Lead Registered Respiratory Therapist

Respiratory Therapist Position at Norwalk Hospital Association

Northwell is the largest not-for-profit health system in the Northeast, serving residents of New York and Connecticut with 28 hospitals, more than 1,000 outpatient facilities, 22,000 nurses and over 20,000 physicians. Northwell cares for more than three million people annually in the New York metro area, including Long Island, the Hudson Valley, Connecticut and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Northwell is New York State's largest private employer with over 104,000 employees including members of Northwell Health Physician Partners who are working to change health care for the better.

Summary:

This position will act as the lead therapist and be responsible for daily leadership of staff to ensure appropriate performance of clinical services. The main responsibility on a day-to-day basis will be to provide respiratory care to patients. In addition, responsibilities include orientation of new respiratory staff to equipment and patient care floors including ICU, Pediatrics, NICU and ER, assisting the Pulmonary Manager in setting up and monitoring the QA/CQI process, gathering data and the selection of new equipment for the department, developing work schedules and assisting in payroll inputs. Provide on call coverage for the department manager as needed.

Responsibilities:

1. Provides respiratory support for patients on ventilators (adult, pedi and neonatal) by monitoring, evaluating and making clinical judgements. Performs therapeutic modalities with a full understanding of pathophysiology and indication for therapy. Takes appropriate action if such therapy is contraindicated or side effects develop. Uses special monitoring skills such as ECG, physiologic data, lab results, ventilator graphics, End-tidal CO2 when available to assess patient care decisions. Provides respiratory support for patients on ventilators (adult, pedi and neonatal) by monitoring, evaluating and making clinical judgements. Monitors ventilator setting and alarms for appropriateness Provides respiratory support for patients on ventilators (adult, pedi and neonatal) by monitoring, evaluating and making clinical judgements. Ensures compliance and documentation of patient safety standards.

2. Responsible for the implementation of Respiratory Care procedures. Evaluates and makes recommendations in the therapies rendered. Evaluates, prepares and instructs patients. Performs basic assessments, to assess appropriateness of therapy. Recommends therapy and changes as needed. Care delivered includes but is not limited to therapeutic and diagnostic administration of medical gases, humidification and aerosols, administration of drugs and medications to the cardiorespiratory systems, ventilatory assistance, postural drainage, chest physiotherapy, vest therapy (HFCWO), breathing exercises, incentive spirometry, pulmonary rehabilitation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and maintenance of natural and artificial airways as well as insertion of artificial airways. Responsible for the implementation of Respiratory Care procedures. Evaluates and makes recommendations in the therapies rendered. Monitors results of therapy to ensure compliance with policies, procedures and protocols.

3. Provides education to Respiratory staff. Responsible to assist with the orientation of new employees. Provides education to Respiratory staff on a daily basis and during competency assessment. Assists in the development of new procedures. Participates in teaching special procedure techniques.

4. Documentation of Therapy. Responsible for accurate and timely documentation of treatment in the patient's record. Information is to be charted in the appropriate record in complete detail. Assists in development of department documentation standards.

5. Provides Pulmonary function testing and evaluations when required including: arterial blood gases, obtaining blood samples from indwelling arterial catheters, blood gas analysis, bedside spirometry, pulse oximetry and titration, measurement of ventilatory volumes, flows and pressures, and Q/C for the blood gas analyzers. Performs tests accurately using proper techniques.

6. Assists Pulmonary Manager with QA/CQI process Assist in setting up and monitoring QA/CQI process. Assists Pulmonary Manager with QA/CQI process Will be responsible for gathering data and formulating reports.

7. Provides safe administration of mixed medical gases. Helps maintain inventory and ventilatory readiness. Chooses and prepares proper equipment, implements therapies and monitoring devices safely. Complies with infection control policies, aspetic and sterile techniques, hand washing and equipment changes. Uses equipment safely. Care for equipment, identifies problems and makes recommendations. Minimizes waste and damage. Provides safe administration of mixed medical gases. Helps maintain inventory and ventilatory readiness. Assists with ordering/stocking of equipment and pre-use checks of ventilators. Provides a neat, clean working environment.

8. Ensures annual competencies completed; Servo i, Drager V500, V60, MRI compatible ventilators and transport Ventilators. Ensures that competencies are completed in a timely manner.

Education Skills Experience:

ASSOCIATE'S LVL DGRE

Other Information:

Required: AS in Respiratory Care,

Registered Respiratory Therapist by the National Board for Respiratory Care.

Connecticut state licensure-Respiratory Care Practitioner

Minimum Experience: 5 years of experience BLS Certification

Company: Norwalk Hospital Association

Org Unit: 366

Department: Pulmonary Medicine

Exempt: No

Salary Range: $36.53 - $67.90 Hourly