Job Objective :

Work under the management of the Director of Respiratory Therapy Services and the direction of the assigned Respiratory Therapy Supervisor. A Respiratory Therapist I must display knowledge and ability to provide respiratory care to a wide range of patients from Pediatric to Geriatric. A Respiratory Therapist I is able to work in the Intensive Care Unit or the Emergency room as well as Pediatrics and on all floors of the Hospital.

Duties and Responsibilities:

A. Maintains high standards of customer service

B. Provides routine bronchodilator therapy and patient assessment:

• Uses Hand Held Nebulizer
• Uses Metered Dose Inhaler
• Competent with Continuous Nebulization
• Can use IPPB
• Able to identify different breath sounds, their meaning and recognize changes
• Recognizes accessory muscle use
• Uses Peak Flow Meter to assess efficacy of treatments
• Performs Bedside Pulmonary Function Tests

C. Provides oxygen therapy:

• Expert in standard 02 delivery devices, their uses and liter flow requirements
• Able to use and set up both heated and cool aerosol therapy
• Able to use and set up High-Flow Nasal cannula
• Understands danger of 02 misuse, especially for CO2 retainers

D. Provides Critical Care:

• Manages Ventilators on intubated patients
• Obtains Arterial Blood Gases (ABGs) or Capillary Blood Gases (CBGs) and recommends a course of action based on their results
• Places and manages non-invasive ventilation on patients
• Assists with intubations
• Performs intubations in emergencies after certification

E. Provides Emergency Care.

• Responds to all Code Blues
• Is competent in bag and mask or bag and ET tube ventilation
• Able to work under extreme pressure and stress

F. Documents and communicates well

• Therapist must document therapies and evaluations completely and accurately in the patient record whether manually or electronically
• Therapist must be responsible for assuring all actions are reflected in the daily billing by end of shift
• Therapist must ensure all scheduled therapies are entered into the computer accurately
• Must be able to communicate well with other members of the health care team, including doctors, nurses and other therapists

Non-Essential Duties:

• Assists the Director of Respiratory Services and Supervisors or designee in completing alternate job duties as instructed.
• Maintains a professional behavior
• Always represents Antelope Valley Hospital and the Respiratory Therapy Department in a positive

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge

• Thorough knowledge of Pulmonary Disease states, their signs, symptoms and treatments
• Knowledge of and ability to use a wide variety of ventilation strategies to treat patients
• Knowledge of current practice in the care of Geriatrics, and Pediatrics
• Knowledge of medications used in Respiratory Therapy, their methods of administration, dosages, diseases treated, effects and adverse effects
• Knowledge of pulmonary anatomy in adults and the effects of disease on the pulmonary anatomy
• Demonstrates knowledge regarding the special needs, interests and behaviors of age specific groups.
• Demonstrates knowledge regarding the special needs, interests, and behaviors of patients requiring critical or specialized care.

Skills

• Skill at drawing ABGs and CBGs
• Demonstrated good communication skills.
• Good organizational skills.

Abilities

• Ability to accurately interpret results of ABGs and CBGs and initiate corrective action
• Ability to assemble, test, and place into use all respiratory therapy equipment used at AVH for Adult and Pediatric care
• Ability to think and act quickly in high-pressure situations

Education and Experience:

Education

• Graduate from school accredited for the education of Respiratory Care Practitioners and recognized by the state of California or the state of the school's location.
• High School diploma or GED equivalent

Experience

• Minimum experience provided through Externship/internship program of accredited school for education of Respiratory Care Practitioners.

Required Licensure and/or Certifications:

• Must be licensed with the State of California as a Respiratory Care Practitioner
• Credentialed with the National Board of Respiratory Care as a Registered Respiratory Therapist. (RRT) If not already registered, staff will have five (5) years to obtain this credential.
• Current BCLS Certification
• Current PALS Certification

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Frequently moving large ventilators on wheels, which weigh up to 150 pounds, throughout the hospital.
• Moving tents and cylinders throughout the hospital.
• Working in small or crowded rooms.
• Working in all areas of the hospital.
• Walking, stairs, out of doors in all weather conditions.
• Frequently Lifting/Carrying 25-50 pounds and pushing/pulling 36-50 pounds throughout shift.
• Able to use Personal Protection Equipment
• Potential exposure to patient blood or body fluids

A detailed description of the physical requirements of this job is maintained in the Employee Health Department.

Education and Experience:

Education

• Graduate from school accredited for the education of Respiratory Care Practitioners and recognized by the state of California or the state of the school's location.
• High School diploma or GED equivalent

Experience

• Minimum experience provided through Externship/internship program of accredited school for education of Respiratory Care Practitioners.

Required Licensure and/or Certifications:

• Must be licensed with the State of California as a Respiratory Care Practitioner
• Credentialed with the National Board of Respiratory Care as a Registered Respiratory Therapist. (RRT) If not already registered, staff will have five (5) years to obtain this credential.
• Current BCLS Certification
• Current PALS Certification