Registered Respiratory Therapist

Job Details Requisition Number: R-23163 Facility: LOC0001 - 55 Fogg Road, Weymouth, MA 02190 Department: SSH Respiratory Therapy Status: Full time Budgeted Hours: 36 Shift: Night (United States of America) Compensation Pay Range: $40.00 - $53.83 Provides respiratory care to patients as assigned by supervisors and given on the physician's order for both in‑house and outpatient care. Responsibilities Safe and effective administration of medically prescribed medications, knowing their indications and contraindications. Assures proper physician order before medication administration as evidenced by Process Improvement records. Demonstrates proper procedures for the procurement of respiratory medications and reconciliation of medication count variances. Completes Respiratory Care Patient Assessments before treating patients (except in an emergency) as evidenced by process improvement reviews. Knows and follows indications and contraindications, policy and procedures for administering therapeutic modalities including IS, HHN, CPAP & BiPAP, Heliox. Assures proper physician order before treatment is administered as evidenced by Process Improvement review. Discontinues treatment if any adverse or contraindication is noted and documents it in the patient chart at the time of occurrence, notifying the appropriate staff member (e.g., nurse, physician). Safe utilization of gas cylinders and piped‐in gas outlets. Sets up gas cylinders and assures proper usage and safety measures are in place. Lifts and moves gas cylinders utilizing proper body mechanics. Demonstrates knowledge of the set up, use and problems associated with oxygen, air and vacuum outlets, regulators, flowmeters and devices. Performs arterial punctures using radial, brachial and femoral sites independently; draws off arterial lines to obtain samples for blood gas analysis. Obtains sample upon a physician's order as directed. Observed to follow policy and universal precautions. Follows all National Patient Safety Goals regarding patient identification, labeling of the specimen and dealing with critical value results when performing an arterial puncture and blood gas analysis, as evidenced during the process improvement reviews. Proficient in interpreting arterial and venous blood gas results and conveys the information to the medical team. Member of both the "code team" and the "rapid response team" responding to arrest and patient in crisis situations. Maintains current BLS/ACLS card as evidenced by card. Performs external compressions when needed in a code situation. Properly handles and uses bag‑mask ventilation, assuring function during code; utilizes proper technique as observed/reported by code team participants. Assists with endotracheal tube and LMA insertion and removal as observed/reported by code team participants. Verifies endotracheal tube placement by use of an end tidal CO₂ detector, breath sounds and a chest X‑ray. Performs all aspects of artificial airway care, including naso‑tracheal and endo‑tracheal suctioning on patients. Fully competent in explaining benefits and complications of various airway devices. Documents all maintenance, calibration, problems, and quality controls performed on the blood gas analyzers. Performs maintenance on ABG analyzer as documented in the lab policy. Changes IQM cartridges when directed by the instrument. Reports critical values according to the hospital policy and procedures. Familiar with measuring devices to include, but not limited to, ETCO₂, pulse oximeter, Wrights respirometer, oxygen blenders. Performs weaning mechanics utilizing a respirometer, manometer and cuff pressure manometer and documents the data in the medical record. Measures and records static compliance and dynamic resistance of the airways for all mechanically ventilated patients. Responsible for the set‑up, safety check, monitoring and troubleshooting of mechanical ventilators. Sets up and checks functionality of all ventilators at South Shore Hospital. Performs ventilator checks at the prescribed frequency during assigned shift. Promotes use of mechanical ventilation protocols for ventilator management and weaning evaluations. Qualifications Qualified candidates will have relevant experience in respiratory therapy, strong knowledge of therapeutic modalities, and up‑to‑date certifications in BLS/ACLS. They should also demonstrate proficiency in arterial blood gas analysis, mechanical ventilation management, and emergency response procedures. #J-18808-Ljbffr