Respiratory Care Therapist

Respiratory Therapist

The Respiratory Therapist performs assessment, evaluation, planning and documentation of care provided to patients with cardiopulmonary disorders in the following age groups: infants, pediatrics, adolescents, adults, and geriatrics. This care will be delivered in accordance with established standards of performance.

This is a Casual (PRN) position. Days of work are Sunday - Saturday with hours typically from 6:00am - 6:30pm, 7:00am - 7:30pm or 8:00am - 8:30pm. Weekend and holiday work are variable to meet the department needs. Call rotation may be required on an as-needed basis.

Job functions include:

• Initiates, conducts, modifies and monitors the effects of respiratory care treatment plans, including therapeutic, diagnostic, blood gases, monitoring and rehabilitation based on physician approved protocols and written physician order.
• Provides set up of equipment and management of patients requiring invasive and noninvasive ventilation. This includes mechanical ventilation, BIPAP and CPAP.
• Performs specific testing techniques that include measurement of ventilatory volumes, pressure, flows, blood gas analysis, and other related physiology.
• Performs arterial blood gas analysis and relays results to the physician.
• Performs bronchial hygiene and assists or instructs patients in performance of breathing exercises.
• Educates inpatients and outpatients and their families about their conditions and teaches appropriate disease management techniques, such as breathing exercises and the use of aerosol medications and respiratory equipment.
• Explains treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.
• Schedules and conducts Pulmonary Function Testing as ordered by the provider
• Inspect, clean, test and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, ordering repairs when necessary.
• Obtains additional training as a tobacco treatment specialist (TTS), as desired or requested by the department manager. Job duties of the TTS include assessment of patients (inpatient and outpatient) with tobacco/nicotine dependence, use of motivational interviewing skills to escalate the conversation to a meaningful visit, recommendation of appropriate treatment strategies, providing behavioral counseling and support throughout the entire quit process, and maintenance of continuing education requirements for the position.
• Works as part of a team of providers, nurses and other healthcare professionals to manage patient care.
• Provides emergency care, including artificial respiration and assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Demonstrates compliance with Infection Control policies and procedures.
• Demonstrates compliance with departmental and hospital policies.
• Participates in the department's performance improvement activities and is compliant with accreditation and regulatory agencies.
• Reports potential risk management, corporate compliance, HIPAA, and quality and safety issues on timely basis to department manager.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications/requirements for this position include:

1. Preparation and training - Requires graduation from an accredited Respiratory Care Program, Bachelors degree preferred. Preference for two years experience as a Respiratory Therapist with proven leadership skills. The candidate must have a thorough knowledge and understanding of all procedures, indications, contraindications and hazards involved in respiratory care and knowledge of life support equipment. The candidate must be able to demonstrate the ability and knowledge required to utilize computers for patient documentation and data gathering for quality care.
2. Licensure/certification - Must have current Respiratory Therapy licensure in the state of North Dakota, registry eligible or RRT preferred. Must be BLS and ACLS certified. Position is required to attend Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training in the appropriate timeframe according to department orientation checklist. NRP encouraged.
3. Attendance - Punctual and regular attendance is an essential responsibility of each employee at JRMC. Employees are expected to report to work as scheduled, on time and prepared to start working. Employees are also expected to remain at work for their entire work schedule.
4. Safety - Recognizes safety hazards and takes corrective action; seeking assistance when needed. Demonstrates knowledge of operational policies and procedures. Performs work safely, without causing harm or risk to self, others or property.
5. Customer service - Interacts with customers in a warm and friendly way. Takes immediate action to meet customer requests or needs. Listens to understand what customers have to say.
6. Independent judgment - Makes a decision considering the impact on other areas. Initiates collaboration with others outside of service area. Must demonstrate creativity, insight, integrity, and initiative. Must have ability to exercise independent judgment.
7. Contact with others - Very frequent contact with others. Must demonstrate social sensitivity and the ability to communicate in a professional manner. Must be able to work effectively with others, possessing tact, discretion, and diplomacy. Must be able to communicate and interact with providers, patients, patient's families, and other departments. Treats others with respect.
8. Mental/visual effort - Must be able to speak and write the English language in an understandable manner. Must be able to read and comprehend hospital and departments policy manuals. Must demonstrate physical and emotional ability to meet agreed upon work schedule and performance standards required by the position. Required duties are such that concentrated attention must be applied on demand consistent with manual skill requirements in situations that may at times be stressful. Visual acuity and hearing are necessary for reading charts and working with medical devices; color perception necessary for interpreting testing procedures involving color comparisons.
9. Working conditions - OSHA job classification: This position is classified as a Category I in which the employee does have exposure to bloodborne pathogens and other potentially infectious materials. Participates in and complies with the JRMC Safety Management Program. Must practice aseptic techniques and observe standard precautions. Position is subject to frequent interruptions. Work may be on weekends and holidays and beyond normal working hours when necessary. Participates in evening/night, weekend, and holiday call rotations.
10. Information management - Demonstrates skill in accessing, preparing and using information as relevant to position. Verbalizes and demonstrates knowledge of procedures for maintaining security, confidentiality and integrity of employee, patient, family, and other medical information. Demonstrates ability to collect, analyze and present data as appropriate to position.
11. Equipment - Demonstrates skill in use of equipment relevant to position; verbalizes knowledge of appropriate safety procedures. Diagnoses equipment problems; fixes or seeks out someone to fix. Consistently informs appropriate person of problems encountered with repairs or calibration of equipment.
12. Promotion - No formal line of promotion.
13. Background check - A background check is required.
14. Physical requirement - These are physical requirements of the position that may be performed as part of daily duties. Inability to meet one or more of these physical requirements will not automatically disqualify a candidate or employee from the position. Upon request for a reasonable accommodation, JRMC may be able to adjust or excuse one or more of these requirements, depending on the requirement, the essential functions to which it relates, and the proposed accommodation.

Employee requirements include:

• Visual observation - Continuously
• Standing - Frequently
• Walking - Frequently
• Sitting - Occasionally
• Hands and finger dexterity - Frequently
• Reaching with hands and arms - Frequently
• Climbing - Occasionally
• Stooping/kneeling/crouching/crawling - Occasionally
• Hearing/listening - Continuously
• Tasting or smelling - Rarely
• Working inside - Continuously
• Working outside - Rarely
• Working in extreme heat - Never
• Working in extreme cold - Never
• Working with hazardous materials - Occasionally
• Noise - Frequently
• Working in dirt/dust - Never
• Driving - Occasionally

Lifting carrying/pushing/pulling:

• Up to 10 pounds - Frequently
• Up to 25 pounds - Frequently
• Up to 50 pounds - Occasionally
• Up to 75 pounds - Rarely
• Up to 100 pounds - Never
• Over 100 pounds - Never