Respiratory Therapist II

SUMMARY:

Under the supervision of the Respiratory Care Services Medical Director and Department Manager, the Respiratory Therapist II is responsible for providing respiratory care in accordance with physician orders, department policy and therapist driven protocols. The Respiratory Therapist II will assess, evaluate and administer respiratory care and life support to patients with deficiencies and abnormalities of the cardiopulmonary system in adult/pediatric general floor, adult/pediatric/neonatal intensive care, adult/pediatric emergency department, and all other care areas in the hospital. The Respiratory Therapist II will also complete preceptor training and work under the direction of the department educator to train and mentor new and existing staff members.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Coordinate and manage respiratory care to ensure that patient’s needs are met and hospital policy is followed

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the differences in technique and treatment modalities as performed on all age-specific groups including neonate, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patient populations

Document all pertinent data in the medical record before, during and after patient interventions

Maintain a thorough knowledge of electronic health record, departmental forms, flow charts, logbooks and their proper usage

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of various methods of oxygen delivery, oxygen concentrations and flows for all age-specific groups including neonate, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patient populations

Administer inhaled medications through a variety of modalities and evaluate patient response to therapy

Perform arterial blood gas puncture, analysis and interpretation on neonate, pediatric and adult patients

Respond to airway emergencies, rapid response and cardiac arrest calls in all areas of the hospital

Initiate and manage mechanical ventilation along with associated critical care duties for all age-specific groups including neonate, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patient populations

Assist in bedside therapeutic bronchoscopy procedures in the pediatric and adult intensive care units

Manage, operate, clean and test equipment safely and correctly as outlined in hospital policy.

Administer skin test antigens and measure response.

Develop a plan of care and provide education on disease management to pediatric and adult patients and their families.

Participate in daily interdisciplinary patient rounds with physicians, registered nurses, and allied health professionals.

Attend department meetings, huddles, and education opportunities to maintain professional competency.

Participate in performance and process improvement activities and provide feedback.

Adhere to all organizational and departmental policies pertaining to safety, confidentiality, and standard of care.

Performs related duties as assigned.

Neonatal Transport Team:

Performs all functions of the Respiratory Therapist II. In addition, a member of the Neonatal Transport Team provides critical care and advanced life support related to respiratory care assessment and procedures to neonatal patients at receiving or referring hospitals as well as during flight and/or ground operations. Team members must complete TMCH transport training program, attend yearly transport classes, and maintain proficiency in the indications and procedures related to the equipment and skills required for transport such as: intubation, inhaled nitric oxide, transport ventilator, isolette, cardiac monitor (ECG), and aerosolized medications. Team members must complete documentation of events during transport and attend monthly case debriefings. On-Call Requirements: All team members must be available and will be scheduled for the minimum amount of on-call shifts required to provide full coverage as outlined in the Standard Work for Respiratory Therapy Neonatal Transport Team Members (this will include nights and weekends). Required Experience: One (1) year of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) experience and current Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NPR).

Pulmonary Outpatient:

Under the supervision of the Department Manager, the Respiratory Therapist is responsible for delivering respiratory care in alignment with physician orders, departmental policies, and therapist-driven protocols. The Respiratory Therapist will assess, evaluate, and administer Pulmonary Function testing, NIOX testing, and Home Sleep tests to a diverse patient population, including adolescents, adults, and geriatric patients. Coordinate and oversee respiratory care through Pulmonary Function Testing, NIOX assessments, and Home Sleep Testing to ensuring that patient needs are met, and departmental policies are followed. Administer inhaled medications using various methods and assess the patient's response to the treatment. Manage, operate, clean, and conduct tests on Pulmonary Function test equipment, NIOX, and Home Sleep test devices in accordance with departmental policies and safety protocols.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION: Associate degree from a CoARC accredited Respiratory Care Program required. Additional relevant experience may substitute for lack of education upon Supervisory and HR approval.

EXPERIENCE: One (1) years of experience delivering advanced respiratory care services to neonate, pediatric and adult patient populations.

LICENSURE OR CERTIFICATION: Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) and current Arizona License to Practice Respiratory Care required. Current Basic Life Support (BLS) required. Advance Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certifications are required for TMCH and Rincon hospitals. Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NPR) preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Function as a highly skilled member of an interdisciplinary team with the common goal of providing exceptional care to all TMCH patients.
• Knowledge of evidenced-based practices used to assess, evaluate, and treat patients with various disorders of the cardiopulmonary system.
• Perform all basic modalities of respiratory therapy to adults and pediatric patients as prescribed by physicians and/or other authorized personnel within the scope and guidelines established by department/hospital policies and procedure.
• Perform critical/advanced respiratory therapy interventions in the emergency department and adult intensive care units.
• Initiate and manage mechanical ventilation on adult patient population in collaboration with physicians and/or other authorized personnel within the scope and guidelines established by department/hospital policies and procedure.
• Perform diagnostic respiratory therapy procedures such as arterial blood gas puncture/analysis, bedside pulmonary function testing (PFT), peak expiratory flow maneuvers, and EtCO2 monitoring.
• Assemble, troubleshoot, and process respiratory therapy and other durable medical equipment in accordance with department/hospital policy and procedure.
• Prioritize and manage assigned patient workloads to ensure patients receive high-quality respiratory care services
• Provide feedback on department/hospital processes and procedures in both formal and informal settings.