Respiratory Therapist

Senior Respiratory Therapist Duties

As a senior respiratory therapist, the incumbent serves as the therapist in charge of various critical care units to which assigned and will be held responsible for providing treatment to seriously ill patient and emergency conditions.

Provide respiratory care throughout all areas of assignment including, but not limited to, multi-service wards, Adult, Pediatric, and Neonatal Intensive Care Units, Emergency Department, Level II Trauma Center.

Initiate, conduct, modify, and assist with emergency therapy techniques for airway maintenance including cardiopulmonary resuscitation to avoid patient decline or demise.

Provide innovative and adaptive approaches in the use of respiratory therapy devices and therapies when standardized items or techniques cannot be used.

Serve as the first assistant in bronchoscopy, demonstrating understanding of all facets of bronchoscopy procedures, including function and maintenance of the bronchoscope and associated tools, and suction equipment.

Participate in multidisciplinary critical care rounds, offering technical expertise on respiratory support devices, patients management for respiratory illness, and established respiratory care policies and procedures.

Provide comprehensive airway and tube care to ICU patients, tracheostomy site care, endotracheal and tracheostomy changes, monitors cuff pressures, ensures ventilator and equipment function, and performs tracheobronchial suctioning.

Serve as an advisor/technical resource for established polices/procedures for respiratory care. The medical personnel rely upon the therapist's knowledge of capabilities and limitations of the respiratory equipment.

Independently make recommendations to the physician regarding alternatives or modifications to treatment.

Under the technical director's auspices, serve as preceptor to new respiratory staff and train other personnel as needed on respiratory treatments, medications, equipment, and safety protocols.

Responsible for verifying/reviewing ventilator and respiratory therapy orders.

Use critical thinking skills to determine what procedure and equipment is necessary during active respiratory failure and lifesaving situations.