Respiratory Therapist

Respiratory Therapist

We are currently seeking a Respiratory Therapist to join our Respiratory Care Team. This position is part-time with benefits, 72 hours per pay period, night shift and every third weekend, 12-hour shifts. The licensed Respiratory Therapist (RT) practices in collaboration with the healthcare team to provide respiratory care to patients. RTs maintain population specific competence to care for the neonate through geriatric patient. The RT demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide individualized care based on the physical, cultural, educational, and age-specific needs of the patient. The RT complies with all rules and standards of regulatory and accrediting bodies.

Responsibilities include:

• Responding to cardiopulmonary emergencies and assisting in establishing/maintaining a patent airway including care for the potential effects of an artificial airway
• Providing manual ventilation and airway management during transports under the direction of a physician
• Providing mechanical ventilatory support and monitoring in the intensive care units
• Initiating, monitoring and making recommendations regarding respiratory care procedures
• Recording actions and observations on patient care delivery in the EHR
• Operating and maintaining all respiratory care equipment
• Performing diagnostic procedures such as apnea testing, spirometry, and sputum induction
• Monitoring and documenting staff performance
• Assisting with staff orientation and competency development
• Instructing, monitoring, and providing feedback to students
• Incorporating safety, infection control and quality improvement guidelines into the environment of care
• Responsible for the safe and effective administration of medically prescribed medications, knowing their indications and contraindications
• Knowing and following the indications and contraindications for administering therapeutic modalities
• Monitoring and troubleshooting oxygen administration as requested
• Ensuring the proper and safe use of medical gas cylinders (oxygen, heliox, nitric oxide)
• Performing bedside PFT testing. May perform testing in PFT lab following adequate training and/or orientation
• Performing arterial punctures using radial and brachial sites
• Being a member of the "code team" responding to arrest situations
• As part of the team may be expected to perform CPR (compression)
• Must be certified in CPR procedures bi-annually
• Responding to Rapid Response Team calls
• Responsible for the set up, safety check, monitoring, adjustments to, and troubleshooting of mechanical ventilators
• Responsible for the set up and administration of CPAP and non-invasive ventilation
• Reporting patient progress, and anticipated changes in patient care to the next shift
• Proper documentation in department records
• Participating in staff meetings, attending lectures, conferences and seminars
• Assisting with bedside bronchoscopies in ventilated/non-ventilated patients