Respiratory Therapist - CMC - Carole Young - Full-Time

Respiratory Therapist

The mission of Correctional Managed Care is to address the healthcare needs of underserved patient populations within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD).

Provides competent basic and specialty respiratory care utilizing an interdisciplinary approach and individualizing care to meet unique patient needs.

Essential Job Functions:

• Assesses the respiratory care needs of patients.
• Identifies potential and actual diagnosis/patient care needs and identifies the contraindications and possible complications of patients receiving respiratory care.
• Initiates, evaluates, and reviews respiratory care plans that reflect a multidisciplinary approach to appropriate preventive action.
• Sets up and maintains respiratory equipment.
• Maintains oxygen, humidity, and aerosol therapy equipment inventory and supplies.
• Performs blood gas analysis and respiratory function tests.
• Participates in patient rounds.
• Maintains patient records.
• Provides patient/family respiratory care instruction.
• Assists in training and evaluating students and new employees.
• Adheres to internal controls and reporting structure.
• Meets periodic UTMB and department specific compliance requirements for health screening, training, attendance, safety, and CPR.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Strong communication skills
• Ability to work with well with a medical team and under the direct supervision of a physician
• Possess a broad knowledge of the pathophysiology of the cardiopulmonary system and the complex procedures required to properly diagnose and treat patients

Work Environment/Equipment:

• Work environment is located in a comfortable indoor area. May be required to work within the confines of a prison, jail, or juvenile detention center.
• Conditions such as noise, odors, cramped workspace and/or fumes could sometimes cause discomfort.
• Moderate to extreme physical effort may be required such as walking, standing and lifting materials, equipment, objects, and/or patients.
• Occasional lifting may be heavy and awkward, over 50 lbs.
• Vision, hearing, talking, and sense of touch abilities must be adequate enough to enable one to quickly and accurately perform tasks such as: performing a physical assessment to include lung sounds, equipment alarms, reading small print, reading from monitoring equipment, defining details, sending and receiving clear and accurate verbal communication.
• Frequent periods of concentrated or focused attention will be needed to interpret visual, auditory, and sensory inputs.
• Shift work may be required.
• Alertness and careful attention to detail will be required to avoid injury.
• May be exposed to such occupational hazards as communicable diseases, blood borne pathogens, ionizing & non-ionizing radiation, hazardous medications and disoriented or combative patients or others.
• May be required to be on standby and work extended shifts in situations deemed necessary by area leadership.

Security clearance is required; pre-employment drug testing is also required.

Required Education/Experience:

• Graduation from an approved school of Respiratory Therapy or completion of the associate degree equivalency.
• Successful passage of the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) exam.

Required Licenses, Registrations or Certifications:

• Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) or Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)
• Must maintain credentials with the NBRC as well as licensure as a Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) with the Texas Department of State Health Services.
• Current BLS and ACLS.

Preferred License, Registrations or Certifications:

• Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)

Salary is commensurate with years of relevant work experience.

Equal Employment Opportunity

UTMB Health strives to provide equal opportunity employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. As a Federal Contractor, UTMB Health takes affirmative action to hire and advance protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

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