Respiratory Therapist

 Responsibilities:

• Provides care to all patient populations taking into account: assessment and interview techniques identifying psychosocial, physical and education needs common to appropriate to the population.
• Provides for patient’s privacy, provides recurrence and support when there is anxiety.
• Modifies therapy to reflect response unique to all patient populations.
• Maintains continuous ventilation of patients on mechanical ventilators (invasive and noninvasive).
• Monitors patient’s ventilatory status through use of spirometers, pressure gauges and chest auscultation; draws and analyzes arterial blood gases and measure respiratory exchange.
• Recommends therapy changes based on analysis of various data.
• Weans patients from continuous ventilation utilizing established procedures.
• Performs cardiopulmonary assessment to evaluate patient’s respiratory status.
• Analyzes, records and reports results such as arterial blood gases, oxygenation studies, pulmonary function tests, hemodynamic monitoring parameters, etc.
• Recommends modification to therapy or implementation of treatments.
• Maintains airway care by performing and instructing proper tracheal instillations, tracheal aspiration, and nasotracheal aspiration.
• Performs invasive procedures such as arterial puncture, tracheostomy tube changes as ordered by the physician.
• Assists the physician in bedside and/or scheduled Bronchoscopy procedures.
• May perform bedside Spirometry procedures and/or more complete Pulmonary Function studies with appropriate training (clinic staff).
• Performs basic respiratory therapies such as medicated aerosols, oxygen therapy, nitric oxide administration, humidity/aerosol, bronchopulmonary hygiene, hyperinflation techniques, pulse oximetry while verifying physician order and utilizing appropriate treatment guidelines.
• Observes and responds to adverse patient reactions to therapy or otherwise and initiates/assists in Rapid Response and Code Blue (CPR) situations.
• Selects, assembles, tests, modifies, and maintains respiratory equipment.
• Cleans and decontaminates same after use. Utilizes/troubleshoots CPAP units (hospital/clinic).
• Acts as a resource for the pulmonologist for patient educations and trouble shooting of therapeutic issues.
• Acts as a resource for training Residents (RRT credentialed therapists unless approved otherwise by the Departmental Director).
• Serves as a departmental preceptor for new employees.
• Assists in providing departmental training and classes (RRT credentialed therapists unless approved by the Departmental Director).
• Utilizes computer for E-Mar documentation.
• Maintains complete and up-to-date documentation and files at all times.
• Keeps abreast of changes in the field and meets continuing education requirements for licensure by attending in-service programs, seminars, etc.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education:

• Graduation from an AMA approved Respiratory Care program.

Languages:

Certifications:

• State of Florida Department of Health License Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).
• Maintain NBRC (National Board for Respiratory Care) certification
• Hospital RT:
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) through American Heart Association (AHA)
  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) through American Heart Association (AHA)
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) through American Heart Association (AHA),
  • Neonatal Pediatric Specialist (NPS) preferred
  • Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) through American Heart Association (AHA) (inpatient only as appropriate to site)
• Clinic RT
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) through American Heart Association (AHA)
  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) through American Heart Association (AHA)
• Membership in Florida Society of Respiratory Care preferred.
• Up to date CEU requirements.
• Membership to the American Association for Respiratory Care is preferred.

Complexity of Work:

• All employees are expected to meet the standards of performance outlined in the Organizational-Wide Competencies listed below as applied to the position:
• World Class Service Orientation: Includes attitude, behavior, interpersonal skill, and problem solving that enable an employee to respond to internal and external customer needs and expectations in a positive manner.
• Adaptability: Includes teamwork and flexibility needed to fulfill job responsibilities including adapting to changes in work environment and accepting supervisory feedback.
• Efficiency and Effectiveness: Includes quantity and quality of desired work, as well as organization skills necessary to perform successfully.
• Essential Job Requirements: Includes adherence to all relevant policies, procedures, and guidelines affecting the work environment, including maintenance of required competencies and communication skills.
• Supervisory Responsibilities (if applicable): Includes overall accountability for assigned work group relative to operational goals, personnel requirements, and budgetary constraints.
• RRTs will also primarily serve as Respiratory Coordinators unless circumstances dictate otherwise for the CRT to work as same based on approval from the Departmental Director.
• This agreement will also take into account a set timeframe (as agreed with the employee and Department Director)for pursuit of the RRT credential in serving in the Coordinator role.
• Note: The above stated duties are intended to outline those functions typically performed by individuals assigned to this classification.
• This description of duties is not intended to be all inclusive nor to limit the discretionary authority of supervisors to assign other tasks of similar nature or level of responsibility.

Work Experience:

• Minimum of one (1) year clinical experience.
• Will consider newly licensed personnel for entry level position.

Physical Requirements:

• Requires good manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination.
• Requires normal hearing and vision or corrected to normal range.
• May require sitting, standing and walking for extensive periods of time.
• This position requires proficiency in treatment of respiratory disorders for inpatient and outpatients with various media, i.e. oxygen, therapeutic gases, inhaled medications and positive pressure devices.
• Interpretive skills frequent interactive and consultative associations are inherent in this position.
• The ability to retrieve, communicate or otherwise present information in a written, auditory or visual fashion is essential.
• Physical Duties: Moderate to heavy lifting and positioning of patients.
• Moderate pushing and pulling of equipment.
• Working Conditions: 100% air-conditioned.
• Moderate risk of exposure to blood or air-borne pathogens.

Personal Protective Equipment:

• Follows standard precautions using personal protective equipment as required.