Respiratory Care Practitioner

Respiratory Care Practitioner

Creating life better here starts with you. At San Juan Regional Medical Center, we're more than a healthcare provider—we're a values-driven organization dedicated to delivering exceptional care. As a team member, you help fulfill our mission to make life better here for our community.

The Respiratory Care Practitioner helps restore patients to their optimal health status through the scientific application of tests and treatments for the cardiorespiratory system. Working as a coordinated team with physicians and other healthcare providers they provide emergent, diagnostic, critical and restorative care to patients with heart and lung disease. They are the very breathe of life.

Required behaviors:

• As you go about fulfilling this mission, your work habits and work relationships should embody SJRMC's values. These values are our culture, our identity as an organization: Sacred Trust, Personal Reverence, Thoughtful Anticipation, Team Accountability and Creative Vitality ask more of us than merely completing some list of tasks. Our values ask for a deeper level of commitment, and what is asked of us we freely give because we believe in our mission.

Required qualifications:

• Graduate of an A.M.A./J.R.C.T.E. accredited school of Respiratory Therapy
• BLS certification
• RRT: Six (6) months to complete upon hire
• ACLS: Six (6) months to complete upon hire
• New Mexico State Licensure as a Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) or, if new graduate, obtain Graduate non-renewable temporary permit by New Mexico Respiratory License Board within 30 days upon acceptance of position. NOTE: Within six (6) months of hire, Graduate must obtain Registry (RRT) through National Board of Respiratory Care, and a RCP New Mexico State Licensure.

Preferred qualifications:

• PALS

Duties and responsibilities:

Routine respiratory therapy modes:

• Deliver routine respiratory modes per physician orders and department policy
• Implement any pertinent standing order per department policy and will communicate with the physician and other care providers about the indications, hazards, and alternatives for respiratory care

The therapist RCP will administer all therapy with a correct understanding of the following:

• Available equipment
• Objectives
• Indications
• Contraindications/hazards
• Treatment of information required
• Alternative therapies
• Medication actions, delivery modes, hazards, contraindications, and adverse side effects

Advanced respiratory therapy modes:

• Initiate and maintain invasive and noninvasive mechanical life support, assist in establishing and maintaining artificial airways for patients in all age groups in partnership with physicians and other care providers

Patient monitoring:

• Correctly implement, monitor, troubleshoot and interpret invasive and noninvasive physiological monitoring and testing systems for assessment of the patient cardiorespiratory system

Arterial blood gases/capillary blood gases:

• Understand the hazards, indications, and procedures for drawing arterial samples for assessment of the patient cardiorespiratory system
• Capable of interpreting ABG results and implementing/recommending the appropriate actions

Documentation:

• Follow department hospital policy for documentation
• All required regulatory, financial, and assessment documentation will be completed in a timely manner

Equipment maintenance and supply:

• Assist with maintaining, processing, and restocking of any and all supplies required for the departments function

Infection control:

• Adhere to department and hospital protocols for infection control. This includes but is not limited to:
• Hand washing
• Proper equipment assembly and reprocessing and change out
• Use of personal protective equipment
• Observation of Isolation Protocols

Communication:

• Responsible for communicating all pertinent information for patient care and department operations to all of the appropriate people This includes but is not limited to:
• The patient and family
• Physicians and other care providers
• Coworkers
• Department leadership
• Staff is also expected to attend in-services and department meetings

RT protocol:

• Responsible for initiating, assessing, implementing and following the departments Respiratory Care Protocols in collaboration with the physician and other care providers

CPR/RRT/Code Blue - The RCP is responsible for:

• Initiating CPR/Code Blue
• Responding to Code Blue/Disaster Calls
• Participation in the Rapid Response Team
• Stocking and assembly of airway/resuscitation supplies as required

Staff /Client relations - The RCP will:

• Respect cultural diversity
• Employ interpreters as needed
• Act collaboratively with physicians, other care providers, the patient and their family
• Employ age specific communication and teaching strategies
• Advocate for patient rights as needed
• Interact professionally with coworkers and promote interdepartmental teamwork
• Each employee is responsible for implementing SJRMC’s Service Standards into their daily work:
• Safety, Courtesy, Effectiveness, and Stewardship
• Other duties as assigned

Physical demands and environmental work conditions:

• Recognize that potential exposure to blood borne pathogens and/or hazardous materials, noxious/irritating fumes, long hours, and unforeseen conditions that might generate stress may be encountered
• Recognize that physical demands such as extensive walking, standing, lifting, positioning, pushing and/or transferring of patients may be required
• Have sufficient correctable visual and auditory acuity to safely perform their job duties
• Practice Respiratory Care within established standards of care
• Work as scheduled; no set schedules based on the nature of Respiratory Care and the hours of operation
• Take call as assigned