Respiratory Therapist-Inpatient

Work Status Details : Full Time | 72.00 Hours Every Two Weeks
Exempt from Overtime : Non-Exempt
Shift Details : Every third weekend-days, dayshift position
Department : Respiratory Therapy | Reports To: Manager-Respiratory Therapy

The mission of Faith Health is to serve Christ by providing all people with exemplary medical services in an environment of love and care.

Summary:

The Respiratory Therapist (RT) is responsible for performing age-specific assessments relevant to the patient's individual respiratory care needs, providing education, therapy and diagnostic services as ordered per physician, organizing care, and evaluating the effectiveness of treatments/care provided along with proper documentation. RT is responsible for the management and cares of patients requiring oxygen therapy, respiratory treatment, and invasive and non-invasive ventilator support. Also performs diagnostic tests including Arterial Blood Gases (ABG), Electrocardiographs (ECG), Holter Monitor setups, Event Monitor setups, and bedside Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT). Actively participates in the education and communication of the patient, family, and multi-disciplinary team as it relates to respiratory care and various pulmonary disease management for the appropriate integration of care and services. The RT is expected to carry out the mission, vision, values, and quality commitment of Faith Health to all internal and external customers.

The listing of job duties contained in this job description is not all inclusive. Duties may be added or subtracted at any time due to the needs of the organization.

Responsibilities:

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Demonstrates ability to appropriately modify approach and procedures to meet needs of age/diversity of population served for the following age groups:

• • Incorporates cultural considerations in the provisions of care.
  • Knowledge of growth and developmental stages.
  • Considers life changes/effects on health beliefs and behaviors.
  • Provides necessary safety measures.
  • Provides information and involves family/caregiver in decision making.

2. Performs all responsibilities/duties required by the Respiratory Therapy Department, as defined in the scope of practice, to assure that the unique nature of the patient is addressed. This includes, but is not limited to, the age of the patient served.

3. Competent use of the respiratory process to assess priorities, formulate, implement, evaluate and adapt the interdisciplinary plan of care to ensure quality of care is delivered.

• • Performs assessments in accordance with specific disease management standards
  • Identifies and documents patient’s plan of care.
  • Identifies and documents patient/family/significant other teaching needs
  • Identifies discharge planning needs of patient/family/significant other if indicated
  • Reassessment of plan of care is done within 24 hours and ongoing, until outcomes are met or discharge.
  • Assesses the patient/significant other's response to teaching plan to evaluate the effectiveness of the plan
  • Based on reassessment, plan of care will remain the same or be modified to meet the patient/significant other's identified needs.
  • Delegates and assigns appropriate patient care.
  • Recognizes changes in patient status based on interpretation of assessments and carries out physician’s orders

4. Demonstrates the skills and judgment necessary to implement medical plan of care, respiratory interventions and procedures as necessary for the care of the patient in collaboration with nursing.

• • Demonstrates knowledge of hospital policies and procedures for administering, verifying, and recording medications.
  • Demonstrates knowledge of commonly used meds: action, dose, and side effects.
  • Functions successfully in an emergency situation. Maintains professional composure and confidence during stressful situations.
  • Identifies patient care problems and communicates them to RN.

5. Maintains up-to-date and accurate documentation of respiratory care provided to ensure the integration of information for use by the healthcare team, to ensure quality care.

• • Respiratory documentation is reflected in the patient medical record with an entry made at during treatment of care, and if assessment of the patient requires
  • Staff will perform handoff through SBAR format to effectively communicate current plan for the patient and provide information to next shift.

6. Competent use of respiratory skills to assess respiratory condition, prepares and administers prescribed medication and therapy, and anticipates response to interventions specific for the age of the patient according to the departmental Orientation and Competency Assessment Checklist (OCAC).

7. Maintains and monitors patient airway including oxygen delivery, suctioning, ventilator aids, and life support as listed in the OCAC, for any and all patients. Responds to all in-house codes. Assists with bronchoscopy/chest tube inserts/intubation. Oversees ventilator management. Follows departmental and hospital protocols

8. Operates and maintains all equipment used in the care of respiratory therapy patients as listed in the OCAC. Performs diagnostic testing as listed in the OCAC: ECG's, PFT's, Holter & Event Monitor setups, & ABG's.

• • Effectively and appropriately prioritizes activities and adjusts to changing circumstances.
  • Cross-trains into other related departments and assists in absence of regular staff.
  • Records treatment/procedure activities and patient responses on the medical record and reports adverse reactions to proper health care team members.
  • Processes patient charges in a timely and accurate manner.
  • Follows through with flow of departmental paperwork: Respiratory patient log, diagnostic testing log, Physician over read boxes.
  • Demonstrates proper oxygen cylinder transport to and from storage rooms.
  • Follows appropriate storage of oxygen cylinders to assure placement in designated "Full", "In-Use" or "Empty" areas.
  • Performs daily checks for replacement of empty oxygen cylinders and appropriate placement of cylinders per designation in storage rooms.
  • Performs daily checks of any respiratory equipment stock areas that require equipment re-stocked to maintain appropriate stock levels.

9. Assumes all other duties and responsibilities as necessary.

• • Demonstrates willingness to identify and/or assume activities relative to the developmental needs of the unit
  • Demonstrates dependability/flexibility in meeting scheduling needs of the unit and hospital.
  • Demonstrates willingness to float to other units as needed.
  • Participates in shared leadership.
  • If in charge, provides for the safety of department employees
  • Accepts assignment as a coach for new staff.
  Accepts responsibility for mentoring healthcare students.
  

Hours will be dependent on patient census and workload. Ability and willingness to work a flexible schedule, to include after-hours and weekends as necessary.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Other information:

Job Requirements:

The requirements listed below must be representative of the knowledge, skills, minimum education, training, licensure, experience, and/or ability required.

EDUCATION:

Associate Degree preferred.
Graduate of an accredited school of Respiratory Therapy required.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

Current Respiratory Therapist (RT) license or temporary permit from the State of Nebraska required.

Registered as a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) or Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) through the National Board of Respiratory Care required.

Basic Life Support (BLS) obtained within one full month from date of hire (Travelers-required upon hire) required.

Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) obtained within one year from date of hire (Travelers-required upon hire) required.

Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) obtained within one year from date of hire (Travelers-required upon hire) required.

Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) obtained within one year from date of hire (Travelers-required upon hire) required.

Previous Experience Requirements:

EXPERIENCE:

Previous clinical experience preferred.

Skills/Knowledge Requirements:

SKILLS:

Language Skills – Ability to read, write, speak, and understand the English language required.

Faith Health is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.