Respiratory Therapist-Registered

Job Description

Job Description

Job Summary: Under the supervision of the Medical Director, Respiratory Clinical Lead, & Outpatient Associate Chief Nurse the Respiratory Therapist is responsible for providing Respiratory Care services in accordance with respiratory physician orders, department policies and procedures, and organization policies and procedures. The Respiratory Therapist will provide respiratory care and life support to patients with deficiencies and abnormalities of the cardiopulmonary system.

Job Requirements:

Education:

• Graduate of an AMA approved Respiratory Therapy Program.
• High School Diploma or GED

Experience:

• Advance knowledge of all aspects of Respiratory Care.
• Must have the ability to communicate with our customers/patients, employees, and physicians.
• Basic computer knowledge.
• License:
• Licensed by the Arkansas State Medical Board (LRCP)
• Credentialed by the National Board for Respiratory Care (RRT or CRT)

Physical:

• Workday requires frequent walking, stooping, bending, and squatting.
• Moderate degrees of repetitive hand and wrist movements.
• Work sometimes requires moderate to heavy lifting.
• Physical ability to push and operate medical equipment.

Occupational Risk:

• TB
• Needle Sticks
• Blood
• Sputum

Generally, the exposure to occupational hazards is reduced when the policies and procedures

of the facility is followed

Job Duties:

• Possess the knowledge, ability and understanding to implement all departmental

protocols to meet the needs of the patients.

• Evaluate patients for appropriateness of the procedures according to medical necessity

guidelines.

• Assure patient has thorough understanding of procedure, instructing patient in a clear and concise manner. (AIDET)
• Recognizes signs and symptoms for adverse reactions to medication or administered therapy and takes appropriate action.
• Therapist is comfortable and competent in discussing respiratory procedures with other medical staff.
• Follow policy and procedures of initiating 02 and following through with weaning on all

appropriate patients

• Follow policy and procedures for initiating Updraft/MDI administration and switching to MDI therapy when appropriate.
• Follow policy and procedure for initiating Incentive Spirometry and evaluating patient and follow policy for changing therapy to HHN, MetNeb, or PEP therapy.
• Therapist is able and competent in setting up Bipap/Cpap per protocol and can adjust the appropriate settings, as necessary.
• Therapist is able and competent in setting up the Vapotherm HF system and follows weaning policy and procedure.
• Therapist can initiate and competent in setting up Ventilator, including ventilator assessments and ventilator weaning according to policy and procedure.
• Therapist will administer prescribed therapy, instruct patient on purpose and procedure of therapy, re-evaluate patients’ needs, recognize, and react in the event of an adverse reaction to therapy and document according to the department policy.
• Monitors and understands the limitations of pulse oximetry.
• Perform respiratory therapy consults and document daily assessments on all new treatments.
• Night shift will document on new and existing treatments.
• Follows the ALWAYS rule for identifying patient and clarifies all orders prior to initiating any therapy.
• Possess the knowledge and is competent in evaluating all types of patients in all aspects
• of acute care settings.
• Therapist can initiate mechanical ventilation, provide care, change modes, parameters,
• extubate and discontinue ventilator care.
• Therapist monitors artificial airways, analyze, and measure cuff pressures.
• Therapist can suction upper and lower airways with or without artificial airways and can place oral airways.
• Disassembles, cleans, and sterilize equipment, and performs peruse checks and calibrations of machines and places work orders when necessary to ensure equipment is working safely and effectively.
• Therapist can perform and document capillary heel sticks.
• Therapists respond to all Rapid Responses, Code Blues, and Traumas.
• Provide emergency care including artificial respirations, assist with cardiopulmonary resuscitation and intubations.
• Performs all duties promptly in a competent and caring manner.
• Therapist must CPR and other certifications current through HealthStream.
• Therapists preform Smoking cessation, COPD, and other respiratory care education.
• Performs EKG’s as assigned, charges, and process for physician over-read.
• Therapist will perform quality control on the Gem 3500 and 4000 to ensure proficient

measurement and will document and complete daily ABG maintenance logs.

• Performs arterial punctures to obtain arterial blood samples for blood gas analysis, and

understands complications and contraindications associated with the procedure.

• Therapist can result and document ABG results and notifies appropriate physician or nurse if results are out of the medical director’s approved ed guidelines.
• Therapist can change cartridges in ABG machines at the end of the samples or the cartridges life and can run CVP’s on the GEM 3500 and 4000.

Computer Skills:

• Possess basic computer skills and is knowledge of EMR (Meditech). Therapist can log in

without assistance and can navigate the EMR. Therapist is competent in documentation and patient charges and is able enter charges with 90% accuracy.

• Therapist can print create ABG labels and can cancel ABG labels when necessary.
• Therapist can enter ABG results into the Meditech laboratory module.
• Therapist has basic troubleshooting skills and can enter Information system workorders when necessary.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

• Therapist will always adhere to dress code including wearing a name badge.
• Complete annual education requirements.
• Always follow HIPAA policy.
• Report to work on time and as scheduled.
• Effectively uses work and downtime contributing to the department and patient’s needs.
• Represent the organization in a positive and professional manner .
• Comply with all the organizations policy and procedures.
• Attend department meetings and in-services including ones on HealthStream.
• Therapist will help educate co-workers, nurses, physicians, students, and new employees.
• Therapist will actively listen and participate in shift report.
• Therapist will carry a beeper and iPod and will promptly answer when paged or pinged.
• Therapist will work overtime, different shifts, or schedules to meet the department needs

Essentials:

1. Must be able to report to work fit for duty and free of any adverse effects of illegal drugs, medical marijuana, prescription medication, and/or alcohol.
2. Must be able to effectively communicate both orally and in writing with other individuals.