Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)

PART ONE: Dimension and Description

Primary Purpose: To provide care for the cardiac and respiratory needs of patients according to physicians’ orders and departmental policies.                                  

Formal Policy-Setting Responsibilities: Formally responsible for providing input into policies associated with the job’s purpose and essential responsibilities.                                   

Routine Decision Making: Determines patient needs; determine patient’s ability to be weaned regarding oxygen titration; determines adverse reactions to tests/therapy.                                             

Formal Supervisory Responsibility: No formal supervisory responsibility.                                              

Required Knowledge: Cardiac and respiratory equipment; drugs; patient assessments; effects of therapy. Knowledge of insurance requirements for home use equipment and patient testing.               

Required Skills and Ability: Ability to do arterial blood gas; puncture and analysis therapy; testing and treatments; universal precautions and patient assessments.                                

Unusual Working Conditions: Risk of blood, body fluid contamination.                                   

Education and Certification/ Registration Required for the Position:  RRT certification by the NBRC; BCLS & ACLS required; Missouri License required.

Age Specific Competencies: Provides care for birth to pediatric (birth-2 yrs.), pediatric/child patients between (2 yrs-12 yrs); adolescent patients between 12 to 18 years of age; adult patients between 18 to 64 years; and geriatric patients 65 years and older.                                       

                                                PART TWO: Essential Responsibilities and Tasks

A.            Provides patient therapy. (40% of time)                                                              

1.            Administers breathing treatments to patients within one hour of scheduled time.                             

2.            Administers oxygen therapy, upon order, within fifteen minutes of scheduled time.                         

3.            Administers mechanical ventilation or non-invasive ventilation immediately upon order and evaluates every 2 hours.  

4.            Administers all other respiratory therapy procedures within the scope of practice, within one hour of scheduled time.                                               

5.            Administers all procedures ordered “stat” within 15 minutes of initiation of “stat” call.

B.            Performs testing modalities. (25% of time)                                                         

1.            Performs EKG’s within one hour of order or at a specific time indicated on order.                                              

2.            Performs arterial blood gas within one hour of order or at a specific time indicated on order.       

3.            Performs pulse oximetry daily on patients wearing oxygen with titration orders and all other oximetry as ordered.             

4.            Performs all other testing modalities within the scope of practice, within fifteen minute scheduled time.                                                

5.            Performs all testing ordered “stat” within thirty minutes of initiation of “stat” call.

C.            Conducts quality control on machines. (5% of time)                                                       

1.            Runs manual PC on the arterial blood gas analyzers machine   after measurement cartridge change.  when needed and documents action taken.    

2.            Runs SST test on ventilator prior to use.                                                

3.            Performs maintenance on the arterial blood gas analyzers as needed and documents.                                     

4.            Runs proficiency testing material on arterial blood gas analyzers and reports to API quarterly.

D.            Performs charting and clerical duties. (10% of time)                                                       

1.            Answers telephone identifying self and department each call.                                                     

2.            Charts all procedures and tests in the patient record according to policy after completion.            

3.            Completes charges daily by 11:59 p.m.   Daily reconciliation of departmental charges                      

4.            Documents read-back on all verbal orders.  Daily reconciliation of departmental charges.                               

E.            Ensures proper care of supplies. (10% of time)                                                 

1.            Performs medical gas tank rounds, spot checks daily, and replaces as needed.                                    

2.            Evaluates and stocks supplies in ER, Med/surg, ICU, surgery, and RT daily; and reports needed supplies to RT director.                                                              

3.            Cleans all respiratory equipment, pulmoaide machines, after each use and places new circuits on bipap and ventilators so they are ready for us, replaces filters, as needed.

F.            Responsible for patient education. (5% of time)                                                               

1.            Teach patient on smoking cessation within 24 hours of order.                                                     

2.            Teach patient to use respiratory equipment when ordered to use at home, upon order. 

3.            Educate patients on disease process, within 24 hours of order.

G.           Responsible for patient assessment. (5% of time)                                                           

1.            Complete initial assessment within 24 hours of initial respiratory orders.                                               

2.            Perform 1st re-assessment in three days from initial assessment.                                                             

3.            Perform assessment every three days until discharged.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

TYPE OF WORK (Check One)                                                                       

Sedentary Work: Lifting 10# maximum and occasionally lifting and/or carrying such articles as dockets, ledgers and small tools.  Jobs are sedentary; if walking and standing are required only occasionally.                                                          

Light Work:  Lifting 20# maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 10#.  Even though the weight lifted may be only a negligible amount, a job is in this category when it requires walking or standing to a significant degree or                                                           

x              Medium Work:  Lifting 100# maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 25#.                                                               

