Lead Respiratory Therapist, RRT - UPMC Children's

• Work alongside some of the region's top pediatric healthcare professionals.
• Lead and support a highly skilled respiratory care team.
• Make a direct impact on patient outcomes across a variety of specialized pediatric care areas.
• Grow your leadership career within a nationally ranked children's hospital.

The Lead Respiratory Therapist has direct responsibility in the achievement of a culture of excellence and patient care. The Lead is a highly developed role model of professional practice. Under the general direction, the Lead will complete and deliver employee evaluations, may assist with selection and hiring of staff, and manage the daily performance for a group of direct reports. The Lead may assist with providing service-based education and clinical expertise for staff including orientation and training, consultation on practice issues, and general coordination of clinical activities. Additionally, the Lead may have shift accountability for delivering respiratory care.

Responsibilities:
 

• Takes formal leadership roles in quality improvement, onboarding, or evidence-based practice. Assists with or completes staff performance evaluations.Leads clinical practice improvements and supports staff through change. Participates in shared leadership and drives unit of system-level initiatives.Completes required development courses offered by Learning & Development,
• Coordinates scheduling needs and directs shift assignments; resolves problems, completes all records and reports and ensures hospital and department policies and procedures are followed. Functions as a Supervisor based on department needs. Coaches new Respiratory Therapists and students during their orientation and training. Assists with the evaluation process for staff and students.
• May participate in quality improvement activities and initiatives. May assist with special projects. May assist with the planning and implementation of clinical research activities and initiatives.
• Performs the duties of an Expert Respiratory Therapist. Reads prescription, measures arterial blood gases, and reviews patient information to assess patient condition and determine requirements for treatment, such as type and duration of therapy, and medication dosages. Determines most suitable method of administering inhalants, precautions to be observed, and modifications which may be needed that will be compatible with physician's orders. Sets up and operates devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, and aerosol generators. Operates equipment to ensure specified parameters of treatment, such as volume, gas concentration, humidity, and temperature, and to administer medicinal gases and aerosol drugs to patients. Observes equipment function and adjusts equipment to obtain optimum results to therapy. Inspects and tests respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment functions safely and efficiently.
• Monitors patient's physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, and blood chemistry changes. Performs bronchopulmonary drainage and assists patient in performing breathing exercises. Performs pulmonary function tests to be used by physician in diagnosis of case. Consults with physician in the event of adverse reactions. Maintains patient's chart that contains pertinent identification and therapy information. Orders repairs when needed. Demonstrates respiratory care procedures to trainees and other health care personnel. Supervises students during training. Assists to transport mechanically ventilated patients. Responds to all code situations.
• Under indirect supervision, is responsible for the utilization of departmental resources. Participates in the evaluation and purchase of new equipment, coordinates major equipment repair and preventive maintenance, and maintains records and reports of equipment maintenance.