Registered Respiratory Therapist - Respiratory Therapy

POSITION SUMMARY:

To be fully engaged in providing No Harm / Quality, Customer Experience, and Stewardship by: showing clinical proficiency in the adult and/or neonatal critical care areas. He/she should have a thorough understanding of all respiratory care modalities and be capable of making judgment decisions and recommendations to physicians pertaining to respiratory care modalities. He/she should also be able to evaluate these techniques and report their findings to the responsible physician. Display ICARE Values in accordance with the Health First Mission and Vision.

PRIMARY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Quality/No Harm:

1. Maintains equipment in good working order and troubleshoots when necessary; reports all malfunctioning equipment to appropriate area/associate with documentation of problem.
2. Thorough documentation, including patient care, interdisciplinary Plan of Care, patient education, and charges appropriately for care provided.
3. Gives report to oncoming shift on all patients and procedures, and assures completion of workload before leaving.
4. Medication safety– removes only one patient's medication at a time from Pyxis system.
5. Patient identification– Uses Pyxis med slip to appropriately identify two patient identifiers.
6. Hand–off communication – reads back/verifies all verbal and telephone orders, reports patient information to the appropriate associate in a timely manner, follows established approach to reporting including an opportunity to ask and respond to questions.
7. Follows proper infection control procedures for care provided, and proper hand washing technique.
8. Initiate and manage invasive and non–invasive ventilation per physicians' orders, including troubleshooting and discontinuation. This includes BiPAP, CPAP, and all modes of mechanical ventilation.
9. Ability to perform acute and intensive care functions for the adult/pediatric patient.
10. Demonstrate ability to interpret CXR for ETT, Pulmonary Artery, and IABP catheter placement, as well as the ability to interpret basic cardiac/pulmonary complications, ability to initiate Heliox therapy. Understands indications, contraindications, and complications. Demonstrate knowledge and ability to perform emergent intubation, elective oral and nasal intubations.
11. Demonstrates knowledge and ability to perform arterial line insertions.
12. Proficiency in SVO2 monitoring and calibrations.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

• Current license by State of Florida, Department of Health, as a Registered Respiratory Therapist.
• Must hold current AHA BLS Healthcare Provider Completion Card prior to start date and maintain.
• ACLS and PALS are required within 90 days of start date and maintained.
• Certification(s) as required by specific unit.
• Must have good communication and interpersonal skills
• Must have good organizational and prioritizing skills

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Must be able to withstand working up to 12 hour shifts consisting mostly of walking and standing.
• Must be able to participate in prolonged CPR procedures.
• Must have visual acuity and hand eye coordination necessary to perform clinical tasks.
• Ability to bend, stoop and assist lifting of patients as care requires.
• Must be able to lift 50 pounds and push/pull 100+ pounds.
• Must be able to move quickly in crowded conditions and work with patients with many lines and machines attached.
• May be exposed to bio–hazardous waste, dust, aerosolized medication and unknown or communicable disease.
• Must be able to provide a professional appearance and wear designated uniforms.

MENTAL DEMANDS:

• Must be able to work effectively in stressful environments with patients, family members and colleagues.
• Must have good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Must be able to prioritize and have excellent organizational ability.
• Ability to make decisions concerning appropriate therapy and patient care.
• Ability to rapidly respond to life threatening situations.
• Keeps abreast of issues regarding departmental changes, and new modalities in the field of Respiratory Care.
• Ability to be self–motivated and self–disciplined and able to work independently.