Certified Respiratory Therapist

DCH Health Care Authority•Tuscaloosa, AL

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Certified Respiratory Therapist provides services to adult through neonatal patients. They provide general respiratory therapy, critical care, and limited diagnostics. Therapists are expected to work and respond to all areas of the hospital. This role involves performing and accurately recording technical procedures safely, effectively, and efficiently, adhering to scope of policy and providing rationale for actions based on scientific principles and clinical practice guidelines. Patient care procedures include a wide range of therapies and interventions such as Oxygen/Aerosol Therapy, Bronchial Hygiene, Mechanical Ventilation, Blood Gas analysis, and Emergency tracheostomy tube replacement. The position requires strong decision-making, leadership, and communication skills, including the ability to delegate, address conflict, and interact with diverse personalities. It also involves participation in on-call rotations and potential exposure to hazardous materials, necessitating the use of protective equipment. Accountability for meeting department goals, DCH Values, Mission, and Vision is essential, along with adherence to DCH Standards, Behavioral Standards, and all DCH Health System policies and procedures.

Requirements

Current Alabama licensure.
Holds active credential of Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) within one year of graduation.
Associate Degree in Respiratory Therapy, Bachelor’s degree preferred or holds a certificate in Respiratory Therapy.
Membership in appropriate professional organization (i.e. American Association for Respiratory Care, Alabama Society for Respiratory Care) is strongly encouraged.
BCLS provider.
PALS preferred for staff working in the Emergency Department.
Must be able to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English.
ACLS within one year of employment and NRP if NICU trained.
Responsible for obtaining needed continuing education for licensure.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred.
PALS preferred for staff working in the Emergency Department.
NRP if NICU trained.

Responsibilities

Performs and accurately records technical procedures safely, effectively, efficiently, and within scope of policy.
Gives rationale for actions, decisions, and clinical care, based on scientific principles, clinical practice guidelines, or successful experience.
Patient care procedures include: Oxygen/Aerosol Therapy, Bronchial Hygiene, Postural Drainage and Percussion, Intermittent Positive Pressure Breathing, VPEP, PEP, PAP, Intrapulmonary Percussive Ventilation, Cough Assist, Aerosolized Medications, Hand Held Nebulizer, Metered Dose Inhaler, Dry Powder Inhaler, Adult/Pediatric/Neonatal Critical Care, CPAP/BiPAP, Mechanical ventilation including transport, Blood collection and analysis, Emergency tracheostomy tube replacement, Bedside Pulmonary Function Testing.
Demonstrate leadership skills.
Requires decision making that will affect others.
Responsible to achieve outcomes.
Must be able to communicate clearly and accurately.
Ability to delegate to team members and students.
Must be able to receive delegation.
Address conflict and stressful situation.
Communicate with different personalities and engage in face to face discussion.
Dealing with unpleasant or verbally/physically aggressive personalities.
Must be able to use electronic mail, telephone and texting.
Must be able to work in groups.
Must be able to perform structured and unstructured work.
Participates on call rotation as needed for patient care.
Must be meet time pressure and time lines.
Includes possible exposure to human body fluids, disease, infection, lab chemicals and hazardous materials and/or cleaning solutions.
Requires wearing of common protective and safety equipment such as gloves, safety glasses, mask, gowns, etc.
Advocate for and participant in patient safety.
Perform Low/High Level Disinfection as per manufacturer’s recommendation (IFU).
Performs and accurately records technical procedures safely, effectively, efficiently, and within scope of policy.
Accountability related to meeting/exceeding department goals, DCH Values, DCH Mission and Vision.
Maintains performance, patient and employee satisfaction and financial standards as outlined in the performance evaluation.
Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook.
Must adhere to the DCH Behavioral Standards including creating positive relationships with patients/families, coworkers, colleagues and with self.
Performs essential job functions in a manner that ensures the safety of patients, visitors and employees.
Identifies and reduces unsafe practices that may result in harm to patients, visitors and employees.
Recognizes and takes appropriate action to reduce risks and hazards to promote safety for patients, visitors and employees.
Requires use of electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software and intranet.
Must adhere to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.
All other duties as assigned.