Respiratory Therapist

Overview:

The Respiratory Therapist III provides routine, emergent and critical cardiopulmonary care under the direction of a physician to neonatal (if applicable) pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients. Adheres to hospital policies and the rules and regulations of all local, state and federal agencies and to the standards of all accrediting bodies. Actively participates in outstanding customer service and accepts responsibility in maintaining relationships that are equally respectful to all. This role may also function as a lead staff member in monitoring productivity and staff assignment in the absence of a charge therapist.

#ACDP

Responsibilities:

• Supervises the delivery of cardiopulmonary care in accordance with applicable policy and procedure. Delivers timely therapy according to physician orders. Ensures the effectiveness of therapy administered with assessment and reassessment and monitoring patient progress. Recommends change in respiratory plan of care according to medical necessity. Completes clinical documentation including skin assessments and worklist tasks in a timely manner with special attention to detail and document and report any unusual findings.
• Monitors, instructs, and coaches patient before, during and after treatment delivery. Prevents and/or resolves untoward side effects. Adjusts therapies according to protocol and documented clinical criteria. Makes and/or recommends changes based on pulse oximetry, peak flow measurement, chest x-ray, lab work and other data relevant to optimal patient progress.
• Initiates and maintains mechanical ventilation. Determines or guides the determination of ventilator mode and settings. Reevaluates patient/ventilator interface a minimum of every four hours. Responds to alarms and troubleshoots as needed. Establishes weaning readiness and facilitates weaning process and documents including VAE prevention requirements each shift. Attends interdisciplinary rounding and communicates findings with intensivist team.
• Performs advanced diagnostic and invasive procedures such as insertion and monitoring of arterial lines, assisting with and/or performing intubations, tracheostomy tube change, bedside bronchoscopies and bedside pulmonary function testing. Completes clinical documentation of procedures paying close attention to detail.
• Draws and analyzes arterial blood gases; performs other point of care testing to include lactic acid, chemistry, and troponin. Follows all safety and regulatory guidelines in the lab, with little to no errors. Critical Values are reported and documented. Makes or recommends changes in respiratory management according to blood gas results.
• Responds to all hospital emergencies including Fire Alarms, Code Yellow, Code STEMI, Rapid Response, and Code
  Blue; establishes and maintains airway and performs CPR.
• Stays up to date on all equipment functions and associated precautions and hazards of all equipment used. Takes
  initiative to place work orders for any preventative maintenance or equipment malfunction.
• Demonstrates the proper procedure for obtaining, charging for, and returning medications and supplies. Helps to
  maintain adequate supply levels at assigned locations for accurate inventory control.
• Participates in daily huddles, rounding, and hospital education activities by attending in-services, and training necessary to maintain clinical competency. Completes computer based learning and Net competencies as scheduled. Makes good use of any clinical downtime in performing duties needed within the department.
• Able to work independently and may be required to assume charge responsibilities including performing shift count and making assignment for upcoming shift, paying close attention to details. Forecasts upcoming shift needs, monitors productivity, flexes staffing up or down during census changes. Assists staff to prioritize patient care during extreme workloads. Will provides resources and guidance to staff to support patient centered care. Responsible for precepting students and new hires and teaches time management skills.

Qualifications:

Required education:

• Associate's degree from an accredited respiratory care program

Preferred experience:

• 1 year of adult critical care experienceR
• 1 year of Level II NICU experience

Required certifications:

• BLS
• ACLS
• PALS
• NRP

Required license:

• Florida Registered Respiratory Therapist