Respiratory Therapist

State of Tennessee Job Information

Opening Date/Time: 10/08/2024 12:00AM Central Time

Closing Date/Time: 10/21/2024 11:59PM Central Time

Salary (Monthly): $4,017.00 - $5,028.00

Salary (Annually): $48,204.00 - $60,336.00

Job Type: Full-Time

City, State Location: Arlington, TN

Department: Disability and Aging (DDA)

Location: Department of Disability and Aging, West Tennessee Homes Division, Shelby County

Background Checks: Background checks and fingerprints are required prior to employment.

Qualifications:

Education and Experience:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with an associate's degree in a health or applied science field of study; successful completion of an approved respiratory care therapist program; and successful completion of the Registered Respiratory Therapist National Board examination.

OR

Education equivalent to graduation from a standard high school and successful completion of two years of study in an approved respiratory care program; successful completion of the Registered Respiratory Therapist National Board examination.

OR

Substitution of Experience for Education:

Experience equivalent to four years of Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician work with successful completion of college coursework in Microbiology and Physics and successfully challenging the Registered Respiratory Therapist National Board examination.

Necessary Special Qualifications:

Licensure as a Respiratory Therapist by the State of Tennessee.

Examination Method:

Education and Experience, 100%, for Preferred Service positions.

Overview

Summary:

Under general supervision, is responsible for professional respiratory care therapy work of considerable difficulty and supervisory work of routine difficulty; and performs related work as required.

Distinguishing Features:

An employee in this class performs professional respiratory care therapy work and directs a respiratory care therapy program involving the use of respiratory care modalities, including use of respiratory therapy equipment and the administration of prescribed drugs and medications. This class differs from Respiratory Care Technician in that an incumbent of the latter provides respiratory therapy care of a less complex nature, does not use independent judgment with regard to medical respiratory decisions, and is often supervised by an incumbent of this class.

Responsibilities

Assisting and Caring for Others:

Administers prescribed drugs and medications to the cardio-respiratory system; administers chest physiotherapy, postural drainage, and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation; inserts, maintains, and manages artificial airways, including intubation.

Provides patient evaluation; assists in administration of diagnostic procedures such as bronchoscopies, cardiac catheterizations, and advanced research technologies.

Provides respiratory care in conjunction with life support systems and critical care techniques.

Responds to medical emergencies as member of medical emergency response team.

Performs diagnostic procedures such as pulmonary function testing, EKG's, treadmills, etc.

Assists patients in the therapeutic and diagnostic use of medical gases, administering apparatus, humidification, and aerosols.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings:

Monitors arterial blood gases to determine ventilatory status.

Monitors patient via assessment pre- and post-therapy for response to therapy.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems:

Administers specific testing techniques, including measuring ventilatory volumes, pressures and flows, specimen collection and analysis of blood and other materials, and related physiologic monitoring.

Recommends changes in therapy based on patient assessment.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work:

Prioritizes treatment procedures based on the immediate patient needs and therapist availability.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards:

Ensures compliance with infection control per respiratory care departmental policy.

Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment:

Calibrates oxygen analyzers.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others:

Serves as technical resource and consultant/evaluator to primary care provider and other staff regarding the practice of respiratory care.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material:

Troubleshoots respiratory care equipment problems.

Inspects and maintains respiratory care equipment for optimum functionality.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge:

Maintains continuing education units to meet licensure requirements and increase knowledge base.

Training and Teaching Others:

Provides education and training to other disciplines on delivery of respiratory care for continuity of care.

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates:

Supervises respiratory care technicians and/or respiratory care assistants in the delivery of services.

Getting Information:

Verifies primary care provider orders.

Accepts telephone, fax, written, and verbal orders from primary care provider, adjusting treatment modalities based on these orders.

Monitors e-mail for relevant information concerning respiratory care.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships:

Develops constructive and cooperative working relationships with others and maintains them over time to enhance patient care.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates:

Communicates with nursing, primary care providers, and interdisciplinary teams concerning treatment and patient status.

Provides report to oncoming shift concerning treatment and patient status.

Performing General Physical Activities:

Lifts and repositions patients for respiratory care procedures.

Assembles various pieces of respiratory care equipment required for services.

Stocks supplies.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information:

Estimates following day work load based on current respiratory care assignments.

Documenting/Recording Information:

Documents telephone and verbal orders from primary care provider.

Documents therapy provided.

Records progress notes.

Documents daily work activities for productivity report.

Handling and Moving Objects:

Transports equipment and supplies to various locations as needed to provide services.

Performing Administrative Activities:

Performs daily tasks including maintaining information files and paperwork.

Competencies (KSA's)

Competencies:

Functional/Technical Competency

Ethics and Values

Fairness to Direct Reports

Motivating Others

Compassion

Composure

Technical Learning

Directing Others

Informing

Priority Setting

Conflict Management

Approachability

Decision Quality

Organizing

Learning on the Fly

Comfort Around Higher Management

Dealing with Ambiguity

Standing Alone

Career Ambition

Knowledge:

Knowledge of respiratory anatomy, principles, methods, medications, procedures, diagnostics, and treatments

Knowledge of current state and federal health care laws, codes, and regulations

Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction

Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, statistics, and their applications

Skills:

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems

Management of Personnel Resources: Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions

Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed

Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it

Management of Material Resources: Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work

Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively

Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions

Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance

Instructing: Teaching others how to do something

Abilities:

Manual Dexterity: The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects

Dynamic Flexibility: The ability to quickly and repeatedly bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs

Auditory Attention: The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds

Hearing Sensitivity: The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness

Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences

Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand

Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing

Written Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand

Eye Hand Coordination: The ability to maintain eye hand coordination

Dynamic Strength: The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue

Stamina: The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath

Near Vision: The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer)

Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense

Static Strength: The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects

Visual Color Discrimination: The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness

Memorization: The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures

Tools & Equipment

Pulmonetics LTV 950

Oxygen Concentrator

Suction Machine

High and Small Volume Air Compressor

Pulse Oximeter

Air and Oxygen Flowmeters

Percussors

Vest Machines

Computer