
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program required at hire from American Academy of Pediatrics.
• Basic Life Support required at hire.
• Registered Respiratory Therapist Certificate within 3 months of hire from National Board of Respiratory Care.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and skill in written communication, oral communication, interpersonal relations, customer service, decision making, problem solving, and teamwork.