Respiratory Therapist - FT - Nights- Resp Ther - 16834

Respiratory Therapist - FT - Nights

Location: US:TX:Edinburg | Department: Respiratory & Sleep | Employment Type: Full Time

Position Summary:

Under the supervision of the Charge Therapist and upon the request of the physician, the Respiratory Therapist provides age specific care in the setup and operation of various types of oxygen and other therapeutic gas and mist inhalation equipment such as tents, masks, cannulas, ventilators, and Bi-PAP. Prepares and maintains a chart for each patient containing all pertinent background information and treatment records. Cleans inspects and tests inhalation therapy equipment to ensure proper operating condition. Administers prescribed aerosolized medication per IPPB, small volume nebulizer, large volume nebulizer, aerosol tent, and oxyhood/hut. Also performs arterial and capillary puncture. Must be able to conduct therapeutic maneuvers such as, but not limited to, chest physical therapy, tracheobronchial aspiration, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the transport of patients receiving continuous oxygen therapy or mechanical ventilation, EKG's and Holter monitors, pulmonary function testing and assist with bronchoscopy.

Position Education/Qualifications:

• Current RCP, CRT, or RRT license is required
• Current BLS/CPR certification is required
• ACLS, PALS, and NRP required within 6 months of hire/transfer date

Job Knowledge/Experience:

• Set up and operate devices such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, and aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
• Provide emergency care, including artificial respiration, external cardiac massage and assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Determine requirements for treatment, such as type, method, and duration of therapy, precautions to be taken, and medication and dosages, compatible with physicians' orders.
• Monitor patient's physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, and blood chemistry changes, and consult with a physician if adverse reactions occur.
• Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.
• Work as part of a team of physicians, nurses and other health care professionals to manage patient care.
• Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders.
• Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.
• Inspect, clean, test and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, ordering repairs when necessary.
• Educate patients and their families about their conditions and teach appropriate disease management techniques, such as breathing exercises and the use of medications and respiratory equipment.
• Explain treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.
• Relay blood analysis results to a physician.
• Perform pulmonary function and adjust equipment to obtain optimum results in therapy.
• Perform bronchopulmonary drainage and assist or instruct patients in performance of breathing exercises.
• Demonstrate respiratory care procedures to trainees and other health care personnel.
• Teach, train, supervise, and utilize the assistance of students, respiratory therapy technicians, and assistants.
• Use a variety of testing techniques to assist doctors in cardiac and pulmonary research and to diagnose disorders.
• Make emergency visits to resolve equipment problems.
• Conduct tests, such as electrocardiograms, stress testing, and lung capacity tests, to evaluate patients' cardiopulmonary functions.

Other Information:

Lines Of Responsibilities:

(Chain-of-command)

1. Director

Customer Service:

Provide excellent customer service to all DHR customers. All employees are required to attend the DHR C.A.R.E.S program which outlines the Customer Service Principals including: Commitment, Accountability, Respect, Excellence and Service.

Age Specific:

Employees must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served in his/her assigned unit. The individual must demonstrate knowledge of principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirement relative to his or her age.

Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA):

A. Essential Duties: Indicated by bold print within performance standards, preceding individual numbered criteria.

The following table provides physical requirements that will be associated with, but not limited to, this position:

• Light/moderate lifting up to 20 lbs, from the floor to shoulder height.
• Kneeling.
• Must be able to assist other employees with lifting more than 20 lbs. Walking.
• Light/moderate carrying up to 20 lbs.
• Standing/Squatting.
• Straight pulling.
• Sitting.
• Pulling hand over hand.
• Pushing.
• Repeated bending.
• Stooping/Bending.
• Reaching above shoulder.
• Climbing Stairs.
• Simple grasping.
• Climbing Ladders - No.
• Dual simultaneous grasping.
• Depth Perceptions needed.
• Ability to see.
• Identify Colors.
• Operating office equipment.
• Twisting.
• Operating mechanical equipment.
• Crawling - No.
• Ability to read and write.
• Ability to Count.
• Ability to hear verbal communication without aid.
• Operating Personal Vehicle.
• Ability to comprehend written/verbal communication.
• Other: Ability to deal with stress.

OSHA Category - III

B. Working Conditions: The individual spends over 95% of his/her time in an air-conditioned environment with varying exposures to noise. There is protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes. The position does have low exposure to malodorous, infectious body fluids from patients and some minimal exposure to noxious smells from cleansing agents.

C. Occupational Exposure: This position has minimal to no exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues and is an OSHA Category III (although situations can be imagined or hypothesized under which anyone, anywhere, might encounter potential exposure to body fluids). Person who performs these duties are not called upon as part of their employment to perform or assist in emergency medical care or first aid or to be potentially exposed in some other way.

D. Aptitudes:

• Intelligence: General learning ability: The ability to "catch on" or understand instructions and underlying principles. Ability to reason and make judgments. 3
• Verbal: Ability to understand meanings of words and ideas associated with them, and to use them effectively. To comprehend language, to understand relationships between words, and to understand meanings of whole sentences and paragraphs. To present information or ideas clearly. 3
• Numerical: Ability to perform arithmetic operations quickly and accurately. 2
• Spatial: Ability to comprehend forms in space and understands relationships of plane and solid objects. Frequently described as the ability to "visualize" objects or two or three dimensions, or to think visually of geometric forms. 2
• Form Perception: Ability to perceive pertinent details and objects or in pictorial or graphic material to make visual comparisons and discriminations and see slight differences in shapes and shadings of figures and widths and lengths of lines. 3
• Clerical Perception: Ability to receive pertinent details and verbal or tabular material. To observe differences in copy, to proofread words and numbers, and to avoid perceptual errors in arithmetic computation. 2
• Motor Coordination: Ability to coordinate eyes and hands to fingers rapidly and accurately in making precise movements with speed. Ability to make a movement response accurately and quickly. 3
• Finger Dexterity: Ability to move hands easily and skillfully. To work with fingers in placing and turning motions. 3
• Manual Dexterity: Ability to move hands easily and skillfully. To work with hands in placing and turning motions. 3
• Eye-Hand-Foot Coordination: Ability to move the hand and foot coordinately with each other in accordance with visual stimuli. 3
• Color Discrimination: Ability to perceive and respond to similarities or differences in colors, shapes, or other values of the same or different color. To identify a particular color, or to recognize harmonious or contrasting color

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