Heavy Work:  Lifting 100# maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 50#.                                                 

Very Heavy Lifting:  Lifting objects in excess of 100# with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing 50# or more.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS (Check those which apply)

x              Lifting:  Raising or lowering an object from one level to another (includes upward pulling).

x              Carrying:  Transporting an object, usually holding it in hands or arms or on the shoulders.              

x              Pushing:  Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves away from the force (including slapping, striking, kicking, and treadle actions).                                                     

x              Pulling:  Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves toward the force (includes jerking).                                                         

Climbing:  Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles, ropes, and the like, using the feet and the legs and/or hands and arms.

Balancing:  Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing, crouching, or running on a narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces; or maintaining body equilibrium when performing gymnastic feats.                                                                    

x              Hearing:  Ability to determine audible communication.                                                  

x              Stooping:  Bending the body downward and forward by bending the spine at the waist.

x              Kneeling:  Bending the legs at the knees to come to rest on the knee or knees.                                   

x              Crouching:  Bending the body downward and forward by bending the legs and spine.                      

                Crawling:  Moving about on the hands and knees or hands and feet.                                                        

x              Reaching:  Extending the hands and arms in any direction.                                                            

x              Handling:  Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with the hand or hands (fingering not involved).                                                           

x              Fingering:  Picking, pinching, or otherwise working with the fingers primarily (rather than with the whole hand or arms as in handling).                                                                                                                

x              Repetitive Motions:  Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.           

x              Feeling:  Perceiving such attributes of objects and materials as size, shape, temperature, or texture by means of receptors in the skin, particularly those of the finger tips.

x              Speaking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.  Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.                                               

x              Seeing:  Obtaining impressions through the eyes of the shape, size, distance, motion, color or other characteristics of objects.                                                                                            

                Including Major Visual Functions                                                              

x              Acuity, far - clarity of vision at 20 feet or more.                                                  

x              Acuity, near - clarity of vision at 20 inches or less.                                                             

x              Depth perception - ability to judge distance and space relationships so as to see objects where and as they actually are.                                                      

x              Field of vision - area seen up and down or to the right or left while eyes are fixed.             

x              Accommodations - adjustment of the lens of the eye to bring an object into sharp focus.               

x              Color vision- the ability to identify and distinguish colors.

WORKING CONDITIONS (Check those which apply)

x              Inside:  Worker spends approximately 75% or more of time inside.                                                           

                Outside:  Worker spends approximately 75% or more time outside.                                                         

                In/Outside:  Activities occur inside or outside in approximately equal amounts.

Extremes of Cold:  Temperature sufficiently low to cause marked bodily discomfort unless worker is provided with exceptional protection.      

Extremes of Heat:  Temperature sufficiently high to cause marked bodily discomfort unless worker is provided with exceptional protection.                                                                                                      

Temperature Changes:  Variations in temperature which are sufficiently marked and abrupt to cause noticeable bodily reactions.                                                                                                                        

                Wet:  Contact with water or other liquids.                                                            

Humid:  Atmospheric condition with moisture content sufficiently high to cause marked bodily discomfort.                                                               

Noise and Vibration:  Sufficient noise, either constant or intermittent to cause marked distraction or possible injury to the sense of hearing and /or sufficient vibration (production of an oscillating movement or strain on the body or its extremities from repeated motion or shock) to cause bodily harm if endured day after day.                                                                                                               

x              Hazards:  Situations in which the individual is exposed to the definite risk of the bodily injury.      

Fumes:  Smoky or vaporous exhalations, usually odorous, thrown off as the result of combustion or chemical reaction.                                                             

Odor:  Noxious smells, either toxic dust, fumes, gases, vapors, mists or liquids which cause general or localized disabling conditions as a result of inhalation or action to the skin.

Toxic Conditions:  Exposure to toxic dust, fumes, gases, vapors. Mists or liquids which cause general or localized disabling conditions as a result of inhalations or action to the skin.

Infectious Disease:  Risk of exposure to biohazardous materials, blood, body fluid contamination.                                                              

Dust:  Air filled with small particles of any kind, such as textiles dust, flour, wool, leather, feathers, etc., and inorganic dust including silica and asbestos, which make the workplace unpleasant or are the source of occupational disease.                                                                                    

Poor Ventilation:  Insufficient movement of air causing a feeling of suffocation; or exposure to drafts.

Identify and describe any additional physical demands or unusual working conditions that were not previously covered. _______________________________________________

BLS, ACLS, Missouri State License, RRT preferred but CRT considered