Overview

When every breath counts, when every heartbeat is precious, you are there. Your skills make a difference in the treatment of adult, geriatric, pediatric and neonatal respiratory patients. In doing so, you strive for the Legacy mission of making life better for others.

You will perform respiratory therapy, ventilator management, code team, EKG, and other duties, which may include exercise stress testing and pulmonary function testing. Duties are performed according to physician's orders, utilizing knowledge and judgment in regard to technique and patient treatment.

Responsibilities

COMPETENCY: Achieves and maintains advanced level clinical skills necessary to care for critical patients.

Demonstrates knowledge of monitoring equipment and proper interpretation of data including end tidal monitors and pulmonary mechanics.

Demonstrates ability to perform all modalities of respiratory therapeutic treatments and medications adhering to department policies and procedure.

As per site specific requirements, demonstrates ability to perform accurate diagnostic procedures which may include: 12 lead ECG’s, holter monitoring, event recorders, exercise stress testing, bedside spirometry, PFT’s.

Demonstrates knowledge of equipment, setup, function and ability to trouble shoot effectively.

Demonstrates ability to perform safely and with proper technique arterial blood sampling from puncture, arterial line, and umbilical line, as appropriate.

Demonstrates knowledge and function of Whole Blood Analyzers. Able to trouble-shoot equipment, using appropriate resources effectively. Performs and interprets QC data.

Demonstrates proper airway management techniques and assessment ensuring a patent airway

Demonstrates ability to effectively set up, operate and demonstrate clinical assessment and application in use of mechanical ventilation.

Demonstrates ability to safely administer specialty gases (iNO, Heliox, nitrogen mixtures) to mechanically ventilated & non-ventilated patients.

Assessment skills are kept current and are utilized with accuracy and efficiency for all age groups, including neonate, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatrics.

PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF WORKLOAD: Performs cardiopulmonary procedures using the knowledge, skills and abilities required for the age of patients (neonate, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric) served. Goals of the department are attained utilizing a clearly established daily plan of treatments, procedures, clean up and maintenance with cooperation through all shifts regardless of assignments or job title.

Completes and plans workload in an efficient, accurate and timely manner.

Flexible and adaptable in staffing and workload distribution.

Offers assistance to co-workers.

Collaborates with health team members using appropriate resources (skill, knowledge, equipment and standards) to achieve positive outcomes.

Demonstrates thoroughness, anticipation of need, motivation and dedication in accomplishing job expectations, which build confidence in co-workers, patients and management.

Performs tasks as assigned by management.

Actively participates in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities by integrating CQI action plans into daily routine, participating in problem identification, data collection, data evaluation and process improvement plans.

DOCUMENTATION: Complete, accurate and timely information is gathered and documented in the department and patient records. Accurate charges and record keeping is done to ensure proper billing.

Identifies patient by checking patient's I.D., full name and medical record number according to department procedure.

Reviews patient chart and orders to ensure correct procedures.

Logs procedures and charges work completed.

Follows department and hospital procedures and policies.

Charts and documents all work done in the appropriate place.

Participates in concurrent data collection for Quality Planning and Monitoring.

Accurate spelling is maintained with legible penmanship in all areas.

Kardexes are kept current with new starts, discharges and transfers.

Charges are complete and accurate on each patient’s daily activity department record to assure correct patient billing.

COMMUNICATION: Verbal and non-verbal age-appropriate communications (neonate, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric) are open and positive with peers, supervisors, physicians, patients and all outside customers, under stressful and non-stressful circumstances. Patients and co-workers confidentiality is maintained.

Communicates and uses knowledge of related anatomy and physiology to ensure appropriate and effective care is delivered to neonate, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients.

Maintains awareness of patients’ status and takes appropriate actions to meet their needs.

Implements Patients’ Bill of Rights by acting as a patient advocate, providing patient privacy, respecting confidentiality and using discretion when discussing patient information.

Keeps the Manager informed regarding volume fluctuations.

Provides constructive feedback regarding departmental issues and standards when requested.

Consistently demonstrates effective and appropriate communications.

Communicates accurate, pertinent and thorough patient information during shift-to-shift coverage.

Maintains open and honest communication with co-workers, manager and health care team.

ENVIRONMENT/SAFETY: Clinic environment, equipment, and personal workspace are maintained in a neat and safe manner. Annual safety and other hospital wide educational requirements are met in a timely fashion and clearly documented.

Practices universal and blood and body fluid precautions, and sterile practices according to procedures.

Maintains a clean, organized and safe environment.

Checks equipment for disrepair.

Reports, removes and labels malfunctioning equipment.

Attends all hospital and JCAHO required inservices.

Performs job requirements while maintaining awareness and control of noise levels for co-workers and patients.

Demonstrates proper body mechanics to protect self and patient; uses sufficient help when task exceeds personal capabilities.

Provides for patient safety by recognition of subtle changes and initiating appropriate interventions, i.e., restraining, positioning, patient education, taking special precautions and notifying nurse and/or physician when appropriate.

Notifies physician immediately of drug interaction or error. Completes all paperwork for medication error or reaction. Monitors and reports on patient condition to nurse or physician.

Follows all hospital and department policies and procedures.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Professional education is advanced through regular participation in internal/external education opportunities in both broad and discipline-specific topics. Completes annual competencies and keeps accurate files in personal portfolio.

Takes personal initiative to maintain current in education (journals, books, inservices, seminars, etc.) in all specialty areas assigned.

Participates in presenting professional information to colleagues and/or the community.

Takes on special responsibilities such as equipment evaluation or department education.

Attends 80% of department meetings.

Participates in self-development and educational process.

Fulfills annual education/validation/credentialing or licensure requirements.

Develops/implements plan for meeting own learning needs.

Maintains competency in ABG sampling skills.

Demonstrates competency in EKG tracing skills.

Maintains own competency/development records.

Completes all annual department competencies.

Assists in orientation of new staff and students.

SPECIAL PROCEDURES: The Respiratory Care Practitioner has a basic knowledge of related special procedures.

Has an understanding of what the following special procedures are for:

Bronchoscopy

Pulmonary Function Testing

Holter and Cardiac Event Testing

Cardiac Testing, including Thalluim Scans, signal Average ECG, Transesophageol Echocardiograms, Stress Echocardiograms and Cardiac Drug Stress Testing

Electroencephalograms

Sleep Studies

Is able to schedule special procedures appropriately and accurately, giving all pertinent information to the patient (or knows where and how to find the information).

Communicates effectively with all physicians, physician’s office staff and other departments involved in special procedures.

Qualifications

Education:

For employees hired on or after January 16, 2011, minimum of an Associate degree in Respiratory Therapy from a program accredited by the Committee On Accreditation for Respiratory Care (COARC) or accredited by the American Medical Association’s Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation (CAHEA).

Experience:

One-year experience preferred. Basic familiarity with computers preferred.

LEGACY’S VALUES IN ACTION:

Follows guidelines set forth in Legacy’s Values in Action

Equal Opportunity Employer/Vet/Disabled

Licensure

Current applicable state Respiratory Care Practitioner/RT (RCPRT) license required.

Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) advanced practitioner credential by the NBRC preferred.

Current CPR/BLS certification required.

ACLS and/or PALS required within one year.

NRP required within one year.