Respiratory Therapist [License Pending]

Respiratory Therapist [License Pending]

This position provides simple, intermediate, and complex therapeutic and diagnostic procedures within the general care floors and special care units. This position assists with maintaining and improving patient respiratory care through the application and administration of various medications, gases, devices, and procedures. This position will work under the direct supervision of a licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner. Specialization may be in adult LTAC respiratory care. This position exemplifies the RML mission, vision, and values and acts in accordance with RML policies and procedures.

Principal duties and responsibilities include:

1. Supporting the mission and vision of RML Specialty Hospital by demonstrating RML's core values in all actions.
2. Assisting in administering, monitoring, and weaning mechanical ventilation; making ventilator recommendations based on clinical assessment, technical assessment, and laboratory values; managing airways.
3. Administering bronchial hygiene and treatment procedures including aerosol therapies, chest physical therapy, and therapeutic gas administration; analyzing gases where applicable; procuring and delivering gases using central piping systems and gas cylinders.
4. Assisting in assessing patients clinically before and after the administration or application of any medication, procedure, or device; recommending appropriate therapy including initial therapy, changes in therapy, and discontinuance of therapy.
5. Documenting work timely, completely, and accurately, including documentation in the patient medical record, documentation in the department records, and patient billing.
6. Assessing patient oxygenation, ventilation, and hemodynamic status through clinical observation, patient assessment, physiologic monitoring including oximetry, capnography, ventilator waveform analysis, and cardiac output, ECG, and laboratory values; providing interventions within the scope of the Rapid Response Team, performing CPR.
7. Providing patient/family education.
8. Demonstrating clinical competence by consistently applying respiratory knowledge and performing within the scope of practice of a Respiratory Care Practitioner in the state of Illinois. Responsible for maintaining knowledge and skills appropriate to the respiratory needs of patients at RML (equipment, procedures, respiratory medications, etc.). Obtains necessary information and demonstrates competence prior to implementing new or unfamiliar care practices, or responsibly declines to provide assigned care and notifies supervisor until able to obtain the appropriate skill.
9. Assisting in the assembly, disassembly, cleaning, and processing of respiratory therapy equipment according to department policies.
10. Assessing patients' progress in accordance with established goals and initiating appropriate actions. Documenting thoroughly in Meditech regarding patient's condition and interventions performed (e.g., medications given, treatments performed, etc.) Reporting significant information to all appropriate individuals (change of shift report, change in condition to RN and/or MD, etc.). Ensuring patient acuity is accurate for assigned shift in OptiLink.
11. Actively participating in staff meetings and continuing education activities. Providing information and feedback to other staff members on related clinical and professional topics. Meeting all employee requirements including but not limited to: license renewal, flu/fit testing, CPR, general annual review, annual Clinical Validation, and performance evaluation by demonstrating completion or participating in the required activity prior to expiration or due date.
12. Responsible for supporting a safe work environment for self and others, by reporting unsafe conditions, and by using appropriate safe work practices such as proper body mechanics and applicable safety devices (patient lift and transfer equipment, safety needles and sharps disposal, PPE, etc.)
13. Supporting RML's efforts towards becoming a High Reliability Organization.

Required job qualifications include:

1. Must be a graduate of a CoARC approved Respiratory Care program.
2. BLS is required upon hire.
3. New graduates should acquire as soon as possible, but do have three months from the time of graduation or hire, whichever is later, to obtain:

• The State of Illinois Respiratory Care Practitioner license (the National Board for Respiratory Care Certified Respiratory Therapist credential is a prerequisite).
• The NBRC Registered Respiratory Therapist credential

Minimum - preferred skills and abilities include:

• Thorough knowledge of respiratory care procedures, equipment and respiratory pharmacological agents to recommend and perform therapy.
• The clinical knowledge and technical skills to operate instruments associated with moderate complexity and waived testing. Interpretation of results and critical notification to staff. The analytic skill to access a patient and perform phlebotomy.
• The interpersonal skills necessary to positively interact with patients, families, physicians and other members of the health care team.
• The ability to perform effectively and efficiently under the pressure of stressful and/or emergency situations.

Minimum - preferred knowledge and experience include:

• Clinical skills to evaluate patients.
• Minimum 1-year acute patient care experience, including adult patients in rotations.
• Clinical competence documented by references based on respiratory care experience and education.

License and certifications include:

• Graduate of CoARC respiratory care program upon hire.
• ACLS

Working conditions include:

• Work is performed in a patient care environment. May be exposed to hazardous materials, including but not limited to bloodborne pathogens and medical gases under pressure.

This role is eligible for a $7,500 sign-on bonus and is subject to the terms and conditions of the offer. Bonuses will be pro-rated for positions less than full-time (0.9 FTE). Registry positions are not bonus eligible. Rehires and current employees are not eligible